Chef- Sanders Garden Centre

Are you a passionate, creative chef who thrives on fresh ingredients, seasonal menus and delivering memorable food in a vibrant daytime setting? Sanders Garden Centre is looking for a talented Chef to join our friendly and hardworking kitchen team.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a busy kitchen where quality, consistency and great customer service are at the heart of what we do. You'll have the opportunity to produce fresh, seasonal dishes while working as part of a supportive brigade.

Location: Sanders Garden Centre
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

What We Offer

• Full-time, 40-hour working week
• Daytime hours with no late-night finishes
• Closed on Boxing Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday
• Supportive and friendly kitchen environment
• Opportunities for training and development
• The opportunity to grow your career within an established and growing business

The Role

As a Chef, you'll play an important role within our kitchen team, preparing and cooking high-quality dishes for our customers.

You'll take responsibility for your section during service, ensuring dishes are prepared to a consistently high standard while working efficiently during busy periods. You'll also support with preparation, stock rotation and maintaining excellent food hygiene and safety standards.

We're looking for someone who takes pride in their food, enjoys working as part of a team and is keen to contribute ideas and help deliver an excellent dining experience for our customers.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Food Preparation & Service

• Prepare, cook and present high-quality dishes to specification
• Take ownership of a designated section during service
• Maintain consistency, portion control and presentation standards
• Complete daily preparation and mise en place
• Work efficiently and calmly during busy service periods
• Ensure all food is prepared in line with allergen and dietary requirements
• Support other areas of the kitchen when required

Kitchen Operations

• Ensure your section is fully prepared and organised for service
• Assist with stock rotation and monitoring stock levels
• Communicate any stock requirements to senior chefs
• Help minimise waste and support effective cost control
• Maintain clean, tidy and organised work areas
• Follow kitchen cleaning schedules and procedures

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain high standards of food hygiene and safety
• Follow HACCP procedures and company policies
• Ensure food is stored, labelled and dated correctly
• Maintain a clean and safe working environment
• Follow all allergen and food safety procedures

Teamwork & Communication

• Work closely with the wider kitchen and front-of-house teams
• Communicate clearly with senior chefs and colleagues
• Support and encourage junior members of the kitchen team
• Maintain a positive and professional attitude
• Help create a friendly and supportive working environment

About You

We're looking for someone who is passionate about food and takes pride in producing great dishes.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience working in a professional kitchen
• Strong cooking skills and excellent attention to detail
• A genuine passion for fresh, quality food
• The ability to remain calm and organised during busy services
• Good knowledge of food hygiene and safety standards
• The ability to work independently as well as part of a team
• Good communication and organisational skills
• A reliable, positive and professional approach
• Confidence working on a section independently

Previous experience in a café, restaurant, garden centre or similar environment would be desirable, but we're also keen to hear from chefs looking for their next opportunity within a supportive team.

If you're passionate about food, enjoy working in a busy kitchen and are looking for a full-time role with great daytime hours, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and become part of the Blue Diamond team at Sanders Garden Centre.