Join an Award-Winning Independent Restaurant
The Banyan Tree is an independent, award-winning neighbourhood restaurant and bar in the heart of Castlefield, Manchester. We pride ourselves on genuine hospitality, great service and food that people come back for time and time again.
We're looking for an experienced, ambitious and passionate Head Chef to lead our kitchen into its next chapter. This is more than just running a kitchen – it's an opportunity to help shape the future of an independent business where your ideas will be listened to and your work will have a real impact.
About the Food
Our food is best described as elevated casual dining – familiar dishes executed exceptionally well using fresh ingredients, quality cooking techniques and thoughtful presentation.
Our menus blend modern British comfort food with global influences, taking inspiration from some of the UK's most exciting kitchens.
We believe great food doesn't need to be overcomplicated. Our aim is to create dishes that are approachable, packed with flavour and consistently delivered to a high standard. Alongside our popular brunch offering, we serve refined small plates, premium burgers, seasonal specials and comforting mains, with an increasing focus on scratch cooking, fermentation, house-made sauces and reducing waste through intelligent ingredient utilisation.
As an independent business, we're constantly evolving. We encourage creativity, menu development and fresh ideas, and we're looking for a Head Chef who shares our ambition of making The Banyan Tree one of Manchester's standout neighbourhood dining destinations.
About the Role
This is an excellent opportunity for a chef who wants genuine input into menu development, kitchen operations, team training and the future direction of the business.
You'll work closely with the owners to continue developing our food offering while building a positive kitchen culture where consistency, quality and teamwork are at the heart of everything we do.
We're looking for a confident leader who can maintain exceptional standards, control costs, develop people and deliver consistently excellent food in a busy fresh-food kitchen.
What You'll Be Responsible For
- Leading and inspiring the kitchen team.
- Creating and developing seasonal menus and specials.
- Maintaining exceptional food quality and consistency.
- Managing GP, labour costs and stock control.
- Training, mentoring and developing the kitchen team.
- Maintaining excellent food safety and hygiene standards.
- Working closely with the front-of-house team to deliver outstanding guest experiences.
- Driving continuous improvement across the kitchen.
- Helping build a kitchen that chefs genuinely enjoy working in.
What We're Looking For
- Previous experience as a Head Chef, or an experienced Senior Sous Chef ready for the next step.
- Strong fresh-food background.
- Excellent leadership and communication skills.
- Commercial awareness with experience managing food costs and labour.
- Calm under pressure with strong organisational skills.
- Passion for creating exceptional food.
- Someone who enjoys developing people as much as developing menus.
- A chef who takes pride in their kitchen and wants to build something special.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary of £38,000–£41,000, depending on experience.
- Real creative freedom and influence over the menu.
- Opportunity to shape the future of an ambitious independent business.
- Supportive owners who value new ideas.
- Staff food and employee discounts.
- Company pension.
- Paid holidays.
- A genuine work-life balance compared with many hospitality businesses.
Why Join The Banyan Tree?
We're not trying to become another chain restaurant. We're building something we're proud of, a place known for exceptional hospitality, outstanding food and a team that enjoys coming to work.
If you're an ambitious Head Chef looking for a role where your ideas matter, your achievements are recognised and you can genuinely make your mark, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £38,000.00-£41,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Experience:
- Head Chef: 2 years (preferred)
- Sous Chef: 2 years (required)
Language:
Work Location: In person
