Name: Brandkits
Price range: $

Job Description

We are looking for a chef to define and head a truly garden-led kitchen—one where the menu begins in the soil, not on paper.

At Keythorpe Hall, cooking is rooted in seasonality, and flavour. Ingredients are grown for taste, harvested at their peak, and used with precision and care. The kitchen works in rhythm with the garden, extending the seasons through preservation and craft rather than relying on imported produce.

This role is for a chef who wants to be connected—to the land, to the ingredients, and to the people they are cooking for—and who is motivated by the opportunity to build something distinctive, thoughtful, and lasting.

About Keythorpe Hall

Keythorpe Hall is a farm-to-table culinary destination within a twenty-five acre estate in Leicestershire, centred around a two-acre walled garden that defines everything we cook.

The estate offers full-service, exclusive-use stays, a monthly supper club, and a programme of events throughout the year, all rooted in a deeply seasonal, garden-led approach to food.

The Role

We are seeking a Head Chef to lead the kitchen at Keythorpe Hall and play a central role in shaping both the food and the evolution of the business.

This is a rare opportunity to build and lead a truly garden-led kitchen, where menus are dictated by what is ready and at its peak, and where seasonality is not supplemented by imported ingredients but extended and interpreted through preservation, fermentation, curing, and careful planning.

You will work directly with the owners and Head Grower in a highly collaborative environment, contributing not only to menus but also to the ongoing development of Keythorpe Hall as a hospitality business. This includes the opportunity to help shape and develop new dining formats, guest experiences, and future business opportunities as the estate evolves.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You will have full ownership of the kitchen, from creative direction through to sourcing, standards, and service delivery, with additional kitchen support provided for larger events.

The Kitchen

The chef’s kitchen is fully equipped to a professional restaurant standard and includes a full suite of commercial cooking equipment. There is an established pantry of preserves, ferments, and seasonal preparations, which plays a key role in extending seasonality and maintaining a low reliance on external sourcing

Job Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Design and deliver seasonal menus led by the walled garden and a small number of trusted local suppliers
Create menus for guests staying at the estate
Lead monthly supper clubs, delivering multi-course tasting menus for approximately 26 covers
Develop bespoke menus for private dining events, ranging from intimate dinners to larger celebrations
Work closely with the Head Grower to plan crops, influence planting decisions, and align kitchen needs with seasonal production
Lead kitchen sourcing and supplier relationships, ensuring exceptional quality and consistency
Produce in-house bread, preserves, ferments, and other pantry elements as part of a closed-loop kitchen philosophy
Maintain the highest standards of food quality, presentation, and kitchen organisation
Work directly with the owners to develop the food offering and contribute to the wider evolution of Keythorpe Hall as a business

About You

You are likely an experienced Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef with a background in high-level, ingredient-led kitchens, private dining, or estate-based cooking.

You understand that exceptional food is defined not by complexity, but by clarity, restraint, and respect for ingredients.

You are confident leading a small team and comfortable taking full ownership of a kitchen. You thrive in environments where there is both creative freedom and genuine responsibility.

You are a natural communicator, able to engage with guests and represent the food and philosophy of the estate, while working closely and constructively with owners and collaborators.

Above all, you are motivated by the opportunity to continue to build something meaningful, not simply run an existing operation.

What We Offer

A rare opportunity to lead a kitchen built around a working walled garden
Full creative ownership within a clear, produce-led philosophy
Direct collaboration with the Head Grower and estate owners
The opportunity to help shape and develop future dining concepts and business opportunities at Keythorpe Hall
A fully equipped, professional chef’s kitchen with high-end commercial equipment
An established pantry of preserves, ferments, and seasonal preparations
A varied and rewarding role spanning private guests, supper clubs, and events
Competitive salary, share of any guest tips, pension, and private medical insurance
Weekly produce from the garden
Typically weekday daytime hours in-between scheduled bookings
Relocation support available if required