Head Chef

Head Chef – The Duke

Wanstead, East London
Full-Time | Permanent

Lead the Kitchen at One of East London’s Most-Loved Neighbourhood Pubs

The Duke is a thriving independent neighbourhood pub in the heart of Wanstead. We’re looking for a talented and ambitious Head Chef to lead our kitchen team, delivering exceptional food and helping shape our dining offer.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head Chef—or a confident Senior Sous Chef ready to take the next step in their career.

We’re passionate about sustainability, seasonal cooking and outstanding ingredients. If you take pride in your food, enjoy developing others and want to make your mark within a supportive independent business, we’d love to hear from you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Taking responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen
• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team
• Creating seasonal menus that appeal to our guests and reflect the pub’s identity
• Maintaining exceptional standards of food quality, consistency and presentation
• Managing food costs, portion control and waste to achieve agreed gross profit targets
• Overseeing stock control, ordering and supplier relationships
• Planning kitchen rotas and managing staffing levels within agreed budgets
• Maintaining high standards of food hygiene, allergen management and kitchen safety
• Recruiting, training and mentoring chefs and kitchen staff
• Working closely with the General Manager and front-of-house team to deliver outstanding guest experiences

What We’re Looking For

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, or as a strong Senior Sous Chef ready to progress
• Experience within a quality-led pub, restaurant or dining environment
• A passion for seasonal produce and modern British cooking
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to build a positive kitchen culture
• Confidence in menu development, costing and managing kitchen budgets
• Excellent organisation and attention to detail
• A hands-on approach and the ability to lead calmly during busy services
• Sound knowledge of food safety, allergen procedures and kitchen management
• A positive attitude and genuine enthusiasm for hospitality

What We Offer

• A competitive salary based on experience
• Creative input and ownership of seasonal menu development
• The opportunity to work with exceptional suppliers and quality produce
• Staff meals and generous company discounts
• Career development within a growing independent hospitality business
• A supportive and ambitious senior management team

Ready for Your Next Challenge?

If you’re passionate about great food, sustainable sourcing and leading a team that cares about hospitality, we’d love to meet you.

To apply, please send your CV to

[email protected]

Pay: £40,000.00-£46,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person