Join Lola’s
Lola’s is an established, independent Spanish tapas restaurant in the heart of Bournemouth. We are consistently ranked among Bournemouth’s top-rated restaurants and have built a strong local reputation through exceptional hospitality, loyal customers and carefully prepared food.
We are looking for an experienced, creative Head Chef with commercial awareness to lead our kitchen. This is a hands-on leadership role for a chef who takes pride in cooking from scratch, maintaining consistency under pressure and developing a team that cares about every dish leaving the kitchen. You will have the opportunity to shape Lola’s culinary direction, building on Spanish and Mediterranean flavours while balancing tradition with fresh ideas and refined techniques.
Initially, you will work alongside the current Head Chef to ensure a smooth transition and a clear understanding of our dishes, standards and way of working. The Role As Head Chef, you will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the kitchen, team development, food quality and cost control.
You will lead by example during preparation and service, ensuring that every dish reflects Lola’s standards and reputation. Key Responsibilities Lead, motivate, train and manage the kitchen team, creating a professional culture built on high standards, accountability and development. Plan, develop and deliver a creative Spanish tapas menu, combining authentic Spanish and Mediterranean flavours with thoughtful innovation. Maintain consistently high standards of quality, presentation, flavour, portion control and attention to detail. Manage food costs, stock levels, ordering, inventory, supplier relationships and waste to protect profitability without compromising quality. Oversee kitchen preparation and service, ensuring that dishes are prepared correctly and from scratch. Create and deliver training programmes that strengthen skills, consistency and kitchen standards. Maintain rigorous food hygiene, health and safety, and cleanliness standards at all times. Work closely with the front-of-house team to provide a smooth customer experience. Help define and continuously improve Lola’s menu, systems and culinary standards. What We’re Looking For You will be a confident, reliable and organised chef with broad professional kitchen experience and the ability to remain calm and make decisions during busy services. You will be passionate about food, committed to quality ingredients and proud to produce every dish to a high standard. The successful candidate will demonstrate:
Proven experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef or senior kitchen leader in a professional kitchen. Experience with tapas or Spanish cuisine is desirable. Strong leadership and people-management skills, with experience training and developing a kitchen team. A solid understanding of recipe costing, gross margin, stock control
This role offers a genuine opportunity to take responsibility for the kitchen of a respected
independent restaurant. You will have the autonomy to lead the team, influence the menu
and establish the culinary standards that support Lola’s continued success.
The position is permanent and full-time, with approximately ‒36-46 hours per week.
Most weekday shifts are late-afternoon to late-evening shifts, generally from : pm to :
pm. Weekend shifts may include some day-to-night shifts, as the restaurant is open
throughout the day. The working pattern will include some weekends. We can
accommodate a reasonable notice period for the right person.
Pay
£. per hour, with a pay review at four months and a further review at eight
months, subject to performance.
Benefits
- Pension scheme.
- Staff meal during shifts.
- Tips, normally around £‒£ per month, depending on the season.
- The opportunity to shape the culinary direction of a respected independent restaurant.
Job Details
How to Apply
Apply through Indeed, attaching your CV and a brief summary of your relevant experience.
Suitable candidates will be contacted to arrange an interview.
Item Details
Position Head Chef
Employment type Permanent, full-time
Location
Lola’s Spanish Tapas Restaurant,
Commercial Road, Bournemouth, BH RT
Expected hours Approximately ‒ hours per week
Start date
As soon as possible; a notice period can be
accommodated
At Lola’s, we are committed to building a kitchen team that values skill, professional
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £16.00-£16.90 per hour
Benefits:
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Bournemouth BH2 5RP: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)
Experience:
- Cooking: 1 year (preferred)
Work Location: In person
