Job Description: Head Chef, Grower & Producer at The Barn on The Bay

Location: Widdrington, Morpeth, Northumberland, UK

About Us:

At The Barn on The Bay, we’ve got big ideas for our family farm and we’re committed to securing the future of small family-run farms and local suppliers. We aim to provide exceptional, locally-sourced food embracing the elements of the Northumbrian coast and countryside.

With an already thriving hospitality and wedding business, we are expanding to integrate our farm’s fresh produce directly into our culinary offerings and it is now time to diversify our dining calendar with farm feasts and food events. We are looking for a special individual to join our team and help us achieve this vision.

Role Overview:

We are seeking a chef with a genuine passion for the outdoors, sustainability and ethical food production. The ideal candidate will have a diverse skill set for a chef, that includes growing, experimental cooking, live-fire cooking, menu creation, kitchen management, farm to fork understanding, and creative visual food ideas.

Key Responsibilities:

• Cooking and Kitchen Management: Being a great chef is only part of what we’re looking for. We’re all about quality over quantity and instead of opening up night after night in a traditional sense the events that we do will be a bit more special and creative and will link the farm to the table.

• Allergy Awareness & Kitchen Safety: You will have impeccable knowledge of both allergy law and lead an allergy aware team and kitchen with HACCP and food hygiene systems being second nature to you. As well as this you will be able to be creative for guests that have food allergies and intolerances in a way that they do not feel singled out. 

• Growing: Establish and manage our kitchen garden to produce fresh fruit and vegetables for our menus, you’ll use the less busy times in the kitchen to nurture the garden.

• Farm to Fork: Utilise our farm’s beef and lamb, developing skills in butchery, dry aging, curing, and smoking. You’ll explore how we can use the farm’s resources to add value in a unique way.

• Experimental Cooking: Use our modern, well-equipped kitchen to elevate our farm produce through pickling, baking, curing, and other methods and create some signature products.

• Live-Fire Cooking: Bring an element of showcase live cooking to our events using smokers, BBQs, wood-fired ovens, and fire cages.

• Menu Creation & Kitchen Management: Develop standout menus, manage the kitchen team, and oversee budgeting for menus and events.

• Food Styling & Marketing: Style dishes and create content for social media and our website to promote our food offerings.

• Team Leadership: Mentor junior team members, fostering their development and ensuring a cohesive team environment in line with the Burnt Chef Project and promoting positive mental health.

• Event Catering: Manage the catering for weddings, supper clubs, restaurant evenings, feast nights, outside events, and Sunday lunches, exploring additional products and services to add value.

What We Offer:

• Flexibility: Enjoy flexible working hours to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

• Investment: Access to equipment and resources to help achieve our shared goals.

• Team Environment: Join an amazing, friendly team that works incredibly well together, always ready to support each other and explore new ideas together.

• Long-Term Growth: Be part of a team focused on long-term growth and pride in our collective achievements. Input into the future of the business and exciting trends in the food market.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience as a chef with a strong interest in sustainability and ethical food.

• Skills in small scale growing and basic butchery, or a willingness to learn.

• Creativity and enthusiasm for experimental cooking and live-fire techniques.

• Strong leadership abilities to manage a kitchen team and mentor junior staff.

• Excellent organisational skills for menu planning, budgeting, and event coordination.

• Proficiency in food styling and marketing, with an eye for detail and presentation.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a close-knit team.

How to Apply:

If you share our passion for locally-sourced, ethically-produced food and are excited about the opportunity to help shape the future of The Barn on The Bay, we’d love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you’re the perfect fit for our team to alison@hemscotthill.com

Join us in making The Barn on The Bay a food destination that celebrates local produce, sustainability, and the joy of great food!