Head Chef – Brookhouse Mill, Denbigh, LL16 4RD (opening early 2026)
Salary – OTE £54,000 per annum
Brookhouse Mill is a converted water mill, now a pub full of character and charm on the banks of the River Ystrad. The pub sits in the hamlet of Brookhouse, on the outskirts of the market town of Denbigh in the charming Vale of Clwyd, which borders the Clwydian Range. The pub was bought by Stange & Co earlier this year and we can't wait to get it back open and at the centre of the town's community once again. Our extensive refurbishment is now well underway, and we're now seeking a talented and passionate HEAD CHEF to come on board and head up the kitchen as we bring the place together.
Stange & Co run a carefully selected, well-invested group of pubs and inns in the North West and Wales. We are fourth generation family owned and run, so whilst tradition and heritage are important to us, we are always striving to be at the forefront of where food & hospitality is heading, so we can ensure a bright and well rewarded future for everyone. We fully appreciate it's our people and their talent that have got us to where we are today, and that it will be those teams that will ensure we thrive into the future, so we make sure to go above and beyond in looking after each and every one of them.
What we're looking for….
A HEAD CHEF with a passion for working with great fresh ingredients from local suppliers, a passion for leading and developing a great team, and above all else, a passion for cooking great fresh imaginative dishes for the great folks of Denbigh.
With us, you'll have plenty of autonomy in how you run your kitchen, in the design of your menus, and building of your team. So, you're going to need creativity, plenty of experience to pull on, but also an ability to ensure the kitchen is profitable. Achieving this through, hitting margin targets, designing dishes that can be delivered consistently, via efficient and effective rotas. We'll be on hand to guide and support where necessary, with an experienced central support team, but you'll be the one on the ground.
Our food is fresh, hearty and interesting, with a menu that reflects the seasons & our location, which helps ensures sustainability and prevents our kitchen teams and customers from getting bored. You will have a huge influence on menu choices, very much putting your stamp and direction on it, developing your own recipes and indulging your passions.
This is an excellent opportunity for a passionate head chef or experienced senior sous, looking for an exciting and challenging role who wants to help us create an exciting and bustling foodie pub for Denbigh.
AS HEAD CHEF:
* Your primary focus will be designing and producing a consistent, high quality, freshly prepared daily menu.
* You will be expected to build relationships with local suppliers, sourcing and negotiating for, the best produce.
* An essential and vital element of the job is kitchen management; hitting and maintaining margins & wage percentages consistently, to ensure the team get their healthy bonuses. Whilst ensuring we're doing that in safe way and adhering to all our food safety standards.
* You will lead and bring on a team of chefs, creating an enjoyable & professional environment for both the kitchen and front of house team.
A genuine love of food and the industry, an attention to detail, and experience of a busy high-volume kitchen producing quality fresh food at head chef or senior sous level are all essential for this role.
What's in it for you:
* A highly competitive salary
* Very generous bonus scheme
* Full company sick pay
* Enhanced company maternity pay
* Guaranteed Christmas day off each year to enjoy with your family and friends
* Flexible working hours to assist with healthy work life balance
* Brand new fully refurbished commercial kitchen
* Discounted food rates - up to 50% off at all company sites
* Discounted accommodation rates – up to 50% off at all company sites
* Access to confidential and expert health & well-being, financial and legal advice through our Employee Assistance Programme
* Up to £1500 for referring a friend to join our team
* Long service rewards and annual recognition
* Christmas staff social event – celebrate the festive season with your work friends on us
Who we are:
* A family run company with eleven pubs across the Wirral, North & Mid Wales areas, who take great pride in each one of them, and their teams who make them tick.
* A company who genuinely believes in treating everyone with equal respect & dignity regardless, also having a genuine concern for the happiness and well-being of every single member of our teams.
* A company who strives to put their pubs at the heart of their communities, and improving those places by them being there.
* Stange & Co are accredited by Investors in People.
* A company whose aim is 'To Improve people's lives, by striving to run great pubs'
Whilst our plan is very much to grow, this will be well considered, and opportunity led growth. We're certainly not striving to hit a number at any cost and then sell out to private equity or a big plc. We're in it for the long term.
Due to our size you'll very much be part of the family and not just a number, but thankfully we're big enough to be able to offer the support needed in running busy popular pubs, as and when the need arises.
To apply:
If you are interested in joining our team please send a copy of your CV and a covering note telling us a little about yourself that might not be in your CV, to Tim Watts (Executive Chef).
(Salary £43,500 - £45,000 p/a + £4,800 chefs incentive bonus + generous tips)
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: Up to £54,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Enhanced maternity leave
* Free parking
* On-site parking
* Sick pay
Experience:
* Chef: 10 years (required)
* Leadership: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
* United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person