Sous Chef / Brunch Chef
Contract: 3-month fixed-term contract with possibility to extend
We are looking for an experienced Sous Chef / Brunch Chef to join our well-established café in Brighton’s North Laine area on a 3-month fixed-term contract. North Laine Café has been serving quality brunch and lunch for more than 15 years and remains a popular destination for locals, commuters, students and visitors in the heart of Brighton.
Our menu celebrates fresh brunch, lunch and small plate dishes inspired by flavours from around the world, with a focus on quality ingredients, good preparation, generous presentation and reliable service. The role is well suited to someone who enjoys busy service, fresh prep and working as part of a small, friendly team.
As Sous Chef, you will play an important role in the day-to-day running of the kitchen. You will help deliver consistent food quality during service, keep prep organised, support kitchen standards and work closely with the wider café team to make sure customers receive great food quickly and reliably.
This is a hands-on position for someone who is confident cooking fresh food to order, comfortable with the pace of a busy brunch service and able to take ownership of their section. The ideal candidate will be organised, reliable, positive and proud of the food they send out.
What we’re looking for
· Previous experience in a busy fresh-food kitchen, ideally including brunch, breakfast or café service
· Confidence cooking dishes to order during a fast-paced service
· Good knife skills, prep organisation and an eye for quality and presentation
· Experience supporting a Head Chef and a small kitchen team
· Ability to stay calm, focused and professional under pressure
· A positive, reliable and self-motivated approach to work
· High standards of cleanliness, food hygiene and kitchen organisation
· Good communication skills and the ability to work well with front-of-house colleagues
· Flexibility to work weekends and busy periods as required
· Eligibility to work in the UK
About the role
You will be working in a café kitchen, preparing fresh brunch, lunch and small plate dishes, supporting daily prep, helping maintain high kitchen standards and contributing to a warm, professional café environment. The role is suitable for someone who can step confidently into service, work cleanly and efficiently, and help keep the kitchen moving during busy periods, including evenings where required.
Responsibilities
· Prepare, cook and plate brunch and lunch dishes to a consistently high standard
· Complete daily food preparation and make sure the kitchen is ready for service
· Support the smooth running of service, especially during busy brunch, evening and weekend periods
· Maintain consistency across portion control, presentation, timing and food quality
· Help manage stock rotation, labelling, storage and waste control
· Keep work areas clean, organised and compliant with food hygiene standards
· Support and guide other kitchen team members where needed
· Work closely with front-of-house colleagues to keep service moving smoothly
· Follow health and safety procedures and contribute to a safe working environment
· Bring ideas, care and attention to the food we serve
Benefits
· £15 per hour
· Tips
· Free food and drinks while working
· Staff discount on food and drinks
· Friendly, established independent café team
· Opportunity to work with a fresh, varied brunch and lunch menu
· Full training on our menu and service standards provided
Schedule and contract details
· 3-month fixed-term contract with possibility to extend
· Part-time hours
· Evening shifts may be required
· Weekend availability required
· Immediate or prompt start preferred
· Work location: In person at our Brighton café's
Experience
· Professional kitchen experience: 2 years preferred
· Brunch, breakfast or café kitchen experience preferred
· Team supervision or senior kitchen experience: 1 year preferred
· Food hygiene knowledge required; formal certification is beneficial
How to apply
Please apply with your CV and a brief note telling us about your current working situation, availability and relevant kitchen experience. We would especially like to hear about your experience with brunch, breakfast, fresh-food service or supporting a small kitchen team. If this sounds like the right fit for you, we look forward to hearing from you.
Pay: £15.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Store discount
Work Location: In person
