Head Chef – Canal – New Opening

Westbourne Park | Full-Time | Start ASAP

From the team behind Crispin and Bistro Freddie, Canal is the newest addition to our growing family, a vibrant waterside restaurant and bar celebrating quality ingredients, seasonal cooking, music, and community. Set in a stunning East London location, Canal is already carving out its identity as a warm, buzzing space built on creativity and confident hospitality.

We’re now looking for a talented and driven Head Chef to take a key leadership role in our creative kitchen team. This is a brilliant opportunity for a chef who’s passionate about seasonal cooking, thrives in a fast-paced, quality-led environment, and is ready to help lead a small but ambitious kitchen in one of Soho’s most exciting food and wine spots.

Why You’ll Love This Role
As Head Chef, you’ll be leading the kitchen, working alongside the Group Executive Chef to deliver exceptional dishes and a smooth-running service. You’ll play a hands-on role in menu development, manage sections during busy services, and help lead and inspire a small, close-knit team. If you’re looking to work with outstanding produce, take ownership of your craft, and grow as a leader, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the Kitchen in Service: Ensuring consistency, pace, and quality in every dish.
• Cooking with the Seasons: Help shape and deliver a menu that evolves with the produce, focusing on bold, fresh, and balanced flavours.
• Training & Mentoring: Support and develop both senior and junior team members, creating a positive, learning-focused kitchen culture.
• Quality Control: Maintain high culinary standards, ensuring every plate meets our expectations.
• Operational Excellence: Manage kitchen organisation, prep schedules, and section set-ups to ensure smooth service.
• Food Safety: Oversee hygiene, allergen procedures, and health & safety compliance.
• Menu Development: Work with the Group Executive Chef to create and test new dishes, bringing ideas to the table.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef in a high-quality, busy kitchen
• Passion for seasonal, European-inspired cooking and working with the best produce available
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and support a small team
• Organised, proactive, and confident in managing service under pressure
• Strong understanding of kitchen operations, costing, and ordering
• A collaborative, hands-on approach to leadership

What You’ll Get

• Free access to gym, spa, and pool on site

• A welcoming, supportive, and inclusive team environment

• Opportunity to develop skills and take on greater leadership responsibilities

• Delicious team meals on every shift

• Flexible shift patterns, with daytimes and evenings available

• Refer a friend bonus – earn £1000 when your referral joins

• 50% off dining across all HAM. Restaurant locations

• 20% off wine retail

• Access to Wagestream benefits & flexible pay

• Be part of a creative, growing hospitality group with a strong track record

• Enhanced parental leave packages – including paw-ternity for pet parents

• Up to 28 days annual leave – increasing with length of service (up to 36 days!)

• Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme & Wisdom App for health & wellbeing support

Head Chef – Canal – New Opening

Westbourne Park | Full-Time | Start ASAP

From the team behind Crispin and Bistro Freddie, Canal is the newest addition to our growing family, a vibrant waterside restaurant and bar celebrating quality ingredients, seasonal cooking, music, and community. Set in a stunning East London location, Canal is already carving out its identity as a warm, buzzing space built on creativity and confident hospitality.

We’re now looking for a talented and driven Head Chef to take a key leadership role in our creative kitchen team. This is a brilliant opportunity for a chef who’s passionate about seasonal cooking, thrives in a fast-paced, quality-led environment, and is ready to help lead a small but ambitious kitchen in one of Soho’s most exciting food and wine spots.

Why You’ll Love This Role
As Head Chef, you’ll be leading the kitchen, working alongside the Group Executive Chef to deliver exceptional dishes and a smooth-running service. You’ll play a hands-on role in menu development, manage sections during busy services, and help lead and inspire a small, close-knit team. If you’re looking to work with outstanding produce, take ownership of your craft, and grow as a leader, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the Kitchen in Service: Ensuring consistency, pace, and quality in every dish.
• Cooking with the Seasons: Help shape and deliver a menu that evolves with the produce, focusing on bold, fresh, and balanced flavours.
• Training & Mentoring: Support and develop both senior and junior team members, creating a positive, learning-focused kitchen culture.
• Quality Control: Maintain high culinary standards, ensuring every plate meets our expectations.
• Operational Excellence: Manage kitchen organisation, prep schedules, and section set-ups to ensure smooth service.
• Food Safety: Oversee hygiene, allergen procedures, and health & safety compliance.
• Menu Development: Work with the Group Executive Chef to create and test new dishes, bringing ideas to the table.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef in a high-quality, busy kitchen
• Passion for seasonal, European-inspired cooking and working with the best produce available
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to motivate and support a small team
• Organised, proactive, and confident in managing service under pressure
• Strong understanding of kitchen operations, costing, and ordering
• A collaborative, hands-on approach to leadership

What You’ll Get

• Free access to gym, spa, and pool on site

• A welcoming, supportive, and inclusive team environment

• Opportunity to develop skills and take on greater leadership responsibilities

• Delicious team meals on every shift

• Flexible shift patterns, with daytimes and evenings available

• Refer a friend bonus – earn £1000 when your referral joins

• 50% off dining across all HAM. Restaurant locations

• 20% off wine retail

• Access to Wagestream benefits & flexible pay

• Be part of a creative, growing hospitality group with a strong track record

• Enhanced parental leave packages – including paw-ternity for pet parents

• Up to 28 days annual leave – increasing with length of service (up to 36 days!)

• Access to 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme & Wisdom App for health & wellbeing support