Head Chef: Hotel, Restaurant, and Events
Salary: £60,000 per year
Location: Crow Wood Resort, Burnley, Lancashire
Job type: Permanent, full-time
Crow Wood Resort is looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead the kitchen operation at Crow Wood Hotel.
This is a substantial and varied role covering Wilfred’s, our 100-seat AA Rosette restaurant, daily hotel breakfast, and a busy wedding, conference, and banqueting operation serving up to 350 guests.
The hotel has 76 bedrooms, together with a further 10 bedrooms in our adjoining farmhouse. On average, the kitchen serves breakfast for around 140 hotel guests each day and approximately 1,000 restaurant guests each week.
Our events calendar is equally varied, including weddings, conferences, awards evenings, private celebrations, and catering for visiting Premier League football teams. No two weeks are quite the same.
This vacancy has arisen following our previous Head Chef moving on to a new opportunity after seven years with the company.
We are looking for someone who wants to make this role their own and build a long-term future with Crow Wood.
The role
Reporting to the Chef Director, the Head Chef will take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running and performance of the hotel kitchen.
You will lead a brigade of approximately 20 people, including a Sous Chef, chefs at different stages of their careers, apprentices, and kitchen porters.
This is a hands-on senior leadership role requiring high culinary standards, strong commercial awareness, and the ability to manage several different food operations successfully.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading the kitchen across breakfast, Wilfred’s Restaurant, and hotel events
- Maintaining the quality and consistency expected from an AA Rosette kitchen
- Developing and costing restaurant, wedding, conference, and banqueting menus
- Recruiting, training, supporting, and developing the kitchen team
- Managing team performance and creating opportunities for progression
- Preparing and managing the kitchen rota in line with forecast trade and operational requirements
- Taking responsibility for food gross profit, purchasing, stock control, and wastage
- Managing kitchen payroll and labour costs
- Contributing to budgets, forecasts, and wider business planning
- Developing productive relationships with suppliers and ensuring consistent ingredient quality
- Working closely with the Wedding and Events team to support enquiries, menu planning, and event sales
- Liaising with the banqueting and hotel management teams to deliver events successfully on the day
- Maintaining excellent standards of food safety, allergen management, HACCP, cleanliness, and health and safety
- Ensuring the kitchen is organised, appropriately staffed, and prepared for the demands of the business
About you
We are looking for an established senior chef with a strong background in AA Rosette kitchens.
Previous experience within a quality hotel and a sizeable wedding, conference, or banqueting operation is essential. You should be comfortable delivering refined restaurant food while also managing high-volume breakfasts and events without compromising standards.
The right candidate will:
- Have previous experience as a Head Chef, Executive Sous Chef, or in a comparable senior kitchen role
- Have a clear background working within AA Rosette restaurants
- Have substantial hotel, wedding, conference, or banqueting experience
- Be a confident and supportive leader who can manage a brigade of mixed experience levels
- Understand food gross profit, labour management, menu costing, purchasing, and stock control
- Have strong knowledge of food safety, allergen management, and kitchen compliance
- Be calm, organised, and able to plan effectively around a varied events calendar
- Be comfortable working collaboratively with operational and sales teams
- Take pride in developing people as well as delivering excellent food
- Be willing to remain visible and hands-on within the kitchen
- Be looking for a long-term opportunity within an established, family-owned business
Working pattern
The role will normally be worked over five days from seven.
Wilfred’s opens from 4.30pm Monday to Saturday and from 12 noon on Sunday. The wider kitchen operation also includes daily breakfast and events throughout the week.
The role will therefore include mornings, evenings, and weekends, depending on hotel occupancy, restaurant trade, and the events calendar. The Head Chef will take ownership of the kitchen rota and plan their own working week around the needs of the operation.
What we offer
- Salary of £60,000 per year
- Complimentary gym membership
- Staff discounts and resort benefits
- Free on-site parking
- Considerable autonomy within an established senior management structure
- The opportunity to lead a large and varied kitchen operation
- A genuine long-term opportunity within a stable, successful, and family-owned business
- A senior position within a resort employing more than 420 people
Crow Wood Resort is an established hotel, restaurant, leisure, and spa destination. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced chef to take ownership of a high-profile operation and play an important part in its continued development.
Please apply through Indeed with an up-to-date CV outlining your relevant hotel, AA Rosette, and events experience.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Burnley, Lancashire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
