Head Chef - London, United Kingdom

Location: Water St, London E14 5GX, UK

Head Chef – Hawksmoor Wood Wharf

Since 2006 we’ve been the UK’s home of ethically sourced, grass-fed beef, cooked over real charcoal and paired with award-winning wines and cocktails. We became B Corp certified in 2022 and remain the only restaurant group in the UK to place in the Best Companies to Work For list 13 years in a row – meaning we have some of the happiest people in the industry working with us. Along the way, we’ve raised over £1 million for Action Against Hunger and built a reputation as one of the most sustainable restaurant groups in the country.

Now we’re looking for an exceptional Head Chef to lead the kitchen at Hawksmoor Wood Wharf – our biggest restaurant, with a huge brigade, high-volume covers, and some of the largest sales in the business. This is a rare opportunity for a senior, highly experienced Head Chef to take on one of the most exciting and challenging kitchen leadership roles in London.

What you’ll do

• Lead, inspire and develop a large kitchen team, ensuring Hawksmoor standards are met across every service

• Champion quality, sustainability and consistency while managing food GP, labour and waste to industry-leading levels

• Oversee recruitment, training and progression – mentoring the next generation of Hawksmoor chefs and developing your own future successor

• Partner with the senior management team to deliver exceptional guest experiences and support the overall running of one of Hawksmoor’s flagship restaurants

• Maintain the highest food safety, H&S and compliance standards, ensuring we’re always inspection-ready

• Drive a culture of inclusion, respect and progression, living and breathing our values every day

What we’re looking for

• Significant experience as a Head Chef in a high-profile, high-volume restaurant

• A proven track record of managing large teams calmly and effectively, even at the busiest times

• Someone who is as strong on people and leadership as they are on food quality and operations

• A genuine passion for ethically sourced ingredients, sustainability and Hawksmoor standards

• A collaborative leader who inspires trust, builds morale and sets the tone for the whole kitchen

Work somewhere awesome

• Paid overtime

• Tronc for every hour you work, including breaks & holidays

• Refer a friend bonus from day one

• Discounts on gym memberships, shopping, meals out and cinema tickets, plus fertility and menopause support

• Additional paid maternity and paternity leave to help you care for new additions to your family

• Access to the Hawksmoor app with instant pay through Wagestream, healthcare support, and dozens of perks

• Free meals when you’re at work, 50% off food for you and up to 3 friends when dining out

• Huge career progression opportunities in a growing, award-winning company