Houston & Hawkes

Head Pastry Chef Company: Houston & Hawkes Location: Central London, NW1 4NS Salary: £47,500 per annum Contract: Full-time, Permanent ABOUT THE ROLE Houston & Hawkes are looking for an exceptionally talented and creative Head Pastry Chef to join our culinary team at a prestigious client site in Central London. This is not a role for the average pastry chef - we need someone truly outstanding, with the skill and composure to deliver at the highest level. The site hosts a calendar of high-profile summer events, attracting prestigious guests and requiring impeccable standards of presentation and creativity. You will manage the pastry section and craft both classic and modern creations - from beautifully plated desserts to artisan breads and bespoke cakes - all to a standard befitting some of London's most distinguished occasions. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Lead the pastry section and oversee day-to-day kitchen operations Deliver exceptional pastry work for high-profile summer events and prestigious occasions Create a high-quality and imaginative selection of desserts, pastries, and baked items Manage and mentor a dedicated pastry team to deliver excellence Collaborate with the Head Chef and Hospitality Manager on menus and events Innovate with new recipes for fine dining and retail-style coffee concepts Uphold standards of quality, flavour, and presentation at all times Manage stock, ordering, and kitchen budgets Maintain a clean, safe, and compliant kitchen environment Adapt recipes for dietary requirements including gluten-free and sugar-free Champion the company's food ethos through creativity and consistency WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR Proven experience in a senior pastry role, ideally in fine dining or 5-star settings A genuine passion for pastry, baking, and culinary artistry Strong leadership and team management skills Exceptional creativity and meticulous attention to detail Solid knowledge of food safety, allergens, and kitchen hygiene standards Excellent time management and organisational skills Relevant culinary or pastry qualifications (preferred) Experience in high-end contract catering or hospitality environments (advantageous) WHAT WE OFFER £47,500 salary Work with an award-winning Director of Food Evolving, creative menus to showcase your talent Top 20 Hospitality Company to Work For Free meals while on duty Contributory pension scheme Life assurance (2x salary) Birthday off Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) Company events including Recognition schemes and staff awards Enhanced parental leave Referral bonuses Ongoing training, development, and clear progression ABOUT HOUSTON & HAWKES Houston & Hawkes is an innovative, independent contract caterer based in the South East. We are proud to be an award-winning, certified B Corp company, ranked among the Top 30 hospitality employers in the UK. We deliver bespoke, seasonal food experiences across workplaces, events, and hospitality spaces, built by teams who share our passion for flavour, service, and creativity. HOW TO APPLY If you are a creative and ambitious pastry chef ready to lead with flair, apply today and bring your talent to Houston & Hawkes.

Hospitality Head Chef Houston & Hawkes Central London, SW1E 5JL £45,000 per annum Monday to Friday A rare and refined opportunity for an accomplished Hospitality Head Chef to lead a prestigious boutique hospitality kitchen in the heart of Central London - with your creativity, precision and standards centre stage. Houston & Hawkes are seeking a talented Hospitality Head Chef to take full ownership of a small, premium client site - delivering exceptional food across formal dining, elegant buffets, canapé events and bespoke hospitality service. This is a focussed, high-standard operation where quality and guest experience are everything. You will design refined seasonal menus, lead with confidence and build something genuinely special within an exclusive corporate environment. This is the kind of role where your touch is felt in every plate, every service and every guest interaction - and where the Monday to Friday pattern means you can do it all without compromise to your life outside work. If you are passionate about fine dining, take pride in polished, elegant food experiences and want to lead a kitchen that truly reflects your standards - this is the role for you. THE ROLE As Hospitality Head Chef, you will have full creative and operational ownership of this boutique kitchen - from menu design through to service delivery - across a varied and prestigious hospitality programme. Leading a small, high-quality kitchen with full ownership of standards and output Delivering formal fine dining, elegant buffets and beautifully presented canapé events Preparing hospitality catering including working lunches and bespoke client requests Designing and evolving seasonal, refined menus with a focus on quality, creativity and presentation Maintaining exceptional consistency across every service, every time Managing stock, food cost and kitchen operations with efficiency and accuracy Building trusted relationships with clients and stakeholders, understanding and anticipating their needs Ensuring full compliance with food safety, allergen and hygiene standards at all times ABOUT YOU You are a refined, accomplished chef who takes enormous pride in your craft. You lead with calm authority, bring precision and creativity to everything you cook and genuinely care about the experience you create for every guest. Proven experience as a Hospitality Head Chef or strong Senior Sous Chef ready to take the next step A strong background in formal fine dining - essential Experience within corporate hospitality or premium client environments - highly desirable A genuine passion for high-quality, beautifully presented food Calm, professional and organised leadership style - you set the tone in the kitchen Confident managing a small team and delivering consistently exceptional standards Strong organisational and communication skills Meticulous approach to food safety, allergen management and compliance WHAT WE OFFER £45,000 per annum Monday to Friday - no weekends, exceptional work-life balance Prestigious Central London location Creative ownership of a boutique, high-quality hospitality kitchen Free meals at work every day Contributory pe