Head Chef – New Busy Gastro Pub
Location: Kent
Salary: up to 45k OTE 55,000
Role: Head Chef
Style: English gastro pub menu, breakfast and all-day dining
We are looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen at a newly opened, high-volume gastro pub in Kent.
The site has only been open for around three months and is already delivering around £30,000 per week in food sales. It is positioned on a busy high street and benefits from strong passing trade, regular local guests, and all-day dining.
The pub is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so this role needs a Head Chef who understands pace, structure, and consistency across different day parts.
The kitchen team is already in place, with around 11 chefs, so this is a great opportunity for someone who can step into a strong operation, build structure, and lead from the front.
The menu is English-led, with quality pub classics, seasonal specials, and dishes designed for volume without losing standards.
What you will be doing:
1. Leading a busy all-day gastro pub kitchen
2. Managing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and high-volume weekend services
3. Keeping standards consistent across a large kitchen team
4. Managing GP, labour, ordering, stock, and waste
5. Training, developing, and motivating around 11 chefs
6. Working closely with the General Manager and senior leadership team
7. Supporting menu development and operational improvements
8. Maintaining strong hygiene, health and safety, and compliance standards
What we are looking for:
9. Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or strong Senior Sous Chef in a busy gastro pub, branded pub, or high-volume restaurant
10. Strong volume experience
11. Experience managing a good-sized kitchen team
12. Good understanding of breakfast and all-day dining
13. Commercial awareness around GP, labour, stock, and waste
14. A hands-on chef who brings structure and consistency
15. Someone calm, organised, and confident leading busy services
This is a brilliant opportunity for a Head Chef who wants to take on a newly opened gastro pub in Kent that is already trading strongly, with a good-sized kitchen team, strong weekly food sales, and room to keep growing the food offer.
Apply today or get in touch to find out more.