Head Chef

Head Chef - Luxury Country House Hotel & Estate
Oxfordshire | Cotswolds
JWR is recruiting for an experienced and commercially astute Head Chef to oversee the culinary operations of a stunning luxury country house hotel and estate in the Cotswolds.
This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished Head Chef looking for a broader, multi-outlet leadership role, with responsibility for a diverse food and beverage offering, including an established award-winning restaurant, a traditional country pub, hotel dining, weddings and events.
With the property entering an exciting new chapter, the successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future culinary direction, developing the kitchen teams and ensuring exceptional food quality alongside strong commercial performance.

The Package

• Salary up to £55,000
• Service charge
• Performance-related bonus
• Company benefits
• Opportunity to influence the culinary direction of a prestigious Cotswolds property
• Excellent scope for professional development

The Role
As Head Chef, you will have overall responsibility for the culinary operations across the estate, including:

• Leading and developing kitchen teams across multiple food outlets.
• Overseeing an award-winning restaurant, traditional country pub, hotel dining and weddings and events.
• Working closely with senior management to develop and evolve the property's food offering.
• Maintaining exceptional food quality, consistency and presentation across all outlets.
• Driving kitchen profitability through effective food cost management, purchasing, stock control and labour planning.
• Developing seasonal menus that balance creativity, guest expectations and commercial performance.
• Recruiting, mentoring and developing a strong, motivated kitchen brigade.
• Ensuring excellent food safety, hygiene and operational standards.

Requirements

• An experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef with a strong background in quality hotels, country house properties or multi-outlet hospitality operations.
• Previous experience within a quality dining environment.
• Proven ability to manage varied food offerings, including restaurant dining, banqueting and high-volume events.
• Strong commercial awareness with excellent financial and kitchen management skills.
• A passionate and creative chef who can combine culinary ambition with practical, hands-on leadership.
• Excellent people management skills with the ability to develop and inspire kitchen teams.
• Adaptable, organised and confident working within an evolving hospitality operation.

This is an excellent opportunity for a driven Head Chef to take ownership of a varied culinary operation, with the autonomy to make a genuine impact on the future direction of a prestigious Cotswolds hotel and estate.