Head Chef: The Lounge Restaurant
Salary: £45,000 per year, plus a share of gratuities worth approximately £2,000 per year
Location: Crow Wood Resort, Burnley, Lancashire
Job type: Permanent, full-time
Crow Wood Resort is looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen at The Lounge, our busy, relaxed, and family-focused restaurant.
This is an excellent opportunity for a confident Sous Chef who is ready to step into their first Head Chef position. It could equally suit an experienced Head Chef looking for a more focused operation, a relaxed style of dining, and no late-night food service.
The Lounge is a stylish but comfortable 60-cover restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. The kitchen caters for approximately 1,200 guests each week, making it a fast-paced and consistently busy operation.
Our guests include loyal local customers, approximately 4,500 Crow Wood health club members, and visitors staying at our hotel and spa. The menu needs to appeal to this varied audience while maintaining the quality, consistency, and presentation expected across Crow Wood Resort.
The role
Reporting to the Chef Director, the Head Chef will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of The Lounge kitchen.
You will lead a team of approximately 10 people, including a Sous Chef, chefs, and kitchen porters.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys being in the kitchen, leading from the front, and developing a close-knit team. You will have support and guidance from the Chef Director while gaining the opportunity to put your own stamp on the operation.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading the kitchen across breakfast, lunch, and dinner service
- Maintaining consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and kitchen organisation
- Recruiting, training, supporting, and developing the kitchen team
- Managing team performance and helping less-experienced chefs progress
- Working with the Chef Director to plan staffing levels and prepare the kitchen rota
- Supporting menu development, dish costing, and the introduction of seasonal dishes and specials
- Managing food gross profit, purchasing, stock control, and wastage
- Monitoring kitchen payroll and labour costs
- Working closely with the restaurant management and front-of-house teams
- Planning effectively for busy trading periods across breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Supporting the occasional private function held within The Lounge
- Maintaining excellent standards of food safety, allergen management, HACCP, cleanliness, and health and safety
- Ensuring the kitchen is appropriately prepared, staffed, and organised for each service
About you
This role is deliberately open to candidates at two different stages of their careers.
You may be an experienced Sous Chef who feels ready to take on your first kitchen, build a team, and develop as a Head Chef with the support of an experienced Chef Director.
Alternatively, you may already be working as a Head Chef and be looking for a smaller, more contained operation with a relaxed dining style and last food orders at 8.00pm each day.
The right candidate will:
- Have experience as a Head Chef or a strong background as a Sous Chef
- Be confident taking responsibility for the day-to-day operation of a busy kitchen
- Have experience within a fast-paced, quality restaurant serving a broad customer base
- Be a supportive and approachable leader who can manage a team of mixed experience levels
- Understand food gross profit, menu costing, purchasing, stock control, wastage, and labour management
- Have strong knowledge of food safety, allergen management, and kitchen compliance
- Be organised, dependable, and able to plan effectively
- Work well with front-of-house managers and the wider resort team
- Take pride in developing people as well as delivering consistently good food
- Be willing to remain visible and hands-on within the kitchen
- Be looking for a long-term opportunity within an established, family-owned business
Previous Head Chef experience would be welcome, but it is not essential. For the right Sous Chef, this is a genuine opportunity to take the next step and establish yourself in your first Head Chef role.
Working pattern
The role will normally be worked over five days from seven and will include weekends.
The Lounge serves its main breakfast menu from 9.30am, followed by lunch and dinner, with last food orders at 8.00pm every day.
The kitchen rota and the Head Chef’s working pattern will initially be planned in conjunction with the Chef Director. There will be scope for the successful candidate to take greater ownership as they become established in the role.
What we offer
- Salary of £45,000 per year
- A share of gratuities, currently worth approximately £2,000 per year
- Complimentary gym membership
- Staff discounts and resort benefits
- Free on-site parking
- Support and guidance from an experienced Chef Director
- The opportunity for a Sous Chef to progress into their first Head Chef role
- A genuine long-term opportunity within a stable, successful, and family-owned business
- A senior position within a resort employing more than 420 people
Crow Wood Resort is an established hotel, restaurant, leisure, and spa destination. This is an excellent opportunity to lead a busy restaurant kitchen while becoming part of a well-established and supportive senior team.
Please apply through Indeed with an up-to-date CV outlining your relevant kitchen and leadership experience.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Burnley, Lancashire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
