Head Chef – The Ship Inn, Conyer Quay, Kent
Location: Conyer Quay, Sittingbourne, Kent
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: £30,000 - £42,000 per year (depending on experience) + tips
About Us
The Ship Inn is a well-established waterside pub and restaurant located on the beautiful Conyer Creek in Kent. We pride ourselves on serving high-quality, seasonal food in a relaxed and welcoming environment, attracting both loyal local customers and visitors from across the region.
We are seeking an experienced and passionate Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and help drive the next chapter of our food offering.
The Role
As Head Chef, you will have overall responsibility for the kitchen operation, ensuring exceptional food quality, consistency, and profitability while maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and food safety.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate, and develop the kitchen team
- Design and deliver seasonal menus using fresh, quality ingredients
- Manage food costs, stock control, and supplier relationships
- Ensure compliance with food safety and health & safety regulations
- Maintain high standards of presentation and service
- Recruit, train, and schedule kitchen staff
- Work closely with management to achieve business objectives
What We're Looking For
- Proven experience as a Head Chef or an ambitious Sous Chef ready to step up
- Strong fresh-food background, ideally within pubs, gastropubs, or restaurants
- Experience managing food GP, stock, and kitchen budgets
- Excellent leadership and communication skills
- Passion for seasonal British cuisine and menu development
- Food Safety qualification and strong knowledge of kitchen compliance
What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Tips
- Creative freedom to influence menus and food direction
- Supportive ownership and management team
- Opportunity to build and develop your own kitchen team
- Beautiful waterfront working environment
How to Apply
If you're a talented chef looking for an exciting opportunity to lead a respected Kent pub kitchen, we'd love to hear from you.
Please apply with your CV and a brief cover note outlining your experience and why you'd be a great fit for The Ship Inn.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Schedule:
- Day shifts
- Evening shifts
- Weekends
Experience:
- Head Chef: 2 years (preferred)
- Fresh food kitchen management: 3 years
Work Location: In person, Conyer Quay, Sittingbourne, Kent
Pay: £30,000.00-£42,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
