Head Chef | Bistro C
Kingly Court, Soho, London — opening November 2026
About Bistro C:
Bistro C is a new French bistro in the heart of Soho, built around rotisserie cooking, classic French hospitality and seasonal produce.
Rooted in the traditions of the French bistro, our food celebrates simplicity, quality ingredients and confident execution. Rotisserie cooking sits at the heart of the concept, supported by a menu that evolves with the seasons and a genuine love for great food and hospitality.
Bistro Cocotte is the new flagship of Maisons Vivantes, a growing, chef-led London restaurant group (Cocotte, Casa Felicia, AREE, NAPO and more). We build a small number of distinctive, chef-led restaurants and give the people who run them the structure and support to grow with us — this is a role with a real future behind it.
We are looking for a talented Head Chef to lead the kitchen and play a key part in shaping the restaurant from its very first service.
Creative Ownership Within a Strong Concept
At Bistro C, the Head Chef owns the food — developing seasonal dishes, creating specials and leading the ongoing evolution of the kitchen.
The concept itself is established: the rotisserie focus, the French bistro identity and the brand vision are already defined. Your role is to bring your own style, ideas and expertise to that framework — creating food that feels personal, seasonal and genuinely yours, while staying true to the Bistro C identity.
This is not a role where you simply execute someone else's menu. Equally, it is not an opportunity to build an entirely new concept from scratch. We're looking for a chef who thrives in the balance between creativity and structure — someone who wants to make their mark, build and inspire a team, and continuously evolve the food while respecting the foundations that define Bistro.
The Role
As Head Chef, you will take full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen, leading your team to exceptional standards of food quality, organisation and service.
You will have genuine ownership of menu development, seasonal changes, specials, presentation standards and kitchen culture, working closely with senior leadership to realise the long-term vision of the restaurant.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead all kitchen operations and service periods.
- Develop seasonal menu changes and new dishes.
- Create and deliver daily and weekly specials.
- Recruit, train and develop a high-performing kitchen team.
- Maintain exceptional food quality and consistency.
- Manage food cost, labour cost and kitchen profitability.
- Uphold the highest standards of food safety, compliance and cleanliness.
- Drive a positive, professional and ambitious kitchen culture.
- Work collaboratively with senior leadership on the continued growth of the concept.
What We're Looking For
- Previous experience as a Head Chef, or an experienced Senior Sous Chef ready for the next step.
- Strong grounding in French cuisine or classical European techniques.
- A passion for seasonal produce and ingredient-led cooking.
- Proven leadership and people-development skills.
- Strong organisational and financial awareness.
- Calm under pressure, with excellent service standards.
- Creativity, ambition and attention to detail.
- A chef who takes pride in ownership and accountability.
What We Offer
- Salary: £70-80k depending on experience.
- Performance-related bonus.
- A central role in the new flagship of a growing, chef-led group, with genuine progression opportunities.
- Direct collaboration with senior leadership.
- A kitchen where your ideas, expertise and leadership have a visible impact from day one.
The Right Candidate
You'll be a chef who loves to cook, enjoys leading people and wants to be part of building something special. You'll value the freedom to create while understanding the power of a strong concept and a clear identity. Above all, you'll bring energy, passion and a commitment to excellence every single day.
Pay: £70,000.00-£80,000.00 per year
Application question(s):
- Background in French Cuisine
Experience:
- Senior Sous Chef: 2 years (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
