Head Pastry Chef- Great Amwell Garden Centre

Position: Head Pastry Chef

Location: Great Amwell Garden Centre, Great Amwell, Ware SG12 9RP

Hours: Full-Time, 5 days out of 7, weekends included (alternate weekends off if cover allows), bank holidays as required

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

An exciting opportunity has arisen at our Great Amwell Restaurant.

Are you passionate about pastry, desserts, and delivering exceptional culinary experiences? We’re looking for a Head Pastry Chef to lead our kitchen brigade, maintain high food standards, and create memorable dishes that keep our customers coming back.

Why Join Us?
Our Restaurant at Great Amwell, is part of Blue Diamond Garden Centre Group, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional food quality in a welcoming environment. Our teams are empowered, supported, and valued — and we invest in developing talent to ensure everyone can reach their full potential.

With 52 centres across the UK and Channel Islands, we are constantly evolving and expanding, and we want YOU to grow with us!

Our target demographic are AB1 customers, and we attract this calibre of customers by offering inspirational retailing with a point of difference: style, emotion and innovation for the home and garden, whilst providing exceptional customer service.

Our Managing Director, Alan Roper, has headed up the Group since 1999, and we pride ourselves on our exceptional staff retention and in empowering our staff to reach their full potential and enjoy a rewarding career.

About the Opportunity:
We are seeking an ambitious and creative Head Pastry Chef to take full operational and culinary responsibility for the pastry kitchen. You’ll lead a talented team, control food quality, cost, and presentation, and ensure the kitchen runs smoothly while exceeding customer expectations.

This is a hands-on leadership role, offering genuine ownership and a clear pathway for progression within a premium retail and dining environment.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Leading and developing the kitchen brigade, ensuring a high standard of food quality and presentation

• Planning menus, recipes, and costings to achieve budgeted food cost and gross profit targets

• Allocating duties and supervising kitchen staff in baking and preparation, providing technical advice and guidance

• Personally preparing dishes and setting up pastry displays

• Controlling portion sizes, monitoring waste, and training staff on consistency and quality

• Inspecting dishes before service to ensure they meet company standards

• Managing stock, supplies, and equipment in line with company policies, including purchasing, stock rotation, and maintenance

• Ensuring compliance with hygiene, health, and safety regulations

• Handling customer complaints regarding food professionally and in line with company policies

• Conducting regular chef meetings, staff inductions, and annual appraisals

• Preparing and participating in special functions, which may occur outside normal working hours

What We’re Looking For:

• Proven experience in a leadership or senior chef role within pastry or restaurant kitchens

• Strong technical knowledge of pastry and dessert preparation

• Ability to lead, train, and motivate a kitchen team

• Excellent understanding of food cost control, stock management, and portion control

• Knowledge of hygiene, health, and safety regulations

• Hands-on, proactive, and detail-oriented approach to kitchen management

Why Join Us?

• Competitive salary and benefits package

• A key leadership role with real responsibility

• Opportunities for professional development and progression

• A supportive, high-quality food environment where creativity is encouraged

Discover more at Bluediamond.gg