Head Chef – The Norfolk Arms, Arundel
Ready to take the lead in a kitchen where no two days are ever the same?
We’re looking for an experienced, enthusiastic and creative Head Chef to take charge of the kitchen at The Norfolk Arms in Arundel.
This is far from your standard hotel kitchen role. You’ll be responsible for a wonderfully varied food operation – from beautifully presented Afternoon Teas, to our relaxed and popular Norfolk Tap menu, through to wedding breakfasts, private functions, events and full banqueting.
One day you could be overseeing a busy Tap service, the next delivering an unforgettable wedding banquet, catering for a wake, or creating a brand-new menu around one of Arundel’s many festivals and events. There really is never a dull day at The Norfolk Arms.
We’re looking for someone who enjoys that variety and has a real eye for detail. Whether it’s the presentation of an Afternoon Tea, the consistency of a Tap Room favourite or ensuring 100 wedding guests receive beautifully presented food at its best, you’ll care about the details that turn good food into a great guest experience.
You’ll lead and inspire a team of three chefs, helping them develop their skills, maintain high standards and perform at their best. With a large, well-equipped kitchen at your disposal, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to bring your own ideas, creativity and personality to our food offering.
You’ll take real ownership of the kitchen – from menu development and food quality to organisation, standards and the smooth running of service. We want someone who can look at what we already do well and get excited about how we can make it even better.
What we’re looking for:
- Previous experience as a Head Chef, or an experienced Sous Chef ready to take the next step
- A genuine passion for food and delivering a great guest experience
- A strong eye for detail, presentation and consistency
- A confident leader who can motivate, develop and get the best from a small kitchen team
- Experience across a varied food operation, ideally including à la carte, afternoon teas, weddings, functions and banqueting
- Creativity and enthusiasm for developing seasonal menus, specials and event-led offerings
- Excellent organisation and the ability to stay calm when the kitchen gets busy
- Someone who takes pride in their kitchen and maintains consistently high standards
- Availability to work throughout the festive period, which is essential for this role
A little about the location
The Norfolk Arms sits in the heart of Arundel, West Sussex, a beautiful historic market town with a fantastic calendar of festivals, events, weddings and visitors throughout the year.
Arundel isn’t particularly well served by public transport, so having your own transport is a definite advantage. We do, however, have a small room that can be used for occasional overnight accommodation when required.
If you’re looking for a Head Chef role where you can take ownership, lead a team, develop menus, deliver everything from Afternoon Tea to wedding banquets, and really put your stamp on a busy hotel kitchen, we’d love to hear from you.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £35,000.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee discount
Licence/Certification:
- Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate (preferred)
- Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (preferred)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
