Restaurant jobs in Loughborough

Chef de Partie - Christmas Availability Essential

Company: Distinctive Inns

Location: Loughborough

Job Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Contracted Hours: Guaranteed 40-Hour Weekly Contract + Hourly Paid Overtime

Base Salary: £13.21 per hour (£27,552.36 per annum)

Estimated Gratuities: +£0.95 per hour (£2,223.00 per annum in tips)

Total Package Value: Up to £29,775.36 per annum

The Opportunity

Are you a passionate chef looking to develop your skills and build your career within a high-quality kitchen environment?

We're looking for enthusiastic and capable chefs who take pride in preparing and delivering consistently high-quality food, have a good understanding of kitchen standards and enjoy working as part of a busy kitchen team. Whether you're an experienced Chef de Partie or a Commis Chef looking to take the next step in your career, we'd love to hear from you.

Distinctive Inns is a leading, independently owned pub company in the East Midlands. We are known for our uncompromising approach to delivering high-quality food and drink within stylish interiors, combining comfort and atmosphere with outstanding service.

We are looking for talented chefs to join our kitchen teams, playing an important role in the preparation, cooking and presentation of our dishes. You'll work alongside an experienced kitchen team, following company specifications and maintaining high standards of food quality, kitchen organisation and food safety.

We take pride in running smooth, modern operations supported by industry-leading technology, from advanced reservation and rostering systems to modern procurement tools, helping every department work effectively together.

If you enjoy working with fresh ingredients, thrive in a busy kitchen and want to develop your culinary skills within a company that offers genuine opportunities for progression, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Food Preparation & Cooking: Prepare, cook and present dishes in line with company specification sheets, recipes and presentation standards, ensuring consistency and quality across every service.
• Kitchen Operations: Carry out daily preparation, maintain organised and well-stocked workstations, support service delivery and ensure all kitchen tasks are completed efficiently.
• Food Quality & Presentation: Take pride in the quality, consistency and presentation of every dish, ensuring all food is prepared and presented in line with company specifications and required standards.
• Teamwork & Communication: Work closely with the Head Chef, Sous Chef and wider kitchen team to ensure smooth service, effective communication and a positive working environment.
• Health & Safety Compliance: Maintain high standards of kitchen hygiene, food safety, allergen awareness and safe working practices, following company procedures and digital compliance systems.
• Stock & Waste Management: Support stock rotation, correct storage, portion control and wastage management, helping to maintain appropriate stock levels and minimise unnecessary costs.
• Kitchen Standards: Maintain a clean, tidy and organised working environment, ensuring equipment, preparation areas and storage facilities are kept to the required standard.
• Continuous Development: Take an active interest in developing your culinary skills, expanding your knowledge and taking on additional responsibilities as your experience grows.

Requirements

• Kitchen Experience: Previous experience working in a professional kitchen is preferred. We're happy to consider developing chefs with a genuine passion for cooking and a willingness to learn.
• Culinary Skills: A good understanding of food preparation, cooking methods, fresh ingredients and the importance of consistent food quality.
• High-Volume Experience: Experience working within a busy kitchen environment, ideally within a gastro pub, pub restaurant or similar fresh-food operation, would be an advantage.
• Attention to Detail: Pride in food quality, presentation, portion control and following company specifications.
• Teamwork: A positive, team-focused attitude, with the ability to communicate effectively and support colleagues during busy services.
• Work Ethic: Punctual, reliable, organised and willing to take responsibility for maintaining high kitchen standards.
• Flexibility: Comfortable working standard hospitality shift patterns across weekdays, evenings, weekends and busy trading periods.
• Christmas & December Availability – MUST HAVE: Applicants must be available and flexible to work shifts throughout December and the Christmas period, including key trading days such as Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
• Willingness to Develop: A genuine interest in learning, improving your skills and progressing within a professional kitchen environment.

What We Offer

• Guaranteed Hours & Paid Overtime: A guaranteed 40-hour weekly contract, with every additional hour worked paid. No unpaid salaried overtime!
• Transparent Total Pay: Competitive hourly rates, supplemented by an estimated £0.95 per hour in tips.
• Accredited Training & Development: Access to a wide range of nationally recognised training courses, accreditations and qualifications to support your development.
• Career Progression: Opportunities to develop your culinary skills, take on additional responsibilities and progress within Distinctive Inns as your experience and abilities grow.
• Modern Operations: Work with modern kitchen equipment and industry-leading rostering, procurement and kitchen management technologies.
• Supportive Team Environment: Join an established kitchen team where your contribution is valued and you have the opportunity to make a difference to food quality, service standards and the overall guest experience.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: From £29,775.36 per year

Benefits:

• Discounted or free food
• On-site parking

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Loughborough LE11 3YD: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• (A) What do you enjoy doing outside of work? (B) How might your hobbies or other commitments affect your availability?
• How do you plan to travel to and from work?
• If you're currently employed, what motivates you to leave your present role?
• How many days were you absent from work or unavailable in the past 12 months?
• How would you describe yourself in three words?
• What do you consider your strongest attributes or skills and how would they benefit our team?
• What would you say is your biggest weakness and how do you actively manage it?
• If successful, is there any area where you might need initial support or training?
• Are you available and willing to work key shifts, including Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunches each week, as well as key dates throughout December, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day?

Language:

• English (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person