Sous Chef

Join to apply for the Sous Chef role at Hand Picked Hotels
, a collection of 21 privately owned, luxury country houses and coastal retreats.

We are currently recruiting for a Sous Chef at Chilston Park Hotel, part of Hand Picked Hotels—a classic British country house hotel conveniently located in rural Kent.

Chilston Park Hotel boasts an abundance of style and charm, set back from tree‑lined lanes within 77 acres of Kentish parkland, making it one of the region’s most spectacular wedding venues.

Its award‑winning two‑AA Rosette restaurant has helped to establish Chilston Park Hotel’s status as the ideal setting for a countryside break, a romantic wedding or an inspiring meeting venue close to London.

Hand Picked Hotels is a beautiful collection of 21 privately owned, luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand‑picked for its individuality and each standing out for architectural distinction and quintessentially British character. Every hotel offers extraordinary locations—from Scotland to the Channel Islands—providing breathtaking views, vast countryside, expansive beaches and lush woodlands. Founded in 2001 by owner and Chairman, Julia Hands MBE, our properties fulfil the company values of family, individuality, community and care, ensuring a hand‑picked experience for every guest and employee.

• Excellent knowledge and experience of the kitchen within a quality‑driven hotel, restaurant or hospitality environment.
• Enthusiastic and willing to take on new responsibilities; adopt a flexible approach to assist in different areas of the kitchen as business and guest needs dictate.
• Ability to impart your knowledge to the junior members of the team.
• Finger on the pulse of all the latest trends and desire to learn the next big thing.
• High level of emotional intelligence; anticipate our guests’ needs ensuring they receive a Hand Picked experience.
• Essential you can demonstrate how you would be able to deliver our guest experience standards at Hand Picked Hotels, which includes the ability to go above and beyond to ensure guests have a high‑quality, personalised, and magical experience they remember, recommend and return to time and time again.

• A competitive salary package, plus a share of service charge.
• Full‑time role working 5 days out of 7 including weekends on a rota basis, 45 hours per week, which may vary depending on business needs.
• Company pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.
• Life assurance scheme.
• Employee Assistance Program to support you with whatever life throws at you.
• Company sickness scheme benefit.
• 28 days holiday per year including bank holidays, increasing to 33 days including bank holidays with length of service.
• Forward career progression, with access to our in‑house and external training programmes, including apprenticeships up to level 7, which are all supported by our learning and development team.
• Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays).
• Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high‑street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well‑being platform.
• Opportunity to make lifelong friendships and be part of a team that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Hand Picked Hotels is an Equal Opportunities employer. Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

Seniority level: Mid‑Senior level

Employment type: Full‑time

Job function: Management and Manufacturing

Industries: Software Development