Head Chef

Its striking powder-blue façade, a study in Georgian elegance, is as much a part of King’s Lynn’s Tuesday Market Place as the stalls that have traded here for generations. It’s the quintessential market town hotel – a handsome hostelry with history at every turn, restored and restyled for the discerning twenty-first century traveller.

Political icons; princesses; the who’s who of King’s Lynn’s past – the Dukes Head has played host to them all. Today, period charm meets contemporary chic, 80 spacious rooms that envelope you in comfort, and the very best local produce is served – in our acclaimed restaurant, lounge and buzzing bar.

You will be a Head Chef who thrives in a changing environment to bring a wealth of knowledge, skills and experience to our team.

You should have demonstrable flare; inventive and creative in designing menus that are innovative and cost effective, but most importantly are enticing to our guests!

Main Duties of the Role:

• Responsible for all operational aspects of the Kitchen and its success.
• Ensure all cleaning in the designated areas is carried out to the Company Standards.
• To support the General Manager with the management of the Kitchen Division including controlling budget, cost of goods, rota planning and performance management.

• Development and design of new dishes and menus.

• Monitoring portion and waste control to maintain COGs and profit margins.

• Manage the day to day food administration ensuring systems compliance.
• Ordering stocks, taking deliveries of produce and stock rotation of food stuffs, auditing equipment and standards.
• Maintain a professional kitchen, with a positive attitude and proud workforce
• Implement a Kitchen “strategy” that is based upon our Core Values.
• Delegate, lead, coach and manage your Team appropriately.
• Ensure all documentation, i.e. daily/ weekly/ monthly checks are completed as necessary and carried out as per the Hotel and Company Standards.
• Control costs through correct stock ordering and minimising wastage, forecasting and managing workload.
• Ensure the Company Health and Safety, Food Safety and COSHH legislations are adhered to; including actioning and delivering appropriate coaching and training.
• Be aware of the Licensing Laws in England, Scotland and Wales (where applicable).

Key Requirements for the Role:

• Outstanding cooking skills
• Proven skills efficiently running the pass with a high volume of covers on busy shifts
• Excellent communication skills both written and orally.
• Evidence of managing a Team within a Catering / Hotel environment.
• Superb Customer Service skills.
• The ability to write menus that are both creative, costed and profitable.
• A cooking qualification such as Diploma, NVQ or SVQ.
• Experience of presenting an environment that exceeds our Customer expectations.
• Experience preparing menus of a variety of cuisines is highly desirable.
• Strong networker to engage with a variety of suppliers, sourcing best quality produce to meet exacting standards.
• Experience as a Head Chef with the minimum of 3 years’ evidence of running a successful Kitchen.

If the above sounds like an ideal fit for you, please get in contact with us, we look forward to hearing from you soon!

In return for your passion for good food, leading team and delivery of great dishes, we offer you:

* Discounts on hotel stays and restaurants across the Group

* Increasing annual leave

* Support for you and family through our free & confidential Employee Assistance Programme

* Inclusion in Tronc (tips) scheme

* Bike 2 work scheme

* Electric Car Scheme

We offer a great environment where you get to influence and shape the menus you're delivering, you guide and mentor your team and are a key part of your site's success.

Surya Hotels is one of the UK’s leading niche hotel groups, with a rapidly expanding portfolio of outstanding properties, situated in some of the UK’s most idyllic settings, from historic Suffolk and Norfolk towns, Essex City or coastal resorts to picturesque Surrey villages.

Our hospitality family has a ‘best in class’ ethos to exceed our guest expectations; creating experiences that embrace our heritage locations, our people and the communities we work within.

We aim to consistently deliver best in class experiences with personality and warmth. From our warm welcome, to our ‘See-you-again-soon’ Goodbye.

Stay. Explore. Discover.

Stay. Explore. Discover.