Head Chef – The Kitchen @ Winchester Golf Academy & The Meyrick Club

We're The Kitchen @, a small independent food business running two venues: an all-day café at Winchester Golf Academy, just outside the city centre, and The Kitchen @ The Meyrick Club. We're looking for a Head Chef who wants to cook properly, lead from the pass and help shape what we become next, without giving up their whole life to the job. No corporate head office. No spec sheets sent down from above. Just good food, a team that cares, and an owner who works alongside you every day.
Running the kitchen day to day: hands on, cooking on the line and working alongside your team
Creating and developing menus with the owner: all-day breakfast and brunch, lunch, evening / events offers
Leading, training and developing a keen team, many early in their careers
Ordering and working with our local suppliers
Managing food costs, GP, waste and stock
Keeping food safety, allergen management and HACCP spot on - we hold a 5-star food hygiene rating
Rota planning and kitchen labour, with support from the owner

An experienced Sous Chef ready to step up, or a Head Chef looking for a better balance
Someone who loves cooking and wants to be on the stove, not stuck in an office
A natural teacher and leader who brings people with them, calmly
Organised, with a good understanding of costs, ordering and food safety
Excited by fresh, seasonal, well-sourced food in a relaxed, busy setting
Level 3 Food Safety and allergen training (or happy to get them, we'll support you)

40,000 per year including tronc (this is uncapped)
5-day week, usually with 2 consecutive days off
Earlier finishes than a traditional restaurant
28 days holiday including bank holidays
Staff meals on shift
Workplace pension
Free parking on site
Staff discount / range sessions / golf lessons
Christmas Day and Boxing Day off
Genuine say in the menu and the team

• A life outside the kitchen. Our venues close earlier than traditional restaurants, so late finishes are the exception, not the rule. Typical finish: 8pm.
• Five days a week, generally two days off together. Proper time to rest, see people and have a weekend of your own, even if it's not always Saturday and Sunday.
• Your menu, your voice. You'll have real menu autonomy, developing dishes, specials and seasonal changes together with the owner.
• Build the team you want to work in. You'll recruit, train and lead the kitchen team, setting the standards and the culture.
• Room to grow. We're an independent business that's growing, and we want a Head Chef who grows with us. With Padel @ The Meyrick Club due to open at the end of 2026 and then an All Day Restaurant & Bar in Twyford opening in March 2027, there is plenty to focus on.
• Our guests are golfers, families, couples, dog walkers, friends catching up, work lunches and after-work drinks, so the food needs to be generous, reliable and done really well. We work with brilliant local producers, including Mcinnes Meats, Vale Farm Eggs in Pitt, The Street Bakeshop in Basingstoke, Stuga in Winchester and Sweetie Pie Bakery in St Mary Bourne.
• How to apply: Send your CV and a few lines about the food you love to cook to hello@thekitchenat.uk. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for a chat and a paid trial shift.

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