Head Chef - La Familia (New Brand)

Job Details

Head Chef – Barrio

What's in It for You?

• £35-40 base salary + Bonus + service charge.
• Exciting bonus scheme so you share in the business’ success.
• An amazing 50% discount on food and drink across all our awesome venues.
• 4 x Salary life assurance to support your loved ones if the worst happens.
• Deals and discounts with a wide range of businesses through our discount portal.
• Early access to your pay through Wagestream.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides consultation sessions on mental health, well-being and finance, grants, and any other needed support.
• Training and development opportunities. We're invested in your success during your time with us!
• Fun and vibrant working environment with a fantastic team.

About Us:

La Familia – Soho’s Coolest Taqueria & Speakeasy

La Familia is where Soho comes to eat, drink, and let loose. Upstairs, we serve up a rustic, fast-casual taqueria experience – a small but mighty menu of tacos, quesadillas, elotes, and fresh chips & guac. Drinks are all about authentic Mexican flavours – from Mexican Coke and Jarritos to freshly made aguas frescas and laid-back margaritas.

Downstairs is where the night truly comes alive. Hidden beneath the taqueria is a Latin-inspired speakeasy cocktail bar – dimly lit, moody, and electric with energy. Expect elevated cocktails, mezcal magic, and a soundtrack of Latin disco and hip-hop spun by the best DJs in town.

La Familia blends Mexican modernism, bold colours, and street-party vibes – it’s all about celebrating imperfection, flavour, and music. Think “cool older sister” energy: stylish, playful, and just a little wild.

What We Need:

As Head Chef, you will prepare and produce quality food, ensure service standards are always met and maintained in line with our guests’ expectations and follow food safety and sanitation practices. It will be your duty to prepare, cook and present every dish with pride and passion and according to our brand standards.

Responsibilities:

• Develop menus and create new dishes in line with the Barrio brand.
• Oversee all aspects of food preparation, ensuring dishes are cooked to perfection and plated attractively, maintaining consistency and presentation.
• Manage all aspects of kitchen operations, including workflow, staffing, and organization.
• Enforce standard operating procedures and optimize resource utilization.
• Maintain inventory levels, order supplies, and monitor food costs.
• Provide guidance, training, and performance evaluations for the kitchen team.
• Ensure adherence to food safety and hygiene standards.
• Collaborate with front-of-house staff and management for a smooth dining experience.
• Develop budgets, monitor food costs, and control expenses to maximize profitability.

Skills and Experience:

• 1-2 years of experience in a busy kitchen.
• Exceptional culinary skills and in-depth knowledge of various cooking methods, ingredients, and cuisines.
• Strong leadership and communication skills to manage and motivate kitchen staff effectively.
• Ability to work well under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation regulations.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Creativity and a passion for food, demonstrated through the creation of unique and visually appealing dishes.

About Nightcap:

Nightcap is an award-winning operator in the late-night bar scene. We operate a portfolio of bars and venues across the UK, including brands like The Cocktail Club, Tonight Josephine, Barrio Familia, and Dirty Martini to name just a few. With a mission to be the UK’s leading bar group. Our purpose of existence is the belief that EVERYONE deserves a great night out, and therefore it's everyone's job to make sure we create great nights... and days out! We have a lively and dynamic work-ethos across all our bars and offices. Our culture is creative, innovative, and collaborative, where everyone contributes ideas and brings their true self to work every day, as we are hell-bent on harnessing a place where everyone can belong. Working here is fast paced, at times challenging, but copious amounts of fun!

Our Values:

• We Start at the Bar - At Nightcap, we make every decision based on what is right for our bars. This ensures our choices are practical, guest-focused, and truly reflect our business. It's all about staying grounded in real experiences to drive our success.
• Proud AF -Taking pride in our work means striving for excellence and being dedicated to success. At Nightcap, we encourage our teams to bring their passion every day, delivering world-class service and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests.
• Become Your Best Self - At Nightcap, we thrive on personal development of each other. We encourage our teams to seek growth, improve their skills, and enjoy the journey. It's about becoming the best version of yourself while having fun along the way.
• Own the Outcome - We believe in setting clear goals, taking full responsibility, and staying committed to achieve success. At Nightcap, we focus on results and make sure we follow through on our promises.
• People Are Everything - At Nightcap, we know our people are our greatest asset. We focus on creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported. Because at the end of the day, it's our people who make all the difference.

If you enjoy cooking up delicious food and providing excellent service to create memorable experiences for our guests, then we would be delighted to hear from you.