Experienced Brunch Chef - Daytime Hours - No Late Nights Aubergine Café, West Kirby
Location: West Kirby, Wirral (CH48)
Salary: £13.50–£15.00 per hour depending on experience (approximately £28,080–£35,100 per year based on 40–45 hours), plus tips
Job type: Full-time, permanent. Daytime hours only.
Daytime chef role in a respected independent café. £13.50–£15.00 per hour plus tips. Two days off every week. No late nights, no split shifts, no double shifts. Calm kitchen, proper food, and Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day off.
Aubergine Café is looking for a confident, experienced chef to join our small, established kitchen team in West Kirby.
This is a proper daytime chef role: no late nights, no split shifts, no double shifts. We are busy, especially at weekends, but the kitchen is calm, organised and respectful. High standards without shouting.
Aubergine is West Kirby's longest-established café - independent, family-owned, and one of the most recognised cafés on the Wirral. We hold a five-star food hygiene rating. We've been featured by the BBC and several national publications. We've won a number of awards for our food.
We cook brunch properly, with delicious ingredients and consistent standards. Aigburth bacon, Bury black pudding, Appleby's free range eggs, slow-fermented focaccia, smoked Scottish kippers. From classic Eggs Royale to our Mortadella focaccia and Hot Honey Fried Chicken pancakes - café food done well.
The role
You'll be a key member of our small kitchen team, trusted to run your own section during service, support prep and help maintain standards across the kitchen. There will be opportunities to contribute to seasonal menu development. We respect chefs who bring ideas and notice improvements.
Hours
- 40-45 hours per week across 5 daytime shifts
- Two days off every week, with a full weekend off at least every six weeks
- Rotas agreed in advance
- Finished by around 5pm
- No late nights, no split shifts, no double shifts
- Weekends are our busiest period - Saturday and Sunday work is part of the role
- Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day
What we need from you
- Minimum 2 years' professional kitchen experience, or equivalent practical ability
- Level 2 Food Safety & Hygiene minimum
- Capable of running service confidently during busy service
- Comfortable with brunch cookery - poached eggs at pace, hollandaise, fresh sandwich and salad assembly, plating to a standard
- Good prep discipline, clean working habits, attention to detail
- Right to work in the UK
Helpful but not essential
- Brunch, breakfast or café-specific experience
- Bread, focaccia or pastry skills
- Allergen training
- Level 3 Food Safety & Hygiene
What we offer
- £13.50–£15.00 per hour depending on experience
- Tips on top - typically £7–£12 per shift can be expected
- Paid restaurant outings and team days - management funds food trips, restaurant visits and social outings so the team can eat together, learn together and stay inspired. Recent team days have included Bongo's Bingo
- Friends and family discount on food and drink
- Free meals and drinks on shift
- 28 days' paid holiday (including bank holidays)
- Statutory sick pay after qualifying period
- Workplace pension
- Daytime hours only, finished by 5pm
- Family-friendly hours that mean evenings at home, Christmas with your family, and a proper weekend off every six weeks
- A real voice in seasonal menu development
- A calm, supportive kitchen - high standards without shouting
- The chance to work for an award-winning, nationally recognised independent café
Apply
Click Apply on Indeed with your CV and a short note telling May (owner) what interests you about Aubergine. We aim to respond within five working days. Successful candidates will be invited to a paid trial shift (paid at the agreed hourly rate).
Closing date: 27 July 2026
Pay: £13.50-£15.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
Work Location: In person
