Head Chef

Company Description

👨‍🍳 Ready to put your stamp on a kitchen?

Are you a Head Chef who loves great food, great people and the buzz of a busy pub?

Doctor’s Tonic is looking for a passionate and ambitious Head Chef to join our team in Welwyn Garden City.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who doesn't just want to run a kitchen – we want you to help shape one.

With a busy social atmosphere, live sport, events, DJs, a large garden and plenty of potential, there's a fantastic opportunity for the right chef to build a food offer that becomes a real reason for customers to visit.

🍔 Why Doctor’s Tonic?

Because there's plenty of opportunity to make your mark.

Doctor’s Tonic is a lively Urban Social pub with a real community feel.

With around 160 covers across two floors, a large front garden and function space, there's plenty of opportunity to create different experiences for customers throughout the week.

The pub has a strong sporting identity, particularly with its Arsenal following, and shows Sky Sports and TNT Sports.

There's also a packed social calendar, with Monday quizzes, DJs on Friday and Saturday nights, live music and private events.

The kitchen is an important part of the next stage of the pub's journey, and we're looking for someone who can help us build the food offer and make it a genuine strength of the business.

There is also scope for future investment in the site, and the right Head Chef will have the opportunity to help shape what comes next.

Job Description

🔥 What's the opportunity?

As Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen and play a key role in the future success of Doctor’s Tonic.

You'll have the freedom to bring your ideas, develop your team and help build a food offer that sits alongside everything else this lively pub has to offer.

You'll have the opportunity to:

• Take ownership of the kitchen, setting the standard for food quality, presentation and service.
• Develop and grow the food offer, creating dishes that give customers another reason to visit.
• Build, coach and develop a strong kitchen team.
• Bring energy and organisation to every service, especially during busy sporting events and entertainment nights.
• Work closely with the General Manager to drive the success of the pub.
• Identify opportunities to grow food sales and increase the pub's appeal as a destination for dining.
• Take ownership of stock, waste, GP and kitchen performance.
• Maintain excellent food safety, hygiene and allergen standards.
• Create a positive kitchen culture where your team can learn, develop and enjoy coming to work.
• Put your own stamp on the kitchen and help shape the next chapter of Doctor’s Tonic.

Qualifications

👊 What we're looking for

We're looking for a chef who is passionate, hands-on and excited by the opportunity to make a real difference.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Head Chef, Kitchen Manager or experienced Sous Chef ready for their next step.
• Experience managing a busy kitchen and leading a team through fast-paced service.
• A genuine passion for food and delivering consistently high standards.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to coach and develop your team.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of kitchen performance, stock and waste.
• The confidence to make decisions and take ownership.
• A positive, solutions-focused approach.
• High standards around food safety, hygiene and allergen controls.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work closely with the wider management team.

Additional Information

🎁 And there's plenty in it for you...

We're all about rewarding our team's hard work, so as well as a competitive salary and pension contribution, you'll receive:

• Career development opportunities across our well-known Greene King brands.
• Training and development at every stage of your career.
• 33% discount for you and 15% for your loved ones across our brands.
• 50% discount for you and 25% for your loved ones at Greene King Inns and hotels.
• Free employee assistance programme covering mental health, wellbeing, financial and legal support.
• Enhanced family-friendly maternity and paternity policies.
• Menopause Friendly Employer.
• Refer a friend and earn up to £1,500.
• Wagestream – access your earned wages before payday.
• Retail discounts, including up to 30% off at Superdrug and exclusive Three Mobile offers.

🚀 Ready to make the kitchen yours?

If you're a chef who wants more than just another kitchen – a chance to develop a team, grow a food offer and make a real commercial impact – we'd love to hear from you.

Bring your passion. Build your kitchen. Make Doctor’s Tonic your own.

Apply today!

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.