Production Chef

£27,500 per annum plus performance bonus and fantastic benefits

40 hours per week. Currently M-F 7am-3:30pm, though weekends may be needed in the future

Due to the location of the Estate, a driving license is advised

Our Production Chef

As our Production Chef, you’ll play a hands-on role in creating the high-quality dishes and components that feed into our restaurants, retail products, and ready meals. Based at Avalon Farm and reporting to the Head Chef, you’ll be part of a nine-strong team working from our purpose-built production kitchen. You'll take ownership of your section, ensure prep is accurate, and lead by example with quality, safety, and efficiency at the heart of everything you do.

Key Responsibilities

Lead production within a designated section, cooking and processing ingredients to spec
Oversee Kitchen Assistants and ensure all preparation meets standards
Maintain consistency and quality across all items produced in your section
Follow and uphold food safety procedures and documentation
Collaborate with the Head Chef and Operations Manager to meet production targets
Support the training of junior team members

What We Can Offer

A positive workplace environment with opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.
Stay in shape with our complimentary use of our gym and wellbeing classes
Look after your wellbeing with complimentary access to our Spa and swimming pools and our exclusive benefit of 50% off Spa Treatments.
Enjoy shopping in both our shops on estate and online with 30% discount for all our colleagues and free delivery for any online purchases.
Discover exclusive perks with our Discounted hotel stays for staff, accompanied by a fantastic 30% discount at our restaurants.
Complimentary garden membership for the Newt and our partner gardens including the Eden Project, Kew Gardens and The Lost Gardens of Heligan
Complimentary staff meal each shift – crafted by our dedicated kitchen team, often featuring fresh produce from our estate.
We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our colleague recognition programme “Newt Awards” with the opportunity to achieve a variety of amazing rewards including a complimentary Hotel Stay.
Support from our Employee Assistance Programme for both yourself and your family
A team that knows how to have fun with regular team engagement activities including Fun Squad events, which include activities such as Go-Karting and Wine Tasting, to name but a few.
Up to 30 days annual leave each year for our full-time team

What We’re Looking For

Needed:

Calm, efficient, and organised under pressure
Experience in a professional kitchen or production environment
Solid cooking skills, especially braising, roasting, and precise prep
Knowledge of food safety and allergen procedures

Desirable:

Manual Handling training
COSHH training
HACCP Level 2 or awareness
Experience with chilled/frozen ready meal production
Exposure to low care/high care production facilities
Familiarity with batch documentation and spec compliance

About the Farm Kitchen

The Farm Kitchen at Avalon Farm is a purpose-built food production facility at the heart of The Newt in Somerset’s food strategy. It produces high-quality products for our restaurants, farm shop, ecommerce platform, and staff food operations. With a focus on ready-to-eat meals, slow-cooked meats, and soups, the kitchen operates using best-in-class equipment and ingredients grown and reared on-site. The environment is fast-paced, quality-driven, and offers a rare opportunity to contribute to a vertically integrated food production system with sustainability and excellence at its core.

Who are we - The Newt in Somerset

Nestled within an expanse of rolling fields and steeped in ancient history, our luxury country estate stands as a haven of refined elegance, inviting guests to explore acres of captivating gardens, meandering pathways, and enriching exhibitions - accessible 364 days a year for our members. Our hotel extends a warm welcome, offering a home-away-from-home experience where impeccable service flourishes in an ambiance of unassuming sophistication. Beyond the estate, the Newt's essence remains tangible, with our Ecommerce teams delivering our finest products to homes, while media and membership endeavours keep them informed of our latest developments. Behind the scenes, a tapestry of talented teams - from Housekeeping to HR, Finance to Farming - collaborates harmoniously, crafting an unforgettable journey of growth, development, and innovation, where every contribution creates unparalleled experiences.

INDAVR