Sous Chef / Junior Sous Chef – East Grinstead Sports Club
Full-time, Permanent East Grinstead, West Sussex
Salary: £29,000+ per annum, DOE, plus results-based bonus after probation
Something exciting is happening at East Grinstead Sports Club — and we want the right chef to be part of it.
Over the past three years we have transformed one of the South East’s most active community sports venues. Footfall has grown consistently, a brand new Padel Centre has opened to great success, and major investment in the site is continuing. The club is busier than it has ever been — and we can see that the trajectory is only going upwards.
Our kitchen is at the centre of all of this. We serve a busy restaurant, high-volume match day teas for the hundreds of players and supporters who come through our doors each week, a children’s menu for the many young people who use the club, and an expanding calendar of functions and events. We also run a growing number of satellite food and beverage kiosks dotted around our large outdoor site, all supplied from the central kitchen, with more to come as new facilities open. It is a varied, lively and genuinely rewarding kitchen to work in.
We are now looking for a talented and experienced Sous Chef to join us as number two in the kitchen, working closely with our Head Chef.
What you will be doing
- Delivering consistently great food across everything we do — from quality pub-style restaurant dishes to high-volume match teas, children’s menus and the supply of our satellite kiosks around the site.
- Running the kitchen independently when the Head Chef is away, taking full responsibility for operations, the team and standards.
- Managing ordering and stock, keeping waste low and quality high.
- Keeping on top of all food safety and compliance requirements, including allergen management and HACCP.
- Contributing to the development of menus and the growth of our food offer.
- Helping to develop and support less experienced members of our kitchen team.
What we are looking for
- Solid experience as a Sous Chef or senior CDP, with the confidence to lead a kitchen independently.
- A broad skill set — you are equally comfortable with a busy restaurant service, volume catering and a kids’ menu.
- Strong knowledge of food ordering, stock management and kitchen administration.
- A thorough approach to food hygiene and safety, with at least a Level 2 qualification.
- Full flexibility — this is a genuine seven-day operation covering evenings, weekends and match days, and we need someone who embraces that.
- A great team player who leads by example and brings positive energy to the kitchen.
Why join us?
- A genuinely exciting time to join — the club is growing fast and there is real opportunity to grow with it.
- A brand new kitchen: a full refit of the kitchen areas — including new walk-in cold rooms and washing-up area — is due to complete within the next two months, giving you a fully-equipped, modern facility to work in.
- A varied and interesting food operation with no two days the same.
- A friendly, committed team who care about what they do and where they work.
- A community venue with a real sense of purpose — everything we do goes back into making the club better.
- A full-time permanent role with a clear and valued place in the kitchen hierarchy from day one.
Pay: £29,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
