Head Chef

£50,000–£60,000 OTE

At Craft Locals, we pride ourselves on our passion for hospitality, great beer and great food.

The Grand Junction Arms is a landmark canalside pub at Bulbourne, just outside Tring. With vast gardens, outdoor bars and a reputation for fresh, seasonal food, summers here are massive – and we’re reopening with a fresh start.

• Influence:
  Real input into menus, seasonal dishes, specials and events
• Perks: 50% off food & 20% off drinks across the group, 28 days holiday, staff discount, team socials, sharers
• Training & development:
  Supplier visits, brewery trips and regular food development opportunities
• Work/life balance:
  We believe in working to live, not living to work — we rota fairly and sustainably
• Autonomy:
  The freedom to run your kitchen properly, with head office support not interference

• Leading a fresh-food kitchen delivering consistent quality and standards
• Writing menus, creating seasonal specials and designing dishes for events
• Managing, motivating and training the kitchen team to reach their potential
• Driving GP, labour and compliance through strong financial management
• Building relationships with local suppliers and championing seasonal produce
• Running efficient kitchen operations with digital systems and best practice processes

• Proven Head Chef experience in a high-volume, fresh-food pub or restaurant (not a first appointment)
• A creative chef with a passion for seasonal pub food and consistency under pressure
• A strong leader who can recruit, motivate and retain their team
• Commercial awareness — confident managing food margins, labour and compliance
• Organised, energetic and committed to delivering quality every service
• A great communicator who works closely with the GM and FOH team
• This is a rare opportunity to take charge of a flagship kitchen, shape the menus, and lead a talented team in one of Hertfordshire’s most exciting pub reopenings.