Head Chef 

£38,000–£41,000 per annum + tips | Full-time | 60-cover restaurant

Tavola is looking for an experienced and capable Head Chef to lead the kitchen of this established 60-cover restaurant.

This is an exciting opportunity for a chef who combines strong cooking ability with excellent organisation, stock control and kitchen management. The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining high standards while helping to develop the kitchen operation.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring consistently high standards across food quality, preparation, service and kitchen management.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing the kitchen team

• Preparing and overseeing high-quality, traditional Italian food

• Working with fresh, quality and imported ingredients

• Managing stock control, ordering and stock takes

• Monitoring food costs and completing cost-of-goods reporting

• Maintaining accurate kitchen administration and paperwork

• Ensuring excellent food hygiene and health & safety standards

• Maintaining a clean, organised and professional kitchen

• Working closely with management to ensure the smooth running of the restaurant

• Supporting the continued development of the menu and food offering

About You

We're looking for a chef who is both culinarily strong and commercially organised.

You'll ideally have previous Head Chef or senior kitchen management experience and be comfortable taking responsibility for the full kitchen operation.

You should have:

• Strong cooking skills and a genuine passion for food

• Experience working with fresh ingredients

• Good knowledge of Italian cuisine — although authentic Italian experience is not essential

• Strong stock management and administration skills

• Experience with food costing and kitchen paperwork

• Excellent organisational skills

• The ability to lead and motivate a small team

• High standards and attention to detail

• A reliable, professional and hands-on approach

The restaurant already has a diverse kitchen team, so the most important thing is that you have the right cooking ability, leadership skills and professional standards.

The Restaurant

The restaurant is a 60-cover restaurant, regularly serving around 50 covers on a busy Saturday evening.

The kitchen team currently consists of a small core brigade supported by additional weekend staff, making this a great opportunity for a Head Chef who enjoys being hands-on and involved in the food rather than simply managing from the sidelines.

Hours

The restaurant operates lunch and dinner service:

Lunch: 12:00–15:00
Dinner: 17:00–close

Chefs currently work approximately 10:00–22:00 across five days, with the possibility of discussing a four-day working pattern for the right candidate.

Package

• £38,000–£41,000 salary

• Tips averaging approximately £150 per week

• Full-time position

• Potential four-day working week to be discussed

• Established 60-cover restaurant

• Opportunity to take genuine ownership of the kitchen

• Professional and supportive management environment

An Excellent Opportunity for the Right Chef

This is a role for a Head Chef who wants to take control of a kitchen, maintain high standards and bring strong organisation and professionalism to an established restaurant.

If you're an experienced Head Chef with excellent cooking skills and a strong understanding of stock, costs, paperwork and kitchen management, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply now for a confidential conversation about the role.