Head Chef - Boutique Hotel - South Kensington 60-65k OTE

Lead the kitchen of a boutique London hotel and launch its new AA Rosette-level restaurant this spring.

A well-located boutique hotel in South Kensington is looking for a Head Chef to take full ownership of its food offer.

The Head Chef will lead every outlet, from a busy breakfast service and room service to the bar, meetings and events, and a brand-new restaurant opening in the spring.

This is a rare chance for a Head Chef, or a strong Sous Chef ready for the step up, to shape a menu from day one, build the brigade and drive the restaurant towards one to two AA Rosettes.

The role reports directly to the General Manager, works straight shifts and comes with a newly refitted kitchen.

The Head Chef role

• Lead daily kitchen operations, hands-on in preparation and service.
• Write and develop seasonal menus for the new restaurant, bar, breakfast, room service and events.
• Drive standards towards one to two AA Rosettes ahead of inspection.
• Build, organise and develop a growing brigade, including two planned hires.
• Own food cost, ordering, stock control, waste and supplier relationships.
• Set up disciplined purchasing and stock records with the General Manager.
• Keep food safety, HACCP, allergen and health and safety records inspection-ready.

About you

• An experienced Head Chef, or a strong Sous Chef ready to take full kitchen responsibility.
• Cooking at AA Rosette level, with a fresh, seasonal approach.
• Practical experience across at least two European cuisines, alongside modern British.
• Hotel or comparable multi-outlet experience, including breakfast and events.
• Commercially disciplined, with strong food cost and food safety knowledge.
• A hands-on Head Chef who leads from the kitchen and develops a small team.

The package

• 55-60k basic salary.
• Kitchen bonus of up to 5k a year, based on food cost and food safety.
• Service charge on top, currently estimated at around 3k a year and set to grow with the new restaurant.
• 40 hours a week on straight shifts.
• Pension and standard holiday allowance.
• Interview process: meeting with the General Manager, followed by a cook-off.

If you are a Head Chef with AA Rosette and multi-outlet hotel experience and want to launch a new restaurant in central London, send your CV to stuartcampbell at COREcruitment dot com today.