The Boathouse, Cambridge
Head Chef/ Kitchen Manager
Salary - £34,000 - £38,000 

Ready to lead a busy kitchen in a truly special riverside location?

Set on the banks of the River Cam, right in the heart of Cambridge, The Boathouse is a destination pub with plenty going on. From busy lunchtime services and tourist trade to weddings, parties, group bookings and seasonal celebrations, there's always an opportunity to make an impact.

We're looking for an experienced Kitchen Manager or Head Chef who can lead from the front, bring the team together and deliver fantastic food consistently. If you thrive in a fast-paced kitchen and enjoy making the most of a busy operation, this could be your next opportunity.

Why The Boathouse?

A riverside setting, a busy city location and a kitchen with plenty of variety.

The Boathouse offers something different from your typical pub kitchen. Sitting beside the River Cam, we're perfectly placed for tourists, locals and visitors enjoying everything Cambridge has to offer.

Our menu features pub favourites, from fish & chips and hearty pies to steaks and family-friendly dishes. Alongside our regular trade, our function room provides opportunities to cater for weddings, parties and group celebrations.

Summer brings soaring sales and increased riverside footfall, while Christmas delivers another busy period with group bookings and festive gatherings. You'll need to be ready to plan, organise and lead your team through these peaks — and make the most of the opportunities they bring.

It's a great opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in their kitchen and wants to help drive a busy business forward.
 

What's the opportunity?

As Kitchen Manager / Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the day-to-day running of the kitchen, leading your team to deliver great food, excellent standards and memorable customer experiences.

With a strong lunchtime trade, plenty of visitors exploring Cambridge and function space for weddings, parties and events, you'll need to be organised, commercially aware and ready to make the most of every opportunity.

You'll be responsible for:

• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team to deliver their best.
• Taking ownership of every service, maintaining high standards of food quality, consistency and presentation.
• Managing food safety, hygiene and allergen procedures to ensure the kitchen is always compliant.
• Controlling stock, ordering, waste and kitchen costs to support strong GP performance.
• Planning and organising the kitchen to meet the demands of busy services and group bookings.
• Making the most of our function space, supporting food delivery for weddings, parties and special events.
• Preparing the team for seasonal peaks, including our busy summer trade and Christmas group bookings.
• Working closely with the front-of-house and management teams to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• Coaching and developing your team, building confidence, skills and a positive kitchen culture.
• Bringing fresh ideas to the menu and operation to help drive sales and grow the business.

What we're looking for

We're looking for someone who knows how to run a kitchen, enjoys leading people and takes pride in delivering great food.

You'll ideally have:

• Previous experience as a Kitchen Manager, Head Chef, Sous Chef or in a similar senior kitchen role.
• Experience in a busy pub, restaurant or high-volume kitchen.
• Strong leadership skills and the confidence to lead from the front.
• A hands-on approach, with the ability to organise and motivate your team during busy services.
• A good understanding of food safety, hygiene and allergen management.
• Experience managing stock, reducing waste and controlling kitchen costs.
• Commercial awareness and an understanding of how food quality and consistency contribute to business success.
• The ability to plan ahead and manage competing priorities, particularly during seasonal peaks and large bookings.
• A passion for developing people and creating a kitchen where the team can thrive.

And there's plenty in it for you...

At Greene King, we're passionate about helping our people build careers they're proud of.

You'll have access to:

• Career development opportunities across Greene King and our family of brands.
• Training and development at every level, including apprenticeships.
• 33% employee discount and 15% for loved ones across our brands.
• 50% employee discount and 25% for loved ones at Greene King Inns.
• Free Employee Assistance Programme.
• Enhanced family-friendly maternity and paternity support.
• Menopause Friendly Employer.
• Refer a Friend scheme – up to £1,500.
• Wagestream.
• Retail discounts, including savings with Superdrug and Three Mobile.

Greene King is the country's leading pub company and brewer. With over 220 years of history and a 39,000-strong team, we're on a mission to pour happiness into lives and become the pride of great British hospitality.

CREATING PLACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL WELCOME, SAFE AND THAT THEY BELONG

We aim to embed inclusion into every decision we make – across our people, customers, communities, suppliers, and operations. We want to create a culture where everyone feels welcome, valued, and able to thrive.

Bring your experience. Lead the kitchen. Make the most of every opportunity at The Boathouse.