Head Chef - New Opening

Darcy's is the newest venue in the collection, and one of the most rewarding things we've ever taken on.
It sits inside the Grade II listed former Barclays Bank on Wooler's high street — a building raised in 1863, dark since the bank left in 2018, and now given back to the town as an 80-cover modern British and European bistro. It's named after one of the medieval families who shaped this corner of Northumberland in the 1500s. It took fourteen months of negotiation with the council to get here. We didn't fight that hard for somewhere ordinary.
Darcy's is the sister site to Adam & Eve in Alnwick, and it shares the same conviction: that the produce on this doorstep is as good as anything in Britain, and that it shouldn't have to travel to be worth eating.

The role

Modern British and European bistro cooking — proper technique, seasonal produce, no ceremony. Dishes people recognise, cooked better than they expected.
You might be an experienced Sous Chef ready for your first step up, or a Head Chef or Kitchen Manager looking for a site you can genuinely call your own. Either way, you'll be leading the menu from a blank page — writing it, costing it, building the team that cooks it.
We're looking for a self-proclaimed 'foodie'. Someone with a real grasp of classical and modern technique, a creative take on menu design, and the temperament to lead a calm, well-trained kitchen when the room is full. You'll thrive under pressure, stay open to learning different cuisines and techniques, and hold the same standard on a quiet Tuesday as on a full Saturday night. You'll take genuine pride in what leaves your pass, and in the people standing behind it.
You'll deal with suppliers directly, so you can put the best produce available on the plate and still run a menu that makes money.
We provide a clear path of progression to those who desire it through our Management Pathway programme. With multiple restaurants opening across the country, we can offer a genuine chance to progress fast within a growing company.

Job Role

• Manage and take accountability for all aspects of the Kitchen
• Create and develop menus from scratch, ensuring variety, seasonality and quality
• Choose and liaise with suppliers directly, championing Northumberland produce
• Recruit, train and retain your team
• Deliver an exceptional and consistent guest experience
• Maintain GP and site stock holding/inventory
• Maximise profitability at every level of the business whilst maintaining high standards
• Ensure full adherence to all food safety, fire, and H&S procedures
• Implement company processes and systems