Head Chef – The Pelican, Chew Magna
Location: Chew Magna, BS40 5SL (no live in accommodation available)
About Us
We are a bustling, high-volume gastropub known for offering a warm, inviting atmosphere and an exceptional food.
Our menu has a distinct Italian focus with seasonally driven dishes to high-end Italian comfort food and handcrafted and wood fired pizzas.
We are looking for an ambitious, hands-on, and passionate Head Chef to lead our kitchen team, drive culinary standards, and elevate our Italian-inspired offering to the next level.
The Role
You will have total operational ownership of the kitchen. You will balance the creative flair needed to craft exceptional Italian dishes with the robust organizational skills required to run a high-volume service seamlessly.
Crucially, pizza is a core pillar of our concept, so we need someone who not only understands running a service but also brings hands-on experience of dough fermentation, stretching, and wood-fired/deck oven operations.
Key Responsibilities
● Kitchen Leadership & Management: Lead, recruit, train, and mentor a talented team of chefs and kitchen porters, fostering a positive and high-performing culture.
● Menu Development & Execution: Collaborate with ownership to design seasonal menus that seamlessly blend with authentic Italian plates.
● Pizza Mastery & Quality Control: Oversee our dedicated pizza section, ensuring strict adherence to dough hydration, proofing times, and consistent baking standards.
● Stock & Financial Control: Manage food cost percentages, gross profit margins, and wastage without compromising on quality.
● Food Safety & Compliance: Maintain immaculate kitchen hygiene standards, ensuring full compliance with UK food safety regulations and HACCP protocols.
● Service Delivery: Lead from the front during peak service hours, maintaining calm authority and precise timing.
The Ideal Candidate
● Proven Experience: Demonstrable experience working as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef within a busy, high-volume hospitality environment.
● Specialist Pizza Experience: Essential. Hands-on, professional experience working with fresh pizza dough, fermentation methods, and high-volume oven management.
● Operational Acumen: Solid understanding of kitchen financials, including GP calculations, stock control, and rota management.
● Strong Leadership: Excellent communication skills with the ability to motivate and retain kitchen staff under pressure.
● Qualifications: Level 3 Food Safety and Hygiene certificate (or equivalent).
What We Offer
● £32,000 - £36,000 plus TRONC and overtime
● Group wide discount
● Structured rota management for a balanced work-life environment.
● Opportunities for career growth and influence on business direction.
● Staff perks including discounts on food and drink, pension, and meals on duty.
How to Apply
If you are an energetic, detail-oriented Head Chef with a passion for exceptional Italian food and standout pizza, please send your CV and a brief cover letter to [email protected].
Pay: £34,000.00-£36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
