Executive Head Chef New

Head Chef / Executive Head Chef

Central London | £70,000 + Tronc

We are working with a standout boutique hotel in Central London on the appointment of a hands-on Executive Head Chef.

This is a role for a chef who wants to be in the kitchen, on the pass and leading from the front. It is not an office-based Executive Chef position.

The property has a vibrant destination-led F&B operation, with a busy restaurant centred around Mexican cuisine with a strong California influence, alongside a high-energy rooftop bar and a packed programme of events, private dining and celebrations.

The Role

You will lead a brigade of approximately 18–22 chefs across the wider F&B operation.

You will have significant creative freedom and the opportunity to put your own stamp on the food.

Your role will include:

• Leading from the front during busy services
• Being hands-on in the kitchen and on the pass
• Developing and evolving menus
• Maintaining high standards of food, consistency and presentation
• Building, developing and motivating the kitchen brigade
• Working closely with the senior kitchen team
• Delivering large-scale events and private dining
• Working with the events and marketing teams on special menus
• Managing food costs, GP and kitchen performance
• Creating dishes that reflect the identity of the venue
• Driving the next stage of growth across the food operation

The operation regularly handles busy restaurant services alongside events, private dining and full venue buyouts, with events reaching up to around 250 covers.

The Food

The core food style is Mexican cuisine with a strong California influence, alongside subtle Japanese influences and a raw bar element.

Mexican experience would be a major advantage, but it is not essential.

We are also interested in chefs with backgrounds across:

• Mexican and Latin American cuisine
• California-inspired cooking
• Modern sharing concepts
• Japanese-influenced food
• Raw bar operations
• High-volume destination restaurants
• Premium restaurants, hotels or members clubs

What matters most is that you understand food, have a creative mindset and genuinely love cooking.

You will have the freedom to develop dishes, evolve the menus and create the kind of food that gets people talking.

The Venue

• This is a high-profile boutique hotel in Central London with a strong destination F&B operation.
• The restaurant and rooftop bar attract a mix of regular London clientele, high-profile guests, events and private bookings.
• The property has recently undergone significant investment across its F&B spaces, creating a fresh platform for the next stage of growth.
• There is also a strong senior leadership team in place across F&B, sales, marketing and events.

What We're Looking for

We are looking for a chef with:

• Proven Head Chef or Executive Chef experience
• A genuinely hands-on approach
• High energy and a strong presence in the kitchen
• A real passion for cooking and developing food
• Experience leading a sizeable brigade
• Strong commercial understanding
• Experience with busy service and events
• The ability to develop and motivate a team
• Creativity and an understanding of current food trends
• Confidence working across multiple F&B operations

You could come from a hotel, destination restaurant, members club or high-volume restaurant group.

The key is personality, energy, passion and a genuine desire to cook.

• £70,000 plus tronc Approx 10k
• Brigade of approximately 18–22 chefs
• Significant creative freedom
• Strong events and F&B operation
• Central London location
• Opportunity to work closely with senior ownership
• Scope to develop the brigade and grow with the business

If you are a chef who still gets excited by service, loves being on the pass and wants the freedom to create, this is an opportunity worth exploring.