Head Chef

Graysons is looking for an experienced, creative and highly organised Head Chef to take ownership of the kitchen operation at Farmers & Fletchers in the City of London.
Farmers & Fletchers is a distinctive livery venue hosting a varied program of events throughout the year, including formal livery lunches and dinners, private events, drinks receptions, meetings and corporate functions.
This is a hands-on role for a chef who enjoys running their own kitchen, creating menus, developing ideas and delivering consistently high standards across a varied events program.
As with any events-led venue, the level of business naturally fluctuates throughout the year. We are therefore looking for someone who enjoys variety and is comfortable adapting their working week between busy event periods, menu and production planning, and supporting wider Graysons food operations (central London area) during quieter periods.
About Graysons Graysons is an independent hospitality and catering business delivering food, events and workplace hospitality across a portfolio of distinctive venues and organisations.
Our London operations include prestigious heritage, cultural, corporate and events locations, and we are continuing to develop our food and hospitality offer across the portfolio.
We are looking for chefs who enjoy working in varied environments, take pride in quality and presentation, and are interested in building an ongoing relationship with the wider Graysons team.
The role As Head Chef, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the kitchen and food operation at Farmers & Fletchers.
The food offer is varied and can include:
Formal livery lunches and dinners
Private and corporate events
Drinks receptions and canapés
Fork buffets
Working lunches
Sandwiches and lighter catering
Pre-packed food and hospitality
Seasonal menus
Bespoke menus developed around individual client requirements
You will have the opportunity to contribute ideas not only around the food itself, but also how dishes are presented and how the overall food experience is delivered.
Key responsibilities You will be responsible for:
Leading and taking ownership of the kitchen operation at Farmers & Fletchers
Preparing and delivering food across a varied events program
Planning kitchen production around confirmed events and bookings
Creating and developing seasonal menus
Producing bespoke menus in response to client and event requirements
Bringing ideas around food presentation, service style and event delivery
Maintaining consistently high standards of food quality and presentation
Ordering and supplier management
Food cost, portion control and waste management
Stock management, stock takes and effective stock rotation
Maintaining excellent food safety and hygiene standards
Managing allergens, dietary requirements, traceability and labelling
Maintaining accurate kitchen due diligence and compliance records
Managing kitchen cleaning schedules and standards
Leading and coordinating support chefs for larger events
Working effectively with temporary or agency chefs when additional support is required
Helping recruit, train and develop kitchen support staff, including a kitchen/general porter
Working closely with the General Manager, operations team and front-of-house team
Identifying opportunities to improve kitchen efficiency, production and working practices
During quieter periods at Farmers & Fletchers, the role may also include supporting appropriate food production, canapé preparation or other Graysons venues and projects.
This gives the role greater variety while allowing the successful chef to contribute to the wider development of the Graysons food operation.
What we're looking for We're looking for a chef who is:
Experienced enough to confidently take ownership of their own kitchen
Creative and comfortable developing menus and new ideas
Experienced in delivering events, banqueting or hospitality catering
Comfortable creating bespoke menus around individual client requirements
Strong on food presentation and interested in the overall guest experience
Highly organised and able to plan effectively around an events calendar
Commercially aware, with a good understanding of food cost, purchasing, stock and waste
Excellent on food safety, allergens, due diligence and kitchen compliance
Confident leading support chefs and kitchen staff
Calm and organised during larger or more demanding events
Flexible and comfortable with the changing rhythm of an events-led business
Happy to be hands-on and part of a small venue team
Reliable, professional and able to take genuine ownership of the operation
Experience within events, banqueting, contract catering, hotels, livery venues or premium hospitality would be particularly useful.
We are particularly interested in someone who understands that an events kitchen is different from a traditional restaurant environment someone equally comfortable moving between menu development and production during quieter periods and delivering high-volume formal events when the calendar peaks.
Working pattern The operation is primarily driven by the venue's events calendar rather than a traditional seven-day restaurant service.
The working pattern will therefore vary according to bookings, with a combination of daytime and evening work and occasional weekend events.
The successful candidate will need to plan their working week effectively around the business, ensuring appropriate chef and kitchen support is in place for larger events.
Flexibility will be important, but so will good planning and making effective use of quieter periods.
Why join Graysons? This is an opportunity to genuinely take ownership of a kitchen rather than simply joining a large brigade.
You'll have the opportunity to:
Run and organise your own kitchen operation
Work across a varied program of events
Create and develop seasonal and bespoke menus
Influence food presentation and service style
Build and develop your kitchen support team
Work closely with the venue and operations teams
Contribute to food production and projects across the wider Graysons business
Help shape and improve the food offer at Farmers & Fletchers
We're looking for someone who wants to make the kitchen their own, bring ideas to the table and become an important part of the team at Farmers & Fletchers.
Jade (General Manager) will be onsite for open interviews Monday-Wednesday 10:00-15:30 over the next 2-3 weeks, dependent progress.

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