Lay of the Land Café is looking for an experienced chef to join our small, friendly team.
We’re an independent café focused on fresh, high-quality food, great coffee, and creating a welcoming customer experience. We’re looking for someone who takes pride in producing consistently good food, enjoys working independently, and wants to be part of a growing business.
This role would suit a chef looking for a better work/life balance while still working with fresh food in a quality-led environment.
What We Offer
● Tips on top of wages
● Daytime hours only – no evening shifts
● Meals on shift
● 28 days holiday
● Staff Discount In shop & cafe
● Weekend work required, with a fair rota (typically 1–2 full weekends off per month)
● Freedom to contribute ideas and have input on the menu
About the Role
This is a hands-on role in a busy but manageable 22-seat café.
You’ll often be running the kitchen independently during your shift, preparing and cooking fresh food to a consistently high standard while keeping service running smoothly and efficiently.
We make our food fresh in-house and care about quality, consistency, and presentation.
This role would suit someone confident working independently in a smaller kitchen who enjoys being part of a close-knit team and is happy to get involved wherever needed.
As a small independent business, flexibility is important. While your main focus will be the kitchen, there may occasionally be times where you’ll help support front-of-house during busy periods.
You’ll have plenty of support from the owner, along with the freedom to contribute ideas, suggest specials, and help shape the food offering.
Key Responsibilities
● Preparing and cooking fresh food to a high standard
● Running kitchen service efficiently during your shift
● Maintaining consistency, quality, and presentation
● Keeping the kitchen clean, organised, and efficient
● Supporting with stock control and ordering when needed
● Maintaining excellent food hygiene and safety standards
● Contributing ideas for specials and menu improvements
● Supporting front-of-house when required during busy periods
What We’re Looking For
● Previous experience as a chef in a busy kitchen
● Confidence working independently
● Strong organisation and good time management
● Calm under pressure during busy service
● Flexible and happy to support across the business when needed
● Friendly, positive attitude and team mindset
● Passion for fresh, quality food
We’re looking for someone reliable, hardworking, and enthusiastic who wants to be part of a supportive independent business and help us continue building something special.
Pay: Up to £15.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
