Head Chef – Crazy Bear Stadhampton

A busy à la carte service and a large wedding are not the same job. We need a Head Chef who knows how to run both and everything in between.

You’ll take full responsibility for the complete food operation at Crazy Bear Stadhampton. That includes our combined English and Thai menus, à la carte dining and events. You’ll bring the English and Thai kitchen teams together as one brigade, while respecting the specialist knowledge and identity behind each menu.

This is a hands-on leadership role and a senior position within the hotel. You’ll set the standards, develop the food offering and make sure the operation works on the plate, during service and on the numbers.

Please note: there is no live-in accommodation available. A valid driving licence and reliable transport are essential due to our location and working hours.

What you’ll be doing

Taking responsibility for the combined English and Thai menus
Building a kitchen culture based on teamwork, accountability and mutual respect
Planning and executing food for weddings, corporate events, meetings and large functions
Leading tastings and contributing to event planning
Creating seasonal menus built around quality ingredients
Recruiting, training, developing and managing the kitchen brigade
Planning rotas and managing kitchen labour effectively
Costing menus and managing food margins, stock and wastage
Overseeing suppliers, purchasing, deliveries and stock rotation
Working closely with the restaurant, events, sales and hotel management teams
Maintaining excellent food safety, allergen, hygiene and health and safety standards

What we’re looking for

Proven experience as a Head Chef.
Strong experience leading à la carte restaurant service & events
The ability to lead different specialist kitchen teams as one operation
Strong menu-development and food-costing skills
Good understanding of margins, labour, stock, wastage and revenue
Experience recruiting, leading and developing a kitchen brigade
The confidence to contribute as part of a senior management team
Excellent knowledge of food safety, allergens and kitchen compliance
A calm, organised and hands-on leadership style
The confidence to make decisions and hold high standards consistently
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays
A valid driving licence and reliable access to transport
The right to work in the UK

Different menus. Different services. One brigade and one set of standards.

The good stuff

On Target Earnings £50,000 - £55,000 per year
50% off food and drink for up to four people
50% off overnight stays
50% off Crazy Bear ticketed events
One free overnight stay every year
An extra day off for your birthday
28 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays
One additional day of holiday for each completed year of service, up to 33 days including bank holidays
Training and opportunities to progress
£300 for successfully referring someone who joins us
Financial recognition for going above and beyond
Bear of the Month rewards
Workplace pension
Access to Hospitality Rewards perks and discounts

Where you’ll be working

Crazy Bear Stadhampton is Country.

Set in the Oxfordshire countryside, it’s our original home—with signature bedrooms, a 16th-century pub, an al fresco terrace and spaces for weddings, private dining, corporate meetings and events.

The operation is varied. One service might focus on individual restaurant tables; the next could involve feeding an entire event at the same time. Breakfast, afternoon tea, barbecues and VIP occasions all sit within the same food operation, and you’ll be responsible for making the whole thing work.

If you can bring two specialist kitchen teams together, control the numbers and deliver excellent food across restaurant and event service, we should talk.

Apply through the Crazy Bear Careers Page.