Job Summary
We are looking for an experienced and creative Head Chef to lead our kitchen at The Garden Café & Restaurant in Edenbridge. This is a full-time role, working 8:00am – 5:00pm, six days a week, with pay ranging from £14–£18.50 per hour, depending on experience.
The ideal candidate will have a passion for fresh, seasonal food, strong leadership skills, and the ability to deliver consistent, high-quality dishes in a relaxed but busy café/restaurant environment. You’ll be responsible for overseeing the kitchen day-to-day, guiding the team, and ensuring smooth service.
We’re a welcoming, independent café/restaurant with a loyal customer base, known for our home-cooked dishes, warm hospitality, and beautiful garden space and yes, we’re proudly dog-friendly, so being comfortable around dogs is essential!
As we’re located in a countryside setting with limited public transport, it’s preferable that applicants can drive, though we are reachable by bike if you’re confident on country lanes.

Duties

• Lead the kitchen team in planning, preparing, and delivering high-quality dishes.
• Oversee daily food production, maintaining consistency and presentation standards.
• Develop and contribute ideas for seasonal menus.
• Manage stock control, ordering, and supplier relationships.
• Uphold food safety and hygiene standards in line with regulations.
• Train, motivate, and support junior staff members.
• Work closely with front-of-house staff to ensure smooth and efficient service.

Experience

• Proven experience as a Head Chef, or strong Sous Chef ready to step up.
• Excellent culinary knowledge and creativity with fresh, seasonal ingredients.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and maintain a calm, organised kitchen.
• Good understanding of food safety standards and best practices.
• Reliable, motivated, and able to work independently when required.

If you’re someone who thrives in a warm, community-focused setting and loves creating food that brings people together, we’d love to hear from you!

Please note:

• Hours: 8:00am – 5:00pm, six days a week.
• Due to our rural location, access to a car or alternative transport is important.
• We are a dog-friendly café/restaurant, so applicants must be comfortable working around dogs.

• Lead the kitchen team in planning, preparing, and delivering high-quality dishes.
• Oversee daily food production, maintaining consistency and presentation standards.
• Develop and contribute ideas for seasonal menus.
• Manage stock control, ordering, and supplier relationships.
• Uphold food safety and hygiene standards in line with regulations.
• Train, motivate, and support junior staff members.
• Work closely with front-of-house staff to ensure smooth and efficient service