Head Chef

Head Chef – Buxted Park Hotel Location: Buxted, East Sussex, TN22 4AY Job Type: Full-time | Permanent | 5 days out of 7

The role of a Head Chef at Buxted Park Hotel involves leading the delivery of an exceptional culinary experience for guests, ensuring that all menus reflect creativity, quality, and seasonal diversity. The Head Chef will design and oversee dishes that complement the hotel’s luxury offering, providing expert leadership in the kitchen and maintaining outstanding standards of presentation and flavour.

As Head Chef your role will focus on supporting and developing the culinary team through training, guidance, and inspirational leadership. Responsibilities also include managing kitchen operations, maintaining strong relationships with suppliers, monitoring stock and costs, and creating bespoke menus across the hotel that will enhance the overall guest experience and uphold the hotel’s reputation for excellence in luxury hospitality.

This is a full-time role working 5 days out of 7 including weekends on a rota basis, 45 hours per week, which may vary depending on business.

A competitive salary discussed at interview, plus a bonus based on KPI and a share of service charge.

A welcoming, inclusive culture where long-term friendships and diversity are celebrated.

Ongoing career development with in-house and external training, including apprenticeships and industry-recognised courses.

28 days holiday per year including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days including bank holidays with length of service.

Uniform and meals on shift provided.

Free onsite parking (where applicable).

Access to wellbeing support through our Employee Assistance Programme.

Company pension, enhanced sick pay & Life assurance scheme.

Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.

Discounted stays in our hotels and on food, drink, spa treatments & products.

Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays).

Introduction bonus for new colleague recommendations.

Colleague of the Month awards, which leads to our annual awards ceremony.

Regular team gatherings and appreciation events.

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner and Chairman, Julia Hands MBE, and today still remains a family-owned group which has 21 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breathtaking views from vast countryside to expansive beaches, to lush woodlands.

Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. Whilst each hotel is individual, each property fulfils the company values of family, individuality, community and care, with a team commitment to aiming higher and delight their guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the every day.

Hand Picked Hotels are committed to protecting the environment for a sustainable future, and all of our hotels have received the ‘Green Tourism’ accreditation. A Recognition of our progress in reducing energy use and waste, supporting biodiversity, and sourcing responsibly from local and ethical partners.

Hand Picked Hotels is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.