Newcastle | Full-Time | Leadership Chance

Create something new. Lead with creativity. Make your mark on two of Newcastle’s most loved pubs.

We are looking for an experienced hands on and passionate Executive Chef to lead the culinary direction to help create a new gastro pub bistro experience in one venue whilst enhancing and refining the food offering in the second venue.

This is an exciting chance for a chef who wants more than just running a kitchen. We are looking for someone who can help create the food identity, build a strong team, and deliver an exceptional customer experience.

You will have the opportunity to create a connected food offering while allowing each venue to maintain its own identity The Role

As Executive Chef, you will take ownership of the culinary direction across both venues, working hands-on with the kitchen teams and closely with the senior leadership team. You will lead the development of seasonal, modern, and approachable menus that deliver an exceptional guest experience while remaining commercially successful.

You will be responsible for:

- Creating and developing and launching a new gastro bistro food offering at one of the venues.
- Leading menu development, seasonal changes, and chef specials.
- Creating food that is exciting and innovative while remaining approachable for a broad pub audience.
- Building and mentoring a strong kitchen team across both venues.
- Developing systems, standards, and consistency across the kitchens.
- Managing food costs, labour, and kitchen profitability.




- Working closely with suppliers to source quality products and manage pricing.
- Training and developing both kitchen teams.
- Maintaining high standards of food quality, presentation, and execution.
- Working with the leadership and marketing teams to develop food promotions and events.
- Staying current with food trends while ensuring the menus remain commercially relevant.

What We’re Looking For We are looking for an Executive Chef who is:

- Passionate about food and hospitality.
- A robust leader who can inspire and develop a team.
- Creative and confident with menu development.
- Commercially minded and understands food cost, labour, and profitability.
- Hands-on and willing to lead from the front.
- Organised and able to manage multiple venues.
- Focused on consistency, presentation, and quality.
- A strong communicator who enjoys working collaboratively.
- Excited by the opportunity to build something new.

The Opportunity This isn't simply a role to maintain an existing menu.

We want you to help create the next food chapter at one of the venues whilst enhancing the offering at the second venue.

You will have the opportunity to influence the style of food, develop the menus, build your team, and create a gastro bistro experience that customers want to come back to.

If you are an experienced Head Chef, Executive Chef, or senior chef ready to take the next step and make your mark across two established Newcastle venues, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and let's create something great together.

📌 Executive Chef – New Gastro Bistro Concept (Newcastle)
🏢 Watering Hole Hotels
📍 Newcastle