Job Introduction
Head Chef - Ansty Hall
Set within picturesque grounds and brimming with character, Ansty Hall is a beautifully restored country house and proud member of the Exclusive Collection. With elegant event spaces, memorable dining and a passion for showcasing the best local and seasonal ingredients, it’s a place where creativity, heritage and exceptional hospitality come together.
We’re looking for an inspiring and ambitious Head Chef to lead our kitchen team and shape the culinary experience at Ansty Hall.
This is an exciting opportunity for a talented chef who combines creativity with strong commercial awareness and exceptional leadership. You’ll have the freedom to develop distinctive menus, champion quality ingredients and create food that keeps guests coming back while building an engaged, high-performing brigade.
Working closely with the General Manager and wider hotel team, you’ll take ownership of kitchen performance, food quality, profitability and standards across all dining, private event and wedding operations.
What’s in It for You?
At Ansty Hall, talent, passion and performance deserve to be rewarded. As part of the Exclusive Collection, you’ll enjoy:
- Competitive pay, plus service charge
- An attractive commision scheme, rewarding the achievement of agreed quality, profitability and guest-satisfaction targets
- Preferential rates across all Exclusive Collection hotels
- 50% off food and beverage when dining at our hotels
- Free meals while on duty
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing resources
- Exclusive discounts and benefits through Hospitality Essentials
- Excellent opportunities for learning, development and career progression across the Exclusive Collection
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, inspire and develop the kitchen brigade, creating a positive culture built on teamwork, creativity and excellence
- Create exciting, seasonal menus that celebrate high-quality local produce and reflect the character of Ansty Hall
- Deliver consistently exceptional food across the hotel’s restaurants, weddings, private events and special occasions
- Take ownership of food quality, presentation and kitchen standards throughout every service
- Manage food costs, stock, purchasing, labour and waste to achieve agreed budgets and profitability targets
- Build strong relationships with trusted suppliers, ensuring exceptional ingredients, value and consistency
- Recruit, train and develop culinary talent, supporting progression and succession within the team
- Maintain the highest standards of food safety, hygiene, allergen management and health and safety
- Monitor guest feedback and dining trends, using insight to evolve menus and enhance the overall experience
- Work collaboratively with the General Manager, Food and Beverage team, Sales team and wider hotel departments
- Support the delivery of show-rounds, tastings and special events, bringing the Ansty Hall food story to life
- Remain calm, organised and visible during busy services, setting the standard for the entire brigade
What We’re Looking For
- Proven experience as a Head Chef or senior kitchen leader within a quality hotel, restaurant or events environment
- A genuine passion for seasonal cooking, local ingredients and memorable dining experiences
- An inspiring leadership style, with experience recruiting, coaching and developing high-performing kitchen teams
- Strong commercial awareness and confidence managing food costs, labour, stock and budgets
- Experience delivering consistently high standards across restaurant service, weddings and events
- Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens, kitchen compliance and health and safety requirements
- Creativity, attention to detail and the confidence to develop commercially successful menus
- Strong communication, organisation and problem-solving skills
- The energy and resilience to thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment
- A collaborative approach and a commitment to creating exceptional experiences for every guest
If you’re ready to lead with creativity, develop an outstanding kitchen team and make your mark on the culinary future of Ansty Hall, we’d love to hear from you.
Have questions? Get in touch directly recruitment@exclusive.co.uk