Pastry Chef
Full-time, permanent | Norwich city centre | NR2 1RQ
£10.85 – £13.50 per hour | Around 40 hours per week
If you love pastry, enjoy a busy kitchen, take enormous pride in producing beautiful food at scale and don't mind swapping the occasional quiet Sunday for a room full of desserts, keep reading.
The role
Possibly the biggest Afternoon Tea kitchen outside London, and definitely one of the most exciting, The Assembly House is hiring.
Set inside Norwich's iconic Georgian townhouse, our pastry kitchen produces between 1,000 and 2,500 Afternoon Teas every week, alongside desserts for weddings, celebrations, private dining and large-scale evening functions.
Everything is made in house, in advance, with precision, consistency and finish at the heart of what we do.
This is a largely production-led pastry role, focused on planning, preparation and execution at scale. It suits someone who enjoys rhythm, organisation and the satisfaction of seeing hundreds of immaculate cakes and desserts leave the kitchen.
But this isn't just an Afternoon Tea kitchen.
Our pastry team also plays a major part in weddings, private dining and evening functions, producing desserts and sweet treats for some of the biggest events held at The Assembly House.
We're looking for a skilled, energetic Pastry Chef to join our dedicated pastry team and help drive what we believe is one of the most ambitious Afternoon Tea and events pastry operations in the country.
Why this role is different
You'll be working alongside chefs operating at the very top of their game, with decades of experience in world-class kitchens.
This is a rare opportunity to develop your craft in a kitchen where pastry is central to the business, not an afterthought.
You'll work on ever-changing themed Afternoon Teas, alongside the pastry and desserts required for weddings, celebrations and large-scale functions.
This role is about production, momentum, teamwork and pride in the detail.
And because we're producing at serious volume, you'll learn how to maintain quality when you're making something not just ten times, but hundreds of times.
You will:
Produce high-quality cakes, desserts, macarons and chocolate work in volume
Work on our ever-changing themed Afternoon Teas
Produce desserts and pastry for weddings, private dining and large-scale functions
Work some evening functions when business requires
Work weekends as part of your normal working pattern
Be part of a large, highly skilled kitchen team
Thrive in a fast-paced, well-organised production environment
Work to tight specifications while maintaining creativity and attention to detail
Help deliver pastry that looks beautiful, tastes exceptional and holds up under scale
Contribute to setting new standards for what Afternoon Tea and event desserts can be
Take pride in repetition done exceptionally well, without losing your love of the craft.
What we offer
UP to 40 hours per week
Straight shifts
Majority daytime working
Weekend working as a normal part of the role
Some evening shifts for weddings, functions and events
A stable, busy business with consistent hours
A fully equipped, dedicated pastry section built for volume
Gratuities
Free staff meals
Employee discount
Staff social events
Proper training and opportunities for progression
A supportive, respectful working culture
A team that takes standards seriously without taking itself too seriously
We are demanding on standards, but kind to each other.
Who we're looking for
We're looking for someone who is:
An experienced Pastry Chef
Confident with cakes, desserts and detailed pastry work
Organised, methodical and calm under pressure
Comfortable working at volume and to tight specifications
A genuine team player who takes pride in consistency and finish
Energetic and reliable
Ambitious, curious and proud of their work
Comfortable working weekends and occasional evenings
Someone who enjoys being part of a busy hospitality operation
You don't need to be someone who wants every day to be different.
If you love the satisfaction of getting a production list, getting your head down and producing hundreds of things beautifully, accurately and consistently, you'll probably love this kitchen.
The details
Job Type: Full-time, permanent
Hours: Around 40 hours per week
Pay: £10.85 - £13.80 per hour
Location: The Assembly House, Norwich city centre (NR2 1RQ)
Weekend working: Required
Evening function work: Required when business demands
Over 18s only
Immediate start available
This is more than a job.
It's a chance to be part of one of Norfolk's most iconic venues and a pastry kitchen where desserts genuinely matter.
For an informal chat, email [email protected] and let's talk pastry.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £10.00-£13.50 per hour
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
