Part-time Chef & Baker
About Pooky’s
Pooky’s Deli is an independent café and deli on New Road Side in Horsforth. We make and serve high-quality fresh food for eat-in and takeaway, including breakfast and lunch, alongside a range of cakes and baked goods.
We are very much part of the local scene on New Road Side and the wider Horsforth community. Many of our customers are regulars, and looking after them is just as important to us as attracting new customers and continuing to build Pooky’s reputation.
Our staff are the most important part of the business. We have a close-knit team who work together across the kitchen and front of house to make the deli a success.
The Job
This is a varied, hands-on chef and baking role, working across different sections of a small kitchen that punches above its weight for its size.
A significant part of the role will involve preparing food for our breakfast and lunch service. We run a fresh-food kitchen, so prep needs to be completed consistently, efficiently and to a high standard to ensure service runs smoothly.
Alongside the kitchen work, you will also be involved in producing our range of cakes and baked goods. We're looking for someone who is comfortable following established recipes and producing consistently high-quality results. There will also be opportunities for someone with the right skills and interest to develop new products and contribute ideas to our baking range.
You don't necessarily need to be a specialist pastry chef, but you should have some baking experience and, most importantly, a genuine interest in developing your skills in this area.
You will have experience working in a commercial kitchen and be confident preparing and cooking hot food using commercial kitchen equipment. You will also support and run breakfast and lunch service in the café, typically at least twice a week.
Food hygiene knowledge is essential and needs to be applied rigorously. We need someone who understands that producing great food isn't just about cooking and baking: correct preparation, storage, stock rotation, cleanliness and organisation are equally important.
You will work alongside our existing chef and baker as well as our front-of-house team. Because we are a small business, good communication and teamwork are particularly important. Everyone needs to understand how what they do affects the rest of the kitchen and the wider café.
Hours & Pay
This is a part-time position of approximately 25 hours per week, mainly working midweek with occasional weekend shifts.
Shifts will typically start no later than 7.30am and finish no later than 3.30pm – so no evening or late-night working.
Starting pay is at least £14.50 per hour, with the opportunity for this to increase as you demonstrate and develop your skills within the role.
You must be eligible to work in the UK.
Is This You?
We're looking for someone who wants to help us continue building our reputation for top-quality, freshly made, delicious food.
The right person will be genuinely interested in food and baking and take pride in producing both to a consistently high standard. We're always looking for ways to improve what we do, so there is also an opportunity for the right person to contribute ideas, help develop dishes and baked products, and strengthen Pooky’s reputation as a destination for great food.
You will have:
- A genuine passion for food and baking
- Experience working in a commercial kitchen
- Some practical baking experience
- Excellent attention to detail
- The motivation and confidence to work independently
- Plenty of initiative and an interest in making things look, taste and work better
- A strong understanding of food hygiene and kitchen organisation
- The ability to follow recipes and produce consistent results
- The ability to work efficiently and organise your own workload
- A positive, team-focused attitude
This is quite different from working in a large restaurant or hotel kitchen and it won't suit everyone. There aren't lots of separate departments or people responsible for individual sections. We're a small team, so we need someone who is happy to move between prep, baking and service, take responsibility and work collaboratively with both the kitchen and front-of-house teams.
Benefits
On top of your basic pay, you'll also receive:
- Paid breaks
- Bonuses
- Share of tips
- Free food during your break
- Staff discount of up to 50% on café and retail food
Pay: £14.50 per hour
Expected hours: No less than 23.5 per week
Education:
- A-Level or equivalent (preferred)
Experience:
- kitchen: 3 years (preferred)
Work Location: In person
