Head Chef Brunch Cafe

HEAD CHEF – THE PLUMSTEAD PANTRY SE18 Location: Plumstead, South East London, SE18 Salary: £30,000- 35,000 per annum Job Type: Full-time, Permanent Working Days: Thursday to Monday Working Hours: Predominantly 7:00am–4:00pm / 5:00pm Days Off: Tuesday and Wednesday Reporting To: Company Director / Owner About Us The Plumstead Pantry SE18 is an established independent café and bistro, passionate about fresh ingredients, creative cooking and exceptional hospitality. We're known for our freshly prepared breakfasts, innovative brunch dishes, seasonal lunches, homemade specials and occasional evening dining experiences. We're looking for a talented, experienced and enthusiastic Head Chef to take full ownership of our kitchen, lead our team and help develop the next chapter of The Plumstead Pantry. The Role This is a hands-on leadership position, offering genuine responsibility, creative input and the opportunity to make the kitchen your own. You will oversee all aspects of kitchen operations, ensuring excellent food quality, efficient service, strong financial controls and consistently high standards. The successful candidate must be confident running the kitchen independently and maintaining the reputation and food identity of The Plumstead Pantry. Key Responsibilities Kitchen Leadership & Operations

Take full responsibility for the daily running of the kitchen.

Lead, motivate and develop a small kitchen team.

Organise daily preparation, service and kitchen duties.

Manage busy breakfast, brunch and lunch services efficiently.

Maintain excellent food quality, presentation and consistency.

Establish clear systems and standards throughout the kitchen.

Work closely with front-of-house staff to ensure smooth service.

Maintain a positive, organised and professional kitchen environment.
Menu Development & Creativity

Contribute new ideas and develop exciting seasonal specials.

Work alongside the owner to improve and evolve existing menus.

Maintain the Pantry's distinctive fresh-food identity.

Develop recipes, portion specifications and dish costings.

Support occasional evening dining, private events and catering.

Ensure every dish meets our standards for flavour, freshness and presentation.
Kitchen Financial Management

Manage purchasing, ordering and supplier relationships.

Monitor food costs, wastage and portion control.

Maintain agreed food gross profit margins.

Oversee stock rotation, storage and inventory.

Identify operational efficiencies without compromising food quality.

Work within agreed kitchen budgets.
Food Safety & Compliance

Maintain excellent food hygiene and cleanliness standards.

Oversee HACCP-based food safety procedures and documentation.

Ensure full compliance with allergen management requirements.

Maintain accurate temperature records and cleaning schedules.

Ensure appropriate food storage, labelling and stock rotation.

Keep the kitchen inspection-ready at all times.
About You
Essential Experience & Skills

Previous Head Chef, Sous Chef or senior kitchen leadership experience.

Strong cooking skills and knowledge of fresh-food preparation.

Experience in a busy commercial kitchen.

Confidence managing kitchen services independently.

Excellent organisational and time-management skills.

Experience in stock control, ordering and food costing.

Strong knowledge of food hygiene and allergen procedures.

Excellent attention to detail and consistency.

Positive leadership and communication skills.

A genuine passion for quality food.
Desirable Experience
Experience in an independent café, brunch restaurant or bistro.

Strong breakfast and brunch cooking background.

Seasonal menu and specials development.

Private dining or external catering experience.
Working Hours & Schedule
Thursday to Monday – Five days per week Working hours will predominantly fall between 7:00am and 4:00pm–5:00pm, depending on operational requirements. Tuesday & Wednesday – Regular days off The role is primarily daytime-based, offering a more predictable working pattern than many traditional restaurant Head Chef positions. Occasional evening flexibility will be required for special events, private dining and catering. Specific contracted hours, breaks and any additional hours will be agreed as part of the employment terms. What We Offer

£35,000 annual salary

Full-time, permanent employment

Two consecutive days off every week

Predominantly daytime working hours

Creative freedom and input into menu development

The opportunity to independently manage an established kitchen

A supportive, privately owned business

Small, established kitchen team

Paid annual leave and workplace pension

Direct involvement in shaping the Pantry's future
The Ideal Candidate
We're looking for someone who takes genuine pride in their cooking, leads by example and approaches kitchen management with enthusiasm, professionalism and commercial awareness. You should be creative, dependable, organised and capable of delivering consistently excellent food while managing a busy service. Above all, we want someone who will treat the kitchen with the same commitment and pride as the business owner. Why Join Us?
The Plumstead Pantry isn't a corporate chain. We're an ambitious independent café and bistro where good ideas are encouraged, quality matters and individual contributions make a genuine difference. This is an opportunity for an experienced Head Chef seeking a better work-life balance, or an ambitious Sous Chef ready to take the next step into kitchen leadership. How to Apply Please submit your CV and a brief introduction outlining your experience and why you would be a great fit for The Plumstead Pantry SE18. Salary: £35,000 per annum Location: Plumstead, London SE18 Schedule: Thursday–Monday, predominantly 7am–4pm/5pm The Plumstead Pantry SE18 Fresh food. Creative cooking. Independent spirit.