Head Chef- Evesham Garden Centre

Are you an inspiring and experienced Head Chef with a passion for fresh, seasonal food and leading a high-performing kitchen team?

Evesham Garden Centre is looking for a talented Head Chef to lead our busy restaurant kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity to shape seasonal menus, inspire your team and play a key role in delivering the high-quality food and service our customers expect.

Working within a well-established garden centre restaurant, you'll enjoy an excellent work-life balance with daytime-only hours, while having the opportunity to make your mark in a creative and supportive environment.

What We Offer

Location: Evesham Garden Centre
Hours: 40 hours per week
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

• 40 hours per week
• Daytime hours only – no evening shifts
• Closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday
• Supportive and professional working environment
• Creative input into seasonal menus and daily specials
• Opportunity to lead and develop a passionate kitchen team
• Staff meals and employee discount
• Long-term career opportunities within Blue Diamond Garden Centres

The Role

As Head Chef, you will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, ensuring every dish reflects our commitment to quality, freshness and presentation.

You'll lead by example, motivating and developing your team while maintaining high operational standards. You'll oversee menu development, stock control, food safety, labour management and kitchen performance, ensuring the restaurant continues to deliver an exceptional experience for every customer.

This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys balancing creativity with strong commercial awareness.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership

• Lead, organise and motivate the kitchen team.
• Ensure the kitchen operates efficiently throughout service.
• Maintain consistently high food quality and presentation.
• Support all sections of the kitchen during busy periods.
• Create a positive and professional working environment.
• Manage staff rotas to meet business needs.

Menu Development

• Create and develop seasonal menus and daily specials.
• Use fresh, quality ingredients wherever possible.
• Maintain consistency across all dishes.
• Introduce new ideas and menu improvements.
• Ensure dietary and allergen requirements are managed correctly.

Stock & Financial Control

• Manage ordering and supplier relationships.
• Monitor food costs and gross profit.
• Minimise waste through effective stock control.
• Complete regular stock takes.
• Ensure accurate portion control.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain the highest standards of food hygiene and kitchen cleanliness.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety legislation and HACCP.
• Oversee cleaning schedules and kitchen maintenance.
• Prepare the kitchen for Environmental Health inspections.

Team Development

• Recruit, train and develop kitchen team members.
• Coach and support junior chefs.
• Carry out performance reviews and ongoing training.
• Build strong relationships with front-of-house colleagues.
• Lead by example every day.

About You

We're looking for someone who has:

Essential

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or an experienced Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Passion for producing fresh, high-quality food.
• Experience managing a busy kitchen.
• Excellent organisational and communication skills.
• Strong knowledge of food hygiene, HACCP and health & safety.
• Experience managing stock, labour and food costs.
• The ability to remain calm under pressure.

Desirable

• Experience within a garden centre restaurant, café or daytime hospitality environment.
• Level 3 Food Hygiene qualification.
• Experience creating seasonal menus.
• Good knowledge of allergen management.

Personal Qualities

We're looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about food and quality.
• An inspiring leader.
• Creative and commercially aware.
• Organised and reliable.
• Calm under pressure.
• Proud of maintaining high standards.
• A positive team player.

Why Join Us?

Our restaurant is a popular destination for customers looking to enjoy freshly prepared breakfasts, lunches, homemade cakes and seasonal specials in a relaxed daytime setting.

As part of Blue Diamond Garden Centres, you'll have the opportunity to develop your career within the UK's largest garden centre group while enjoying a great work-life balance and leading a passionate, dedicated team.

If you're ready to take the next step in your career as Head Chef, we'd love to hear from you.