Head Chef | New Opening | The Boathouse, Amberley | Accommodation Available
Opening late early September.
The Boathouse is a new riverside caffè, bar and trattoria opening beside the River Arun in Amberley, with views across the South Downs National Park.
We are building the kind of place we would want to eat in ourselves. A return back to a week later with the change left in our pocket.
The premise from a multi-award winning management team is as simple as it comes: impeccably sourced ingredients, carefully prepared, served by those who care, whilst all be generously priced.
Relaxed, genuine and full of atmosphere. Somewhere people can stop for coffee and pastries after a walk, settle in for a long lunch, drink a cheap spritz by the river and return again in the evening for pasta, fish, grilled meat and a bottle of wine.
We are looking for a Head Chef to help shape the food, recruit the kitchen team and build the restaurant with us from the beginning.
The Food
The cooking will be simple, seasonal and Italian-inspired.
Not fine dining. Not overworked. Not designed by committee.
We want:
- Handmade pasta
- South Coast fish and seafood
- Meat and vegetables cooked over fire
- Proper pizza
- Cicchetti and aperitivo snacks
- A small selection of simple desserts
- Excellent ingredients treated with respect
The menu will change regularly according to the season, the produce available and what the kitchen wants to cook.
It should feel familiar without becoming boring. Generous without becoming heavy. Interesting without needing an explanation from the waiter.
Above all, it should be food that people want to eat every week.
The Restaurant
The Boathouse will move naturally through the day.
Coffee, pastries and breakfast will lead into lunch. Afternoons will bring cicchetti, cold drinks and Venetian-inspired aperitivo. Evenings will be built around simple plates, handmade pasta, wood-fired cooking and a compact wine list from small producers.
The setting is beautiful, but we do not want to rely on the view.
Our goal is to build one of the most enjoyable restaurants in Sussex. A place known for good food, warm hospitality, fair prices and an atmosphere that makes people want to stay for another drink.
The Person
You may already be an experienced Head Chef.
You may be a strong Senior Sous Chef who is ready to lead your own kitchen.
We care more about your judgement, energy and attitude than the names on your CV.
You will need:
- Strong, confident cooking skills
- A genuine understanding of simple Italian food
- Excellent organisation
- Commercial awareness
- The ability to control food costs and labour
- Confidence recruiting and leading a small team
- Pride in cleanliness, consistency and preparation
- The ability to remain calm during a busy service
- A sense of humour
You should understand that running a successful restaurant is not about vanity. It is about consistency, generosity and making customers happy.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Hands on cooking
- Developing seasonal and regularly changing menus
- Helping shape the kitchen layout and opening systems
- Recruiting and training the kitchen team
- Creating a positive, respectful kitchen culture
- Managing ordering, stock, food costs and labour
- Building strong relationships with local fishermen, growers and suppliers
- Working closely with the owner and front-of-house team
- Maintaining excellent standards without unnecessary complication
- Helping create a restaurant that works commercially and creatively
What We’re Offering
- A competitive salary
- Tronc
- Bonus opportunity
- Significant creative input into the food
- The chance to build your own kitchen team
- Staff meals
- Company discounts
- On-site accommodation available
- A location one minute from Amberley railway station
- The opportunity to build something properly from day one
We want good ingredients, bold flavours, sensible margins and a happy kitchen.
The right person will have real ownership of the food and the opportunity to help make The Boathouse one of the region’s most loved independent restaurants.
To apply, please send your CV and a short note telling us about you.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £42,000.00-£55,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Employee stock purchase plan
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
