We’re looking for an experienced Head Chef or Sous Chef to join our team and take a key role in running our kitchen.

We are a busy, established café focused on breakfast, brunch and lunch, with a growing functions and events side of the business.

This position could suit an experienced Head Chef looking for a new venue, or a strong Sous Chef who is ready for more responsibility and the prospect to step up.

We want someone who is hands-on, organised, reliable and confident running a busy service.

The Role

You’ll be involved in:

- Running and leading busy breakfast and lunch services

- Maintaining consistent food quality, presentation and portion sizes

- Organising daily prep and keeping the kitchen running efficiently

- Leading and supporting the kitchen team

- Training and developing junior chefs and kitchen staff

- Ordering, stock control and supplier management

- Controlling food costs and reducing wastage

- Assisting with kitchen rostering and labour management

- Developing new dishes, specials and seasonal menu items

- Recipe development and menu costing

- Maintaining strong food safety and kitchen standards

- Working closely with FOH and management

Functions & Events

Functions are an important and growing part of our business.

You will also have the chance to:

- Develop function and event menus

- Plan and prepare food for private and corporate functions

- Coordinate function preparation and service

- Manage food quantities, costing and presentation

- Work with FOH to deliver smooth events





- Help us develop new function food concepts and packages

Who We’re Looking For

You may already be a Head Chef, or you may be an experienced Sous Chef ready to step up.

What matters most to us is that you:

- Have solid café, brunch or casual dining experience

- Are comfortable working in a fast-paced kitchen

- Can confidently lead a busy service

- Understand food cost, portion control and wastage

- Are organised with prep, ordering and stock

- Can lead and communicate well with a kitchen team

- Care about consistency and presentation

- Enjoy contributing ideas to menus and specials

- Are hands-on and willing to lead from the front

- Work well with both BOH and FOH

- Take responsibility rather than waiting to be told what needs to be done

Experience with functions, catering or events is an advantage, but not essential for the right person.

What We Offer

- Full-time position

- Competitive salary based on experience

- Daytime-focused café operation

- Genuine input into menu development

- Chance to develop our functions and events offering

- Established venue and customer base

- Supportive management

- Opportunity for an experienced Sous Chef to progress into a Head Chef position

- Long-term opportunity for the right person

We’re looking for someone who wants more than just another kitchen job.

If you’re a capable chef who wants to take responsibility, contribute ideas and become an important part of the venue, we’d love to hear from you.

📌 Head chef/Sous chef (Highgate)
🏢 Blacksmith Highgate
📍 Highgate