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:

• Leading a busy all-day gastro pub kitchen
• Managing breakfast, lunch, dinner, and high-volume weekend services
• Keeping standards consistent across a large kitchen team
• Managing GP, labour, ordering, stock, and waste
• Training, developing, and motivating around 11 chefs
• Working closely with the General Manager and senior leadership team
• Supporting menu development and operational improvements
• Maintaining strong hygiene, health and safety, and compliance standards

What we are looking for:

• Experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, or strong Senior Sous Chef in a busy gastro pub, branded pub, or high-volume restaurant
• Strong volume experience
• Experience managing a good-sized kitchen team
• Good understanding of breakfast and all-day dining
• Commercial awareness around GP, labour, stock, and waste
• A hands-on chef who brings structure and consistency
• 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.