Head Chef

About The Winchester Orangery

The Winchester Orangery is a vibrant and stylish café, restaurant and bar situated in the heart of Winchester. Known for our welcoming atmosphere, quality food and exceptional hospitality, we pride ourselves on creating memorable experiences that keep our guests coming back.

From relaxed breakfasts and lunches to evening tapas, private events and special occasions, we offer a diverse food experience with an emphasis on fresh ingredients, quality presentation and consistently high standards.

We are now looking for a passionate, creative and experienced Head Chef to take ownership of our kitchen, lead our team and help drive the continued success of The Winchester Orangery.

The Role

As Head Chef, you will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of kitchen operations, delivering consistently excellent food and ensuring the kitchen runs efficiently, profitably and to the highest standards.

We are looking for someone who is not only a talented chef but also a strong leader with a commercial mindset, a genuine passion for hospitality and the creativity to develop exciting seasonal menus.

You will have the opportunity to make a real impact on our food offering, working closely with management to develop menus, maintain exceptional standards and create dishes that encourage repeat custom.

Key Responsibilities

Kitchen Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, motivate and develop the kitchen team, creating a positive, professional and supportive working environment.
• Manage kitchen rotas, staffing levels and labour costs in line with business requirements.
• Recruit, train and develop kitchen staff, ensuring consistency in food preparation and service.
• Lead by example, maintaining high standards of professionalism, organisation and teamwork.
• Work closely with the front-of-house team to ensure smooth service and an exceptional guest experience.

Food Quality & Menu Development

• Take full ownership of food quality, consistency and presentation across all services.
• Develop creative, seasonal menus that reflect The Winchester Orangery's identity and appeal to our customers.
• Maintain and enhance our daytime food offering, evening tapas menus and seasonal specials.
• Create exciting dishes for private events, functions and special occasions.
• Ensure dishes are consistently prepared to specification, with a focus on flavour, presentation and quality.
• Respond positively to guest feedback and continuously improve the food offering to encourage repeat visits.

Commercial & Operational Management

• Take responsibility for kitchen profitability, including food gross profit, stock control, wastage and labour costs.
• Manage ordering, supplier relationships and stock levels effectively.
• Carry out regular stocktakes and implement measures to minimise waste and maximise profitability.
• Ensure portion control, recipe costing and menu pricing are managed effectively.
• Work with senior management to achieve agreed financial and operational targets.
• Identify opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency without compromising food quality.

Food Safety & Compliance

• Maintain excellent standards of food hygiene, cleanliness and kitchen organisation.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety legislation, allergen management and health and safety requirements.
• Maintain accurate kitchen records, cleaning schedules and temperature checks.
• Ensure the kitchen is consistently prepared for environmental health inspections, with a commitment to achieving and maintaining a 5-star food hygiene rating.

About You

We are looking for someone who has:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef or an experienced Sous Chef ready to take the next step.
• A genuine passion for fresh, high-quality food and creative menu development.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to inspire and develop a kitchen team.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• A sound understanding of food gross profit, stock management, labour costs and kitchen profitability.
• Experience delivering consistent food standards in a busy hospitality environment.
• Confidence in managing multiple food offerings, including daytime dining, evening service and private events.
• A proactive, hands-on approach with excellent attention to detail.
• Strong knowledge of food safety, hygiene regulations and allergen management.
• A positive attitude and a commitment to delivering an exceptional guest experience.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on experience.
• Great Tips.
• The opportunity to take ownership of the kitchen and influence the direction of our menus.
• Creative freedom to develop seasonal dishes, specials and new food concepts.
• A supportive management team within an established independent hospitality group.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Staff discounts across our group of venues.
• A welcoming, friendly and ambitious working environment.

Why Join Us?

At The Winchester Orangery, we believe great food is at the heart of great hospitality.

We are looking for a Head Chef who takes pride in their work, understands the importance of consistency and profitability, and wants to build a kitchen that both the team and our customers can be proud of.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious chef to put their stamp on an established venue, develop a strong kitchen team and play a key role in the future success of The Winchester Orangery.

If you're a passionate chef with strong leadership skills, a creative approach to food and the drive to make a real difference, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: From £18.95 per hour

Expected hours: 45.0 per week

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Discounted or free food

Work Location: In person