Head Chef — The Leicester Arms, Penshurst, Kent

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Head Chef for our beautifully restored country inn in the heart of Penshurst, Kent

Following an extensive refurbishment, we've become one of the county's most talked-about food destinations. We're the 2025 Pub & Bar County Winner for Kent and feature in the Good Food Guide's Top 100 Pubs 2026.

Now we're looking for a Head Chef to take the reins, build on that momentum, and make this kitchen their own.

The role

This is a genuine opportunity to lead — not just cook. You'll have full ownership of the kitchen: the menu, the standards, the team, and the numbers. We're looking for a chef who wants to build something, not maintain someone else's blueprint.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Full day-to-day leadership and management of the kitchen
• Designing and developing seasonal menus and specials built around quality, provenance and creativity
• Setting and maintaining the highest standards of food quality, consistency and presentation
• Recruiting, training and developing a strong, motivated kitchen team
• Managing food gross profit, labour costs, ordering, stock control and waste
• Leading services personally and driving performance under pressure
• Ensuring rigorous food safety, hygiene and allergen compliance across the kitchen
• Working closely with front-of-house and management to shape the guest experience
• Bringing fresh ideas and continuing to build the Leicester Arms' reputation for exceptional food

About you

We're looking for someone who:

• Has proven experience as a Head Chef or an exceptional Sous Chef ready to step up
• Is genuinely passionate about fresh, seasonal British food and has a point of view on menus
• Leads from the front — calm, decisive and hands-on during service
• Has strong commercial awareness, with a track record of managing GP and labour targets
• Takes real pride in consistency, presentation and attention to detail
• Is confident in food safety, allergen management and compliance
• Thrives on developing people and building a strong kitchen culture
• Wants a kitchen to call their own, in a business that will back their ambition

What we offer

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• Accommodation available
• The chance to lead the kitchen at an award-winning country inn
• Genuine creative control over menus and kitchen direction
• Backing from a supportive, ambitious independent hospitality company
• Real career progression within a growing pub group

The Leicester Arms is part of the Little & Large Pub Company, an independent collection of characterful pubs focused on excellent food, genuine hospitality and creating memorable experiences for our guests.

Head Chef — The Leicester Arms, Penshurst, Kent

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Head Chef for our beautifully restored country inn in the heart of Penshurst, Kent

Following an extensive refurbishment, we've become one of the county's most talked-about food destinations. We're the 2025 Pub & Bar County Winner for Kent and feature in the Good Food Guide's Top 100 Pubs 2026.

Now we're looking for a Head Chef to take the reins, build on that momentum, and make this kitchen their own.

The role

This is a genuine opportunity to lead — not just cook. You'll have full ownership of the kitchen: the menu, the standards, the team, and the numbers. We're looking for a chef who wants to build something, not maintain someone else's blueprint.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Full day-to-day leadership and management of the kitchen
• Designing and developing seasonal menus and specials built around quality, provenance and creativity
• Setting and maintaining the highest standards of food quality, consistency and presentation
• Recruiting, training and developing a strong, motivated kitchen team
• Managing food gross profit, labour costs, ordering, stock control and waste
• Leading services personally and driving performance under pressure
• Ensuring rigorous food safety, hygiene and allergen compliance across the kitchen
• Working closely with front-of-house and management to shape the guest experience
• Bringing fresh ideas and continuing to build the Leicester Arms' reputation for exceptional food

About you

We're looking for someone who:

• Has proven experience as a Head Chef or an exceptional Sous Chef ready to step up
• Is genuinely passionate about fresh, seasonal British food and has a point of view on menus
• Leads from the front — calm, decisive and hands-on during service
• Has strong commercial awareness, with a track record of managing GP and labour targets
• Takes real pride in consistency, presentation and attention to detail
• Is confident in food safety, allergen management and compliance
• Thrives on developing people and building a strong kitchen culture
• Wants a kitchen to call their own, in a business that will back their ambition

What we offer

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• Accommodation available
• The chance to lead the kitchen at an award-winning country inn
• Genuine creative control over menus and kitchen direction
• Backing from a supportive, ambitious independent hospitality company
• Real career progression within a growing pub group

The Leicester Arms is part of the Little & Large Pub Company, an independent collection of characterful pubs focused on excellent food, genuine hospitality and creating memorable experiences for our guests.