Head Chef

Head Chef

Location: Notting Hill, London

Salary: £45,000 basic, with tronc taking the total package up to £60,000

A new French bistro is opening in Notting Hill in early 2027, and we are looking for a Head Chef to lead the kitchen from day one.

The restaurant will focus on classic French bistro and brasserie cuisine, with seasonal menus, quality produce and honest cooking in a relaxed neighbourhood setting.

This is a ground-up opening, offering the opportunity to develop the menu, recruit and build the kitchen team, establish supplier relationships and shape the food offering from the outset.

We are open to an experienced Head Chef or an ambitious Sous Chef ready to take the next step in their career.

The Role

Working closely with the owner, you will take responsibility for developing the food offering and building a kitchen that delivers consistent, high-quality French bistro cooking.

Key responsibilities include:

• Creating and developing a seasonal à la carte menu rooted in French bistro and brasserie cuisine.
• Recruiting, training and leading the kitchen team ahead of opening.
• Sourcing quality ingredients and developing strong supplier relationships.
• Managing food costs, gross profit targets, purchasing and kitchen budgets.
• Establishing systems for preparation, consistency, food safety and kitchen organisation.
• Leading service hands-on and maintaining high standards across every dish.
• Working with the owner to shape the restaurant's identity, menu and long-term direction.

The Ideal Candidate

• Experience as a Head Chef or a strong Sous Chef ready for their first Head Chef role.
• A genuine understanding of French cuisine, particularly traditional bistro and brasserie cooking.
• The ability to develop and execute a full à la carte menu using seasonal produce.
• Experience building, training and developing a kitchen team.
• A sound understanding of food costs, GP, purchasing and kitchen financials.
• A hands-on approach, strong organisation and a commitment to consistency.
• An entrepreneurial mindset and the drive to open a restaurant from scratch.
• The ability to work closely with an owner and take real ownership of the food offering.

A strong understanding of French cuisine and the ability to execute it well are what matter most.

The Opportunity

The restaurant will feature 45 indoor covers across the ground floor and downstairs dining area, plus 45 outdoor covers in the garden.

With no existing menu or kitchen team to inherit, you will have the freedom to build the kitchen from the ground up, establish its culture and play a central role in creating a new neighbourhood restaurant.

This is an opportunity to take genuine ownership of a kitchen, influence the direction of the business and build something from the beginning.

Package and Details

• Salary: £45,000 basic, with tronc taking the total package up to £60,000.
• Contract: Permanent, full-time.
• Start date: December 2026.
• Location: Notting Hill, West London.
• Reporting to: Owner and General Manager.

If you are a Head Chef or ambitious Sous Chef with a passion for French bistro cooking and the ambition to lead a new opening, we would like to hear from you.