Executive Chef - Little & Large Pub Company
Full-time | Multi-site role
Little & Large Pub Company is looking for an experienced, commercially minded and inspiring Executive Chef to lead the food direction across our growing collection of premium food led pubs and country inns.
This is a senior leadership role for an ambitious chef who combines creativity and a genuine passion for hospitality with strong operational discipline. You will work closely with our senior management team and site Head Chefs to develop outstanding menus, improve consistency, strengthen kitchen standards and deliver sustainable commercial results.
The Role
As Executive Chef, you will take responsibility for the overall food strategy across the group. You will support and challenge our Head Chefs, ensuring each kitchen delivers excellent food, strong gross profit, effective labour control and consistently high standards of food safety and cleanliness.
You will be involved in menu development, recipe creation, kitchen recruitment, training, supplier management and the launch of new concepts and sites.
This is a hands-on position. You must be comfortable working in kitchens alongside the teams, supporting services, leading menu launches and addressing operational challenges directly, as well as covering site chefs absence.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and implement the group’s overall food strategy.
Create seasonal, commercially successful menus that reflect the identity of each pub.
Lead menu development, tastings, cook-offs and new dish launches.
Ensure all recipes, specifications, allergens and costings are accurate and fully documented.
Support Head Chefs in achieving food gross profit, labour and stock-control targets.
Monitor food quality, presentation, portion control and consistency across all sites.
Recruit, train, mentor and develop Head Chefs and senior kitchen teams.
Conduct regular kitchen visits, audits and performance reviews.
Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, health and safety, and allergen compliance.
Improve purchasing, supplier relationships and product quality while controlling costs.
Reduce food waste and strengthen stocktaking and ordering processes.
Support new openings, kitchen refurbishments and the development of new food concepts.
Work closely with operations, marketing and finance teams on events, promotions and business planning.
Lead by example and create a positive, professional and accountable kitchen culture.
About You
You will be an established Executive Chef, Group Chef or experienced multi-site Head Chef with a strong background in quality pubs, restaurants, hotels or hospitality groups.
You will have:
Proven experience overseeing several kitchens or food-led venues.
A strong understanding of food gross profit, labour management and kitchen financial performance.
Excellent menu-development and recipe-costing skills.
Experience recruiting, training and developing senior chefs.
Strong knowledge of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance.
The ability to balance creativity with commercial awareness.
A practical, hands-on and solutions-focused approach.
Excellent communication, organisation and leadership skills.
The confidence to challenge standards while supporting and motivating teams.
A full UK driving licence and the flexibility to travel between sites.
What We Offer
A senior role within an ambitious and growing independent pub company.
The opportunity to shape the future food direction of the business.
A competitive salary and performance-related bonus.
Company pension and team benefits.
Supportive senior leadership and genuine influence over business decisions.
Opportunities to develop new menus, concepts and future openings.
A diverse collection of pubs, country inns, restaurants and event spaces.
At Little & Large Pub Company, we believe that it’s the little things that make the large difference. We are looking for an Executive Chef who shares that belief and can inspire our kitchen teams to deliver exceptional food, every service, every day.
We look forward to hearing from you.
