The Coaching Inn Group
Head Banquet Chef
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Head Banqueting Chef
Location: The Lion Inn & Lion House, Boreham, Essex
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Job Type: Full Time
Hours: 48 Hours Per Week
About The Lion Inn
The Lion Inn is one of Essex's leading hospitality destinations, combining a premium gastropub restaurant, boutique hotel, and thriving events business. Serving thousands of guests every week, we are a high-volume operation with an excellent reputation for quality food and exceptional hospitality.
Alongside our busy restaurant, Lion House hosts weddings, corporate events, conferences, and private celebrations throughout the year. We are now looking for an experienced and passionate Head Banqueting Chef to lead our banqueting kitchen and help deliver exceptional food experiences across our events operation.
About The Role
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced chef who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys the variety that comes with both banqueting and restaurant service.
You will take responsibility for the planning, preparation, and delivery of high-quality food for weddings, functions, conferences, private dining events, and other banqueting occasions. During quieter event periods, you will work alongside the Head Chef and restaurant kitchen team within our premium scratch-cook gastropub operation.
As such, we are looking for a chef who is equally comfortable producing high-volume banqueting menus and high-quality restaurant dishes from fresh ingredients.
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Key Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the banqueting kitchen.
- Prepare, cook, and present high-quality food for weddings, private events, conferences, and functions.
- Ensure consistently high standards of food quality, presentation, and guest satisfaction.
- Manage food preparation, service, and event execution from start to finish.
- Work closely with the Events Team to ensure seamless delivery of all functions.
- Support menu development and event food planning.
- Maintain exceptional standards of food safety, hygiene, and allergen compliance.
- Manage stock control, ordering, and food cost management, minimizing waste wherever possible.
- Train, mentor, and develop junior kitchen team members.
- Support the wider kitchen team as required.
- During quieter banqueting periods, work within the main restaurant kitchen, supporting service and food preparation.
- Be flexible and willing to assist across all kitchen operations to meet business demands.
About You
We're looking for someone who:
- Has previous experience as a Head Chef, Banqueting Chef, Senior Sous Chef, or similar role within a high-volume hospitality environment.
- Has experience catering for weddings, functions, and large-scale events.
- Has a strong background in fresh food cooking and premium gastropub dining.
- Is organized, reliable, and able to perform calmly under pressure.
- Has excellent leadership and team management skills.
- Demonstrates a genuine passion for food and high standards.
- Has a strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, and allergen management.
- Is commercially aware and understands food margins, stock control, and labor management.
- Can adapt between banqueting and restaurant operations depending on business requirements.
- Has excellent attention to detail and takes pride in delivering exceptional food every time.
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What We Offer
- Competitive salary based on experience.
- Share of tips.
- 25% Employee discount across The Lion Inn and Coaching Inn Group.
- Chef whites provided and laundered.
- Employee recognition through our Hero of the Month and Hero of the Year awards.
- Exclusive annual £1 stay at one of our hotels across the group.
- Pension scheme.
- Ongoing training and development opportunities.
- Career progression within a growing hospitality business.
- A supportive and ambitious kitchen team.
- The opportunity to work within one of Essex's busiest and most successful hospitality venues.
Join Our Team
If you are a talented chef with experience in both banqueting and fresh food restaurant operations and are looking for a new challenge within a premium, high-volume venue, we would love to hear from you.
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