Cafe Restaurant jobs in Brighton and Hove

At Reading Room at Saltdean Lido, we’re building something special.

Set within one of the UK’s most iconic coastal destinations, Reading Room at the Lido is more than just a café or restaurant. It’s a large-scale hospitality space combining all-day dining, weddings, events, and high-volume seasonal trade.

At The Reading Room, we’re more than just a café. We’re a family-run business built on passion, care, and community. Based on Brighton’s eastern seafront, we’ve grown into a much-loved destination for both locals and visitors, known for our standards, energy, and warm atmosphere.

What makes us different is simple: our people. We believe in creating a workplace where everyone feels supported, respected, and genuinely valued. We work closely as a team, look out for each other, and take real pride in what we do, from the food we produce to the experiences we create every day.

Alongside our busy breakfast, lunch, and dinner service, we also host weddings, private events, and large seasonal functions, meaning no two days are ever the same.

With a huge season ahead, we’re looking for talented chefs who want to be part of a fast-paced, exciting environment and help us continue building something special.

What you'll be doing

• Preparing and cooking food to a consistently high standard
• Working across breakfast, lunch, dinner, events, and weddings
• Supporting the delivery of large-scale functions and seasonal events
• Maintaining food quality, presentation, and consistency during busy services
• Ensuring all food safety, hygiene, and health & safety standards are met
• Assisting with prep, stock rotation, and organisation of kitchen areas
• Supporting the development and execution of menus and specials
• Working closely with the wider kitchen and front of house teams
• Helping maintain a clean, organised, and efficient kitchen environment
• Contributing to a positive team culture and service-focused approach

Who we're looking for

• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced kitchen environment
• Passionate about producing great food and maintaining high standards
• Calm under pressure and confident during busy services
• Reliable, organised, and hard-working
• A strong team player with a positive attitude
• Takes pride in cleanliness, consistency, and attention to detail
• Keen to learn, develop, and grow within an ambitious operation
• Previous kitchen experience preferred, although attitude and work ethic are equally important

What you'll get

• Flexible seasonal hours (full-time or part-time)
• Competitive pay plus tronc
• A supportive and energetic team environment
• Opportunities to grow within a rapidly developing business
• Experience across both day-to-day service and large-scale events
• Staff perks, discounts, and free meals on shift
• The chance to work in a truly unique coastal venue

Why join us?

Because this is more than just another chef role.

You'll be part of building a venue, a culture, and a team that people genuinely want to be part of, all within one of Brighton's most exciting hospitality spaces.

Apply

If this sounds like something you'd enjoy being part of, we'd love to hear from you.

Pay: From £12.71 per hour

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• Employee discount
• On-site parking

Work Location: In person