Head Chef

HF Holidays Limited; Keswick; On-site; GBP 34,000 - GBP 38,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established holiday company in the UK is seeking a Head Chef to oversee kitchen operations at their Derwent Bank country house. The ideal candidate will manage a team while ensuring high standards of food preparation and service. Essential qualifications include a strong commercial background in culinary leadership, deep knowledge of food safety regulations, and flexibility to adapt to various working hours. The role offers live-in accommodation and a range of employee benefits, including generous holiday provisions and discounts.

Benefits

33 Days Holiday pro rata

Pension Contributions

Group Life Assurance

Cinema Discounts

Discounted Gym Membership

Health & Wellbeing Support

Exclusive discounts on holidays

Qualifications

• Demonstrable leadership experience in managing and developing kitchen teams.
• Strong knowledge of food safety and hygiene regulations.
• Ability to adapt to varied working hours, especially evenings and weekends.

Responsibilities

• Oversee kitchen operations ensuring high standards of food prep and service.
• Manage stock and portion controls while adhering to menu guidelines.
• Create a positive atmosphere for training and guiding kitchen staff.

Skills

Commercial background as Head Chef

HACCP knowledge

Adaptability and flexibility

Job description

HEAD CHEF

Location: Derwent Bank, Portinscale, Nr Keswick, Cumbria, CA12 5TY

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Salary: £34,952 - £37,132 per year

Reporting to: House Manager

Live in: Live in accommodation available inclusive of all bills, 3 meals per day, Laundry & Free Wifi

Job Benefits: 33 Days Holiday pro rata inclusive of bank holidays | Pension Contributions | Volunteer Day | Group Life Assurance | Cinema Discounts | Online Shopping Discounts | Cycle to work Scheme | Discounted Gym Membership | Virtual GP | Health & Wellbeing Support 24/7 Helplines with access to trained counsellors for support | Exclusive discounts on our holidays for you, your friends and family | Annual familiarization visit at any of our country houses for you and your family

About the role

Working in our Derwent Bank Country House we provide a retreat for up to 66 guests who stay with us for guided or self-guided walking tour holidays. We always know when and where our guests need serving. We know the number of guests we will be hosting each week, and our mealtimes are fixed. We plan our menus in advance and get pre orders for lunch and dinner. Our 3-course dinner service is served banqueting style and our kitchens closed by 9pm. In your role as Head Chef, you will be responsible for running a well organised kitchen ensuring breakfast, lunch and dinner prep and service are done to our high standards. You will effectively manage stock, portion controls, ensure our centralised menu is adhered to, monitor food safety, oversee health & safety and compliance across the kitchen. You will manage your kitchen team and create a great atmosphere in the kitchen to train and guide your chefs to success.

What are we looking for?

We would love to hear from you if you have these essential skills:

• A demonstrable commercial background as Head Chef – Managing and developing teams
• HACCP, The Food Safety Act 1990 (including Allergen Legislation), The Food and Hygiene Regulations and The Fire Regulations
• Given the nature of our industry, flexibility is key. The role necessitates adaptability to varied working hours, particularly during evenings (9pm finish) and weekends

Desirable skills we look for:

• Experience as a Head Chef in a Country House / Country Hotel
• Experience of cooking and delivering traditional British cuisine

About HF Holidays:

HF Holidays are a B Corp Certified British heritage brand with over 110 years of experience organising walking holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond. We’ve been leading the way since 1913 and offer over 260 carefully curated guided and self-guided walking tours on six continents and in 40 destinations worldwide. Run as a co-operative, we put people at the heart of everything we do and are proud to be part of a community with a shared passion for the great outdoors. Friendship, fun, fresh air, and the feelgood factor have always been our guiding principles. Our 500-strong team are based remotely, at our Head Office in Hertfordshire and across our 16 country houses located in some of the UK’s best-loved national parks and National Landscapes.