Executive Chef & Head of Culinary Experience
Drewton's Farm Shop, Restaurant & The Manor Rooms
South Cave, East Yorkshire
Full Time | 45 Hours per Week | Competitive Salary Dependent on Experience
Lead the Culinary Direction of One of Yorkshire's Most Respected Independent Food Businesses
Are you an exceptional culinary leader with the vision, creativity and commercial awareness to oversee multiple food operations under one award-winning brand?
Drewton's is an established and highly respected family business combining a busy farm shop, delicatessen, bakery, restaurant, weddings and events venue, holiday accommodation and online food offering.
Food is at the heart of everything we do.
We are looking for an ambitious and inspirational Executive Chef to become the driving force behind our culinary operation. Reporting directly to the business owners, you will lead our Head Chefs and wider kitchen teams, taking hands-on responsibility for food quality, menu innovation, standards, training, profitability and product development across the entire business.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future direction of a thriving business with a reputation for exceptional homemade food, outstanding customer experiences and a commitment to supporting local producers.
The Opportunity
Our food operation includes:
- A busy daytime restaurant serving brunch, lunch and afternoon tea seven days a week.
- A dedicated weddings and events venue at The Manor Rooms.
- A thriving bakery and delicatessen producing a wide range of homemade products.
- Seasonal food ranges and online ordering, including festive products, sharing platters and special occasion catering.
- Collaboration with over 320 local Yorkshire producers and suppliers.
As Executive Chef, you will ensure every dish, product and menu reflects the quality, creativity and consistency that our customers expect from Drewton's.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership and direction across all kitchen operations.
- Lead, develop and mentor our Head Chefs and wider kitchen teams.
- Create and deliver innovative seasonal menus across restaurant, weddings, events and retail operations.
- Drive new product development for the bakery, delicatessen and online food ranges.
- Act as the guardian of quality, consistency, presentation and taste throughout the business.
- Manage food costs, margins, stock control and supplier relationships.
- Ensure the highest standards of food safety, allergen management, HACCP compliance and kitchen procedures.
- Oversee kitchen rotas, recruitment, training and performance management.
- Identify food trends and opportunities to keep our offering exciting and relevant.
- Work closely with the senior leadership team to support business growth and profitability.
- Lead by example, setting the standard for professionalism, excellence and teamwork.
About You
You will be:
- An experienced Executive Chef, Senior Head Chef or multi-site culinary leader.
- Passionate about quality ingredients, seasonality and creating exceptional food.
- A natural people manager who inspires and develops successful teams.
- Commercially minded with experience managing budgets, margins and productivity.
- Organised, proactive and capable of overseeing multiple departments simultaneously.
- Skilled in menu development and product innovation.
- Committed to delivering exceptional customer experiences.
- Qualified in Food Safety and Hygiene.
- In possession of your own transport due to our rural location.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary dependent on experience, plus bonus and share of gratuities
- Hourly paid, ensuring every hour worked is paid.
- 45-hour full-time contract.
- Daytime restaurant opening hours meaning less late night working.
- Significant influence over menu development and culinary strategy.
- The opportunity to shape food across multiple business sectors.
- A supportive and ambitious family business environment.
- The chance to work with outstanding local produce and talented teams.
- Career progression within a growing and award-winning business.A Diverse Culinary OperationNo two days at Drewton's and The Manor Rooms are the same.
One day you may be developing seasonal menus for our restaurant and afternoon teas, the next overseeing production in the bakery and delicatessen, supporting the delivery of a bespoke wedding banquet, creating grazing tables for a celebration, preparing festive food ranges, or working with the team to deliver everything from corporate events and funeral gatherings to street food suppers and fine dining experiences.
This role requires a chef who enjoys variety, thrives under pressure and takes pride in delivering exceptional food across a wide range of dining styles and occasions.
Join Drewton's
If you are ready to take ownership of a diverse, ambitious and expanding food operation and become the culinary leader behind one of Yorkshire's most respected hospitality businesses, we'd love to hear from you.
Please send your CV and covering letter outlining your experience and what you could bring to the role.
Pay: From £45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
Work Location: In person
