Head Chef – Daytime Hours – Thriving Garden Centre Café

📍 Shepperton

Why Join? – The Benefits

• Daytime hours only – no evenings

• Full-time, permanent position (42.5 hours per week)

• Excellent staff discount across the garden centre

• Christmas Day, Boxing Day & Easter Sunday off

• Long service benefits

• Supportive, professional team culture

• Holiday entitlement dependent on hours worked

• Opportunities for growth and development within a growing business

The Role – Head Chef

Are you an experienced and passionate Head Chef looking to take the next step in your culinary career? We’re recruiting a talented Head Chef to lead the kitchen in our busy and successful garden centre café in Shepperton.

As Head Chef, you will be responsible for delivering a high-quality, consistent menu while leading, motivating, and developing your kitchen team. You’ll ensure excellent customer service through fast, efficient kitchen operations, especially during peak service times. Leading by example, you will create a positive, well-organised, and productive kitchen environment, ensuring food is prepared to the highest standards and served promptly every time.

About our client:

Our client is a well-established, family-run garden centre group with multiple locations across the South East. Known for their dedication to exceptional service, quality products, and team development, they continue to grow while maintaining a friendly, inclusive working environment. Their values – trust, teamwork, integrity, accountability, and excellence – shape everything they do, from serving customers to supporting their staff.

What You’ll Do

• Work closely with the General Manager to maximise profitability and operational success

• Oversee and manage all food preparation, ensuring quality, consistency, and presentation

• Manage ordering, stock control, and budgeting of ingredients and supplies

• Ensure dishes are prepared and served on time, maintaining company standards

• Address service issues promptly to ensure smooth and efficient operation

• Approve all dishes before service to maintain quality control

• Recruit, train, lead, and motivate the kitchen team

• Allocate tasks effectively to maximise productivity

• Monitor kitchen performance to ensure consistently high standards

• Ensure all kitchen equipment is properly maintained and operational

• Uphold all health, safety, and food hygiene regulations at all times

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or in a similar senior kitchen leadership role

• Strong knowledge of food hygiene, health, and safety regulations

• Excellent organisational and time-management skills

• Proven ability to lead and motivate a team in a fast-paced environment

• Creativity and enthusiasm for menu development

• Strong communication skills with both kitchen and front-of-house teams

• Flexibility to work weekends and occasional evenings when required