Chef Kitchen

Who We Are

Make sure to read the full description below, and please apply immediately if you are confident you meet all the requirements.
LOCKES is an independent, family-owned cocktail bar and pizza restaurant in the heart of Londons West End. Rated 4.8 stars on Google across 800+ reviews and 4.9 on TagVenue, weve built one of Covent Gardens most welcoming venues two floors, two bars, a proper kitchen, and a team that genuinely cares about every guest.
Weve recently opened a second site on Battersea Rise in Clapham Junction, and both are growing. Behind LOCKES is a founder with 30 years of hospitality experience and 40 successful site openings. This isnt a faceless group its owner-operated, decisions are made fast, and the right person will have real influence over what comes out of the kitchen.
The Opportunity
This is a kitchen leadership role with genuine creative input. Youll be based primarily at Covent Garden with occasional shifts in Clapham, running a small kitchen team across breakfast, lunch and evening service.
Right now we serve a brilliant breakfast from 8am and an Italian-inspired menu of Neapolitan sourdough pizzas, sharing boards and small plates. Were ready to go further. We want to develop a lunch and evening food offer alongside our existing menu and we want the right person to help build it.
If youve got solid kitchen leadership experience, a genuine love of food and the kind of attitude that makes a team better just by being in it, we want to hear from you.
What Youll Be Doing
Leading a small kitchen team across breakfast, lunch and evening service
Helping develop and introduce a new lunch and dinner menu alongside our existing pizza offer
Maintaining consistently high food quality, presentation and hygiene standards at all times
Managing prep, ordering and stock control keeping the kitchen running cleanly and efficiently
Covering key shifts across Covent Garden (primary) and Clapham Junction (occasional)
Jumping in wherever the team needs you were a small, tight operation and everyone plays their part
What Were Looking For
Solid experience leading a small kitchen team comfortable holding the pass and developing the people around you
Food Safety / Hygiene Level 3 essential, non-negotiable
Experience with breakfast service we open at 8am, early starts are part of the role
Ideally some experience with Italian, pizza-focused or Mediterranean menus though not essential
A genuine team-player no egos, no drama, happy to do whatever the shift needs
Someone excited by the idea of building something, not just maintaining it
Why Join Us
Work directly alongside a founder with 30 years experience and 40 site openings youll develop fast
Real creative input into a new food offer from day one this is your menu to help shape
£18ph guaranteed base + service charge typical total earnings £2022ph, competitive with much larger operations
Two strong central London locations with loyal regulars and great teams
A proper independent no corporate layers, decisions made quickly, your voice heard
4.8 Google / 4.9 TagVenue were proud of what weve built and were not done yet
The Detail
Salary: £18 per hour guaranteed base + service charge. Typical total earnings £2022 per hour.
Contract: Full-time, Permanent. Probation period applies.
Hours: Early starts required. Kitchen opens at 6:307:00am for 8am breakfast service. Shifts across both sites.
Holiday: 28 days per year including bank holidays.
Right to work: You must have the right to work in the UK. Checks will be carried out before employment commences.
Travel: Covent Garden is your primary base. Clapham Junction shifts are occasional. Travel between sites is by public transport (approx. xwzovoh 3540 minutes).