Chef

🍃  Tired of late nights in the kitchen? Join us at Thorpe to keep your passion for cooking while enjoying a better work-life balance🍃

• Location: Thorpe Forest (Norfolk)
• Salary: £13.35 per hour
• Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week.
• Days of Work: 5 days out of 7, your days of work will vary.
• Transport: Please note that our location is not accessible by public transport. Therefore, a valid driving licence and access to a car, or another reliable means of transport, are essential for this role.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Chef to join our friendly Thorpe Forest team! Enjoy a great work-life balance,  with shifts that finish no later than 8:30pm. Be a part of making special escapes in one of the UK’s most peaceful forest locations, developing your skills while ensuring our cabins are beautifully prepared for every guest. Our cabins offer a natural escape beside the banks of the River Thet, close to where the Norfolk and Suffolk borders meet. Choose a cabin beneath the tranquil canopy of the forest or opt for a more open aspect in the picturesque woodland glade.

About the Chef role:

Open all year round, as our Chef you play a pivotal role in our Forest Retreat building, the hub of the location.  This is our reception, the first port of call for guests checking in on their holiday.  It houses a shop, bar, and restaurant. Opening hours are location and season dependant but there are no late openings which allows a better work/life balance. In this role you must deliver exceptional customer service, ensuring every guest enjoys the perfect Forest Feeling experience.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and cook all orders, ensuring the quality and presentation of the food is to the highest standard.
• Comply with H&S and Food Hygiene regulations and complete required paperwork associated within a food environment.
• Understand and encourage the principles of safe food handling to ensure all food preparation is to the highest standards of hygiene.
• Follow the cleaning rota, to ensure the regular cleaning of all kitchen areas, equipment and appliances to meet the required high standards of cleanliness.

What Are We Looking For?

Our ideal Chef must have a real passion for great food to oversee our catering provision, so delivering exceptional customer service is essential.  You will ensure our guests receive food of the highest standard whilst ensuring all our kitchen Health & Safety obligations are met in full.

We’re looking for someone with:

• ✅ Experience in catering is essential.
• ✅ A friendly, positive, and helpful attitude.
• ✅ Passion for delivering an outstanding customer service.
• ✅ Excellent communication skills and attention to detail.

Who Are Forest Holidays?

We’re a Certified B Corp. Our business has been recognised as a force for good. It's what we’ve always known: our holidays are good for people and the planet. We’ve never done business as usual. Our holidays are unique, and so are we. We’re a team of 800 people. We’re stewards of 244.5 hectares of forest. We manage the land for conservation and create spaces in nature for people to stay. Our tucked-away cabin locations are always thoughtfully placed. They’re places to discover the wonders of nature and realise the part we all play in protecting it.

Why Join Us?

As a valued member of our team, you’ll enjoy a range of fantastic benefits, including:

• ✈️ Generous holiday allowance – Take the time you need to recharge
• 💰 Performance-based bonuses – Earn a 5% bonus (paid quarterly) when customer service targets are met
• 🎉 Social events and awards evenings – Celebrate success with your team
• 🔒 Pension scheme – Secure your future with our company pension
• 💛 One full paid day to volunteer – Give back to a cause you care about
• 🍴 Subsidised meals – Discounted food when working on location
• ❤️‍🩹 Wellbeing events & activities – Focus on your mental and physical wellness
• 🛖 Discounted cabin breaks – Up to 20% off pre-booked stays or last-minute breaks for just £75 per cabin. Friends and family also receive 15% off
• 🛍️ Hundreds of discounts – Save on top brands across the UK

Reasonable Adjustments: We’re all about diversity, inclusion, and bringing your authentic self to work. Need adjustments for the recruitment process? Just ask, our team is happy to help.

🌿 Click ‘Apply’ now to start your journey with us at Thorpe Forest (Norfolk). Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!