Head Chef

Head Chef

About us

Steeped in history, the White Bear theatre pub has been on this site since c.1780, serving great beer and ales. After an impressive refurbishment in 2016, the White Bear's interior is a stunning blend of traditional charm and modern design, complete with an eclectic collection of artwork and bric-a-brac.

On the original wooden bar, you'll find a fantastic selection of craft beers, ales and lagers, alongside an extensive wine list and a carefully curated collection of spirits and whisk(e)y.

But we're not just about drinks! We are proudly food-led, serving high-quality, seasonal dishes that showcase the best of British produce, with a focus on flavour, creativity, and elevated pub classics done right.

When the sun shines, enjoy your favourite tipple in the beer garden, also home to our very own beehives.

Nearest public transport - Kennington.

Being a Head Chef at the White Bear

As Head Chef, you'll take ownership of the kitchen, from menu development and sourcing to service, team management and kitchen standards. You'll be creative, organised and commercially minded, while never losing sight of what makes great pub food.

You'll be responsible for:

• Creating exciting, seasonal and delicious menus

• Leading, motivating and developing the kitchen team

• Maintaining consistently high food quality and presentation

• Managing food costs, GP and kitchen budgets

• Working closely with the management team to develop the food offering

• Building strong relationships with suppliers

• Maintaining excellent food hygiene and kitchen standards

• Being a hands-on chef who leads by example during busy services

What we offer our Head Chefs

• Head Chefs get to have full autonomy to create your own menus and specials
• Access to our Apprenticeship Scheme and Development Programmes
• Access to regular culinary masterclasses covering topics such as Game, Butchery and Shellfish
• Access to inspirational food trips with our top quality suppliers
• Regular Chef Forums with other Head Chefs to inspire and develop
• Free meals
• 20% discount in all Young's Pubs and 30% discount on overnight stays in our Pubs with Rooms
• Share save Scheme
• Enhanced Company Pension Scheme
• 28 Days Holiday per year

What we look for in a Head Chef

This role requires someone that can inspire a team, to bring out the potential and lead by example whilst being able to develop, cost and produce fresh seasonal menus for the variety of revenue streams within the business.

• Have experience championing excellent service through quality food either as a Head Chef or in the position of Sous Chef
• Demonstrate a passion for leading and developing a team
• Be an active hands-on team player with excellent communication skills
• Be responsible and able to manage the kitchen staff rota, training and all health and safety effectively at all times
• Be able to demonstrate your creativity and ability to design and deliver new dishes for our menus and daily specials
• Demonstrate great planning and organisational skills, necessary to maintain effective controls with regard to both GP and labour
• Have a pro-active approach to driving sales and delivering growth, through engagement with both kitchen and front of house teams