Head Chef

The Boathouse, Cambridge

Head Chef/ Kitchen Manager

Salary - £34,000 - £38,000

Ready to lead a busy kitchen in a truly special riverside location?

Set on the banks of the River Cam, right in the heart of Cambridge, The Boathouse is a destination pub with plenty going on . From busy lunchtime services and tourist trade to weddings, parties, group bookings and seasonal celebrations, there's always an opportunity to make an impact.

We're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager or Head Chef who can lead from the front, bring the team together and deliver fantastic food consistently. If you thrive in a fast-paced kitchen and enjoy making the most of a busy operation, this could be your next opportunity.

Why The Boathouse?

A riverside setting, a busy city location and a kitchen with plenty of variety.

The Boathouse offers something different from your typical pub kitchen. Sitting beside the River Cam, we're perfectly placed for tourists, locals and visitors enjoying everything Cambridge has to offer.

Our menu features pub favourites, from fish & chips and hearty pies to steaks and family-friendly dishes. Alongside our regular trade, our function room provides opportunities to cater for weddings, parties and group celebrations.

Summer brings soaring sales and increased riverside footfall, while Christmas delivers another busy period with group bookings and festive gatherings. You'll need to be ready to plan, organise and lead your team through these peaks — and make the most of the opportunities they bring.

It's a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in their kitchen and wants to help drive a busy business forward.

What's the opportunity?

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the day-to-day running of the kitchen, leading your team to deliver great food, excellent standards and memorable customer experiences.

With a strong lunchtime trade, plenty of visitors exploring Cambridge and function space for weddings, parties and events, you'll need to be organised, commercially aware and ready to make the most of every opportunity.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who knows how to run a kitchen, enjoys leading people and takes pride in delivering great food.

Responsibilities

Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team to deliver their best.; Taking ownership of every service, maintaining high standards of food quality, consistency and presentation.; Managing food safety, hygiene and allergen procedures to ensure the kitchen is always compliant.; Controlling stock, ordering, waste and kitchen costs to support strong GP performance.; Planning and organising the kitchen to meet the demands of busy services and group bookings.; Making the most of our function space, supporting food delivery for weddings, parties and special events.; Preparing the team for seasonal peaks, including our busy summer trade and Christmas group bookings.; Working closely with the front-of-house and management teams to deliver a seamless guest experience.; Coaching and developing your team, building confidence, skills and a positive kitchen culture.; Bringing fresh ideas to the menu and operation to help drive sales and grow the business.

Requirements

Previous experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef, Sous Chef or in a similar senior kitchen role.; Experience in a busy pub, restaurant or high-volume kitchen.; Strong leadership skills and the confidence to lead from the front.; A hands-on approach, with the ability to organise and motivate your team during busy services.; A good understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergen management.; Experience managing stock, reducing waste and controlling kitchen costs.; Commercial awareness and an understanding of how food quality and consistency contribute to business success.; The ability to plan ahead and manage competing priorities, particularly during seasonal peaks and large bookings.; A passion for developing people and creating a kitchen where the team can thrive.