Head Chef / Kitchen Manager
Top's , Saundersfoot, £45,000 per annum
Top's is a young, buzzy modern Italian restaurant where tradition meets contemporary technique, built on the very best local ingredients. Think open kitchen, wood-fire glow, natural wines, a great playlist, and a dining room that’s always full of energy. We work directly with nearby farmers, growers, butchers, and fishmongers to bring seasonal British produce together with classic Italian craft — house-made pasta, wood-fired cooking, and dishes that change with what’s growing nearby. We’re now looking for a passionate, creative Head Chef / Kitchen Manager to lead our kitchen and shape the next chapter of our menu.
About the role
This is a genuinely creative role with real ownership in one of the area’s most exciting independents. Reporting to the owner, you’ll run the kitchen end-to-end — from menu development and service execution to GP control, rotas, and team culture. You’ll have the freedom to build relationships with local suppliers, design dishes around what’s at its peak, and put your stamp on a kitchen that values quality over volume. We’re looking for someone who leads from the pass, takes pride in a tight, well-run brigade of 3, and gets excited about turning a crate of just-picked produce into something special.
What you’ll do
· Lead daily kitchen operations across lunch and dinner service
· Design and refine a seasonal, produce-led modern Italian menu — fresh pasta, antipasti, mains, and desserts
· Build and nurture relationships with local farmers, growers, foragers, butchers, and fishmongers
· Champion provenance and seasonality, with menus that evolve as the seasons change
· Develop a strong social media-friendly food identity — dishes that look as good as they taste
· Manage food costs, GP%, ordering, stock control, and supplier relationships
· Recruit, train, mentor, and rota a team of 5 kitchen staff
· Maintain the highest standards of food safety, HACCP, and kitchen hygiene to consistently achieve a 5-star EHO rating
· Work closely with front-of-house to ensure smooth, consistent service in a high-energy environment
· Drive continuous improvement in quality, plating, and efficiency
What we’re looking for
· Proven experience as a Head Chef, Sous Chef stepping up, or Kitchen Manager (Italian cuisine strongly preferred)
· A genuine creative streak — confident developing dishes, evolving the menu, and bringing new ideas to the pass
· Real knowledge of regional Italian cooking — fresh pasta-making is essential
· A passion for seasonality, provenance, and working with the best local produce
· An eye for plating and presentation that fits a modern, trend-led dining room
· Strong leadership skills with a calm, professional manner under pressure
· Commercial nous — food costing, margins, ordering, and waste management
· Confident with rotas, stock systems, and EPOS/back-of-house software
· Level 3 Food Hygiene & Safety certificate (or willingness to obtain)
· Right to work in the UK
· Availability across evenings and weekends
What we offer
· £45,000 per annum
· Genuine creative freedom over the menu and direction of the kitchen
· A young, vibrant team and a buzzy, design-led dining room that’s a real destination
· A produce-first kitchen with strong local supplier relationships already in place
· Workplace pension and 28 days’ holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
· Tronc / service charge share
· Staff meals, generous dining discounts, and regular team tastings (including supplier visits and trips)
· Opportunities for growth as the business expands
How to apply
Send your CV and a short covering letter to [email protected] or apply directly through Indeed. Tell us about a dish you’ve created using local, seasonal produce — and what made it special. Bonus points for sending a snap of it.
We look forward to meeting you.
Pay: £45,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
