Experienced Head Chef | Hotel & Events | Fresh Food | Kitchen Operations | HACCP
Location: Bolton / Greater Manchester
Availability: 4 weeks’ notice
Salary Expectations: £42,000
Target Roles: Head Chef | Executive Head Chef | Hotel Head Chef | Kitchen Manager | Senior Head Chef
Candidate Overview
An experienced and commercially focused Head Chef and Kitchen Manager with a strong background across hotels, fine dining, banqueting, private healthcare, weddings and large-scale catering operations.
Based in Bolton, this candidate has built an extensive career progressing through senior kitchen positions and now brings significant experience in leading kitchen teams, developing menus, improving operational standards, managing costs and maintaining food safety compliance.
A particular strength is their ability to walk into an underperforming kitchen and make meaningful operational improvements. They have a proven record of introducing new systems and procedures, improving team morale, strengthening HACCP compliance and increasing profitability.
Their experience spans both hands-on culinary leadership and wider kitchen management, making them particularly well suited to hotel, wedding and destination venues where food quality, events and commercial performance are key priorities.
Key Skills & Expertise
• Head Chef & Kitchen Management
• Hotel & Hospitality Catering
• Fresh Food & Seasonal Menus
• Fine Dining
• Weddings & Banqueting
• Menu Development
• Menu Costing & GP Improvement
• Kitchen Team Leadership
• Recruitment & Staff Development
• SOP Development
• HACCP & Food Safety
• Allergen Management
• COSHH
• EHO Compliance
• Stock & Wastage Control
• Supplier Negotiation
• Cost Reduction
• Ordering & Procurement
• Kitchen Rotas & Labour Management
• Quality Control
• Operational Improvement
Career Highlights
Head Chef – 4-Star Hotel & Spa
Currently working as Head Chef within a prominent hotel and spa, taking responsibility for the kitchen operation and leading a programme of significant operational improvements.
Since joining, they have introduced a new cleaning and HACCP system, strengthened compliance procedures and addressed significant gaps in existing kitchen documentation.
They identified a lack of allergen matrices, specification sheets and documented methods and implemented new processes to bring the kitchen to a significantly stronger operational standard.
They have also worked extensively on team morale, recruitment and kitchen management, making positive changes to both the structure and culture of the kitchen team.
Head Chef / Kitchen Manager – Private Healthcare
Previously worked as Head Chef / Kitchen Manager within an exclusive private healthcare and rehabilitation facility, managing a team of six and providing three meals a day for guests and staff.
Responsible for ensuring food quality, service timings and costs were maintained, while overseeing the complete kitchen operation.
During their time in the role, they created SOPs for menus and meal periods, significantly improved the dining experience and ensured HACCP records and daily operational paperwork were consistently maintained to meet QCS requirements.
Major Hotel Kitchen Transformation
One of the strongest examples of this candidate’s ability to improve a kitchen operation came during a previous Head Chef position within a hotel.
Key achievements included:
• Improved overall GP performance
• Implemented the hotel’s HACCP and COSHH systems
• Renegotiated supplier costs and secured improved rates
• Reworked the hotel’s complete menu offering
• Introduced fresh, seasonal, on-site food in place of frozen catalogue products
• Developed menus covering afternoon teas, wedding desserts, fine dining and restaurant service
• Ensured menus were accurately costed
• Reduced labour costs and improved kitchen efficiency
• Improved the hotel’s EHO rating from 1 star to 5 stars
• Helped almost double wedding trade for the following year
• Improved restaurant, bar and in-room dining offerings
This demonstrates an ability to combine culinary creativity with commercial management, compliance and operational improvement.
Hotel, Fine Dining & Banqueting Experience
Earlier career experience includes senior kitchen positions within a number of hotels and fine dining environments.
Responsibilities throughout their career have included:
• Menu writing and development
• Fresh food preparation
• A La Carte service
• Fine dining
• Weddings and functions
• Banqueting
• Stock control and ordering
• Wastage management
• HACCP
• Food safety and hygiene
• Staff training and development
• Kitchen rotas
• Team management
• Supplier management
• Running kitchens independently
They have also progressed through the kitchen hierarchy from Demi Chef de Partie and Senior Chef de Partie through Junior Sous Chef, Senior Sous Chef and Head Chef, giving them a comprehensive understanding of professional kitchen operations.
TV & Film Catering Experience
Between senior hotel roles, gained additional experience working as a Cook across various TV and film locations, catering for cast and crew and adapting to different production environments and requirements.
What This Candidate Offers
This candidate is particularly strong for employers looking for a Head Chef who can both lead a kitchen team and improve the operation around them.
They combine strong culinary experience with a commercially minded approach to GP, supplier costs, labour, stock and menu profitability, alongside a very strong understanding of HACCP, allergens, COSHH and EHO compliance.
Their track record of improving an EHO rating from 1 star to 5 stars, significantly improving GP and helping almost double wedding trade demonstrates the tangible impact they can have on a hospitality operation.
They are particularly suited to hotels, wedding venues, country house venues and destination properties where fresh food, events and banqueting are important revenue streams.
Ideal Roles
Head Chef | Executive Head Chef | Hotel Head Chef | Kitchen Manager | Senior Head Chef | Executive Chef
Ideal Venues
4-Star Hotels | Country House Hotels | Wedding Venues | Destination Hotels | Hotel Spas | Fine Dining Restaurants | Event & Banqueting Venues | Private Hospitality & Healthcare
Education & Qualifications
Hotel & Catering Level 2
GNVQ Hotel & Catering Level 1
Home Economics
Art & Technical Drawing
English & Mathematics
Recruitment Enquiries
For further information about this experienced Head Chef and Kitchen Manager based in Bolton, or to discuss their suitability for your hotel, wedding venue or hospitality operation, please contact Perfect Recruitment.
Info@perfect-recruitment.co.uk
6500040
