Head Chef – Independent Pub & Events Venue

East London | £75,000 + Tronc and Opportunity to Grow

We’re looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen at one of East London’s busiest independent pubs and events venues.

This is a high-volume operation, regularly serving 200–300+ covers on busy days, alongside a strong weddings, banqueting and events business.

We’re looking for someone who is comfortable operating at this level and knows how to deliver great food consistently when the pressure is on.

The business is independently owned, has recently opened a new location and has further growth planned.

This is a great opportunity for a Head Chef who wants real ownership of the kitchen, including menu development, team leadership and the wider food operation.

You’ll take full responsibility for the kitchen operation, leading a large team and ensuring the kitchen delivers consistently across busy services, events, weddings and private functions.

A key part of the role will be developing the food offering.

You’ll have the opportunity to create and evolve menus across the business, with a focus on fresh, seasonal food that works commercially.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Leading, developing and motivating a large kitchen team of around 25 chefs and 9 kitchen porters
• Managing 200–300+ covers on the busiest days
• Overseeing a high-volume fresh food operation
• Taking ownership of menu development across multiple sites
• Creating seasonal menus, specials and new dishes
• Managing weddings, banqueting and large private events
• Delivering large dinners, receptions, canapé parties and buffets
• Maintaining food quality and consistency during peak service
• Managing GP, food costs, labour and kitchen performance
• Ordering, stock control and supplier relationships
• Developing new supplier relationships and negotiating pricing
• Recruiting, training and developing the kitchen team
• Planning and delivering large-scale events
• Working closely with the wider management team
• Supporting kitchen design, pre-opening operations and new site launches
• Helping shape the food operation as the business continues to grow

This role will suit a Head Chef who has genuinely worked in a busy, high-volume environment and is looking for a role with significant ownership.

You’ll ideally have:

• Proven Head Chef experience within a busy pub, restaurant, events venue or similar operation
• Experience managing 200+ covers in a day
• Strong experience with fresh food and a quality-led menu
• Proven experience developing and evolving menus
• Experience with weddings, banqueting and large-scale events
• The ability to lead and develop a sizeable kitchen team
• Strong commercial understanding, including GP, labour and stock control
• Experience managing suppliers and negotiating pricing
• The ability to remain organised and calm during very busy services
• Excellent standards around food quality, consistency and presentation
• Strong recruitment, training and people management skills
• Experience with new openings or pre-opening operations would be highly desirable

This is an independent business with plenty of ambition.

They have recently opened a new location and are continuing to grow, so there is genuine scope for the right person to develop their role and progress within the business.

You’ll have a real voice in the food operation and the opportunity to put your own stamp on the menus, team and wider kitchen operation.

£75,000 salary, with genuine opportunity to grow as the business expands.

If you’re a Head Chef who enjoys high-volume pubs, fresh food, menu development, big teams and busy events, this is a role worth talking about.