Head Chef – Pastry, Café & Fine Dining Influence

Recruiting on behalf of our client

Our client, a vibrant and growing independent café, is seeking a talented and creative Head Chef to lead their dynamic kitchen team.

This is an exciting opportunity for a passionate chef with a background in café, pastry, and ideally fine dining, who takes pride in delivering beautifully presented dishes that taste as exceptional as they look.

The café is building a reputation as a fun, welcoming, and Instagram-friendly destination. They are now looking for a strong culinary leader who can elevate the offering with refined techniques, premium presentation, and innovative menu development inspired by fine dining standards.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will take full responsibility for the kitchen operation, leading the team in delivering a high-quality, varied café menu featuring both sweet and savoury dishes, executed with fine dining attention to detail.

You will drive standards, creativity, and consistency while ensuring full compliance with food safety regulations and maintaining a positive, high-performing kitchen culture.

The café operates 7 days a week, 8:00am–6:00pm, with occasional later evenings for special events and seasonal periods (including Christmas). Working hours may vary in line with business demand.

Key Responsibilities

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Leading the preparation and delivery of refined sweet and savoury dishes, including:

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Elevated brunch dishes

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Fresh pasta

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Artisanal pastries and baked goods

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Premium light lunches and café-style plates

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Driving menu development with innovative, seasonal concepts influenced by fine dining techniques

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Ensuring exceptional presentation standards suitable for social media and brand growth

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Managing, mentoring, and developing the kitchen team

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Overseeing daily kitchen operations, ensuring organisation and efficiency

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Leading service during busy periods and maintaining composure under pressure

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Preparing food for:

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Table service

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Takeaway orders

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Outdoor/street food service for special events

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Managing stock control, ordering, GP, supplier relationships, and waste reduction

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Taking full responsibility for food hygiene, health & safety, and legal compliance

Candidate Requirements

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Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up

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Background in fine dining or high-end hospitality preferred

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Strong experience across both sweet and savoury disciplines

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Demonstrated leadership and team management ability

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Exceptional attention to detail and presentation

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Commercial awareness and cost control experience

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Ability to work calmly and effectively in a fast-paced environment

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Food Hygiene Certificate (Level 2 minimum; Level 3 preferred)

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Strong knowledge of kitchen safety and hygiene standards

Personal Attributes

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Passionate about food and hospitality

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Creative, innovative, and detail-driven

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Commercially minded with a quality-first approach

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Reliable, adaptable, and hands-on

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Motivated to shape and grow a distinctive café brand

This is a fantastic opportunity for a fine dining–trained chef looking to bring elevated standards to a thriving independent café with strong growth potential.

If you are a driven Head Chef who enjoys creativity, leadership, and delivering refined food in a relaxed yet ambitious setting, we would love to hear from you