Head Chef – Wainwrights Inn

Lead the culinary operation of a standalone country pub, with full accountability for food quality, compliance, and financial performance. Design and deliver seasonal pub menu with focus on quality and volume; ensure compliance with Food Safety Management System; collaborate with Front of House to ensure seamless guest experiences. Lead and train kitchen team on Food Safety Management System requirements; ensure training materials and policies are up to date; maintain menu specification sheets. Recruit and onboard in collaboration with People Team; conduct regular team briefings and reviews; coach on kitchen standards and professional development. Manage departmental P&L, labour costs via rota planning, and opportunities to increase average spend and outlet efficiency. Manage inventory and supplier relationships; adhere to procurement policies; control waste. Ensure compliance with health & safety, licensing, and food hygiene regulations; maintain 5-star standards via regular audits. Create and maintain recipes and specification sheets; support sustainability and local sourcing. KPIs include GP margin 68-73%, staff retention 80%+, customer satisfaction 4.5/5, and kitchen hygiene standards. Langdale is an equal opportunity employer; UK right-to-work required; staff accommodation may be available.