Head Chef — The Dog and Duck Inn, Plucks Gutter (near Sandwich/Canterbury)
£33,000–£37,000 per year + on-site accommodation included
Full-time · Permanent
Your own kitchen to run
The Dog and Duck Inn is a busy, well-established country pub near Sandwich, and we’re looking for a Head Chef to take full ownership of our kitchen. This is a chance to make a kitchen your own — shape the menu, lead a small team, and build something you’re proud of, with the backing and investment to do it properly.
We’ve just invested in the kitchen, including two brand-new Rational combi ovens, so you’ll have the kit to cook the food you want to cook.
What you’ll be doing
- Running the kitchen day to day — prep, service, ordering, stock and GP
- Cooking classic British pub food done well: pies, fresh fish & chips, burgers, grills, sharing boards and homemade desserts
- Leading and developing a small kitchen team
- Keeping standards high on quality, consistency and food safety
- Managing cost and waste as well as the cooking
What we’re looking for
- Experience running a section or a kitchen — gastro pub, fresh-food or high-volume background ideal
- Someone who takes real pride in fresh, homemade food and consistency
- Good understanding of GP, ordering and stock control
- Reliable, organised and calm under pressure
- Looking for a long-term home, not a stepping stone
What you’ll get
- £33,000 to start, rising to £36,000 after a successful probation, with a clear path to £40,000
- Free on-site accommodation — self-contained, no commute, no rent
- A newly invested kitchen with two Rational combis and real support behind it
- The freedom and autonomy to make the kitchen your own
- A genuine long-term opportunity with a growing, family-run group
Details
- Job type: Full-time, permanent
- Location: The Dog and Duck Inn, Plucks Gutter, Kent, CT3 1JB (near Sandwich & Canterbury) — own transport recommended due to location, though accommodation is on site
- Schedule: Full-time including evenings and weekends
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £33,000.00-£37,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Profit sharing
Application question(s):
- Tell me briefly about your last two kitchens — what was the role, the style of food, and how many covers?
- Have you run a kitchen or a section on your own before? What size team did you lead?
- What’s your food safety level, and is it in date? (Level 2 minimum, Level 3 ideal)
- Are you confident running a full pub menu — pies, fresh fish, grills, homemade desserts — to a consistent standard?
- Have you managed food GP and ordering before? Roughly what GP were you running, and how did you control waste?
- The role includes on-site accommodation — is that something you’d want, or would you travel in?
- This is full-time including evenings and weekends. Does that work for you?
- Why are you looking to move on from your current or last role?
Work Location: In person
