Event, Cafe and Restaurant Chef - Ventnor Botanic Garden

Job Posted: 25 February 2025

• Contract Term: Permanent
• Location: Ventnor, Isle of Wight
• Contract Type: Full or part time
• Salary: Competitive and depending on experience
• Industries: Catering, Hospitality & Bar Chefs Travel & Tourism

Full or Part-time

We are looking for a talented and passionate Chef to join us at Ventnor Botanic Garden (VBG). 

Ventnor Botanic Garden is looking for a new Chef. We are looking for someone who is a innovative chef and motivated team player, happy to manage seasonal staff for catering events and weddings. Innovative and fresh ingredients are available through the Garden seasonally.  

If you have experience in menu development and a love for cooking delicious local ingredients from scratch, we want to hear from you!

• Develop seasonal, innovative menus focusing on fresh, local and VBG – grown ingredients.
• Cook and prepare dishes from scratch to ensure high quality and authentic home-cooked flavours.
• Maintain high standards of food safety and hygiene in line with EHO requirements.
• Work collaboratively with the team to deliver exceptional dining.
• Strong understanding of cooking techniques, kitchen management, and food safety practices.
• Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes and baking to be available daily.
• Contribute to the visitor welcome at VBG and help to cut waiting times through clever menu planning.
• Set costed, seasonal and innovative menus for the café.
• Teach the FOH supervisor and seasonal cooks how to cook and plate them on your days off.
• Create a buzz / theatre in the café with delicious-smelling food.
• Deliver in the morning fresh-cooked VBG baking to eat-in and take away.
• Search for quality products with best value suppliers and set up team communication system for ordering low and out of stock items.
• Keep an eye on our retail pricing against competitors and price accordingly.
• Be responsible for café / bar / restaurant takings, daily cashing up sheets.

Ideally you will already have a minimum of Level 2 Food Handling and a Personal Licence

Please read the attached document for all the details and apply as soon as poosible as we will be interviewing as soon as CVs come in.