Kitchen Manager / Head Chef
Results driven Kitchen Manager with a passion for great food, tight systems, and strong teams. I boost quality, control costs, and keep kitchens running smooth.
Draughts is a trailblazer in experiential hospitality, redefining board games for a modern audience. Our mission is to bring people together over great food, drink, and play, creating welcoming spaces where guests can disconnect from screens and reconnect with each other.
Our venues are designed to offer a relaxed, intimate atmosphere where food, service, and games work together to create a memorable experience.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced and confident Executive Chef to lead the food offer across our venues. This role is about setting clear standards, building strong kitchen teams, and delivering food that is consistent, well executed, and commercially sound.
You will provide culinary leadership across sites, owning menu development, margins, food quality, compliance, and safety. Kitchen Managers will run day to day service, while you focus on structure, standards, and continuous improvement.
A key part of the role is ensuring kitchens operate safely and are always audit ready. You will set and uphold food safety, allergen management, and Health and Safety standards, supporting teams to follow them consistently.
This is a hands on leadership role for someone who takes pride in doing the basics exceptionally well and creating kitchens that teams enjoy working in.
You will work closely with the senior leadership team, who will support you in the role and give you the space to focus on food, people, and long term improvement.
What We Are Looking For
You are an experienced leader with a strong track record in running kitchens and developing teams. You are calm under pressure, clear in your expectations, and steady during service.
You care deeply about food safety, cleanliness, and compliance, and understand that strong standards protect both the team and the business. You are commercially aware, pay attention to margins and waste, and make decisions that balance creativity with consistency and simplicity.
You lead with care rather than ego, enjoy coaching others, and believe that great food starts with good systems and well supported people. You are organised, proactive, and always looking for better ways to operate.
What You Get
At Draughts, you will be part of a growing business that values creativity, curiosity, and connection. There is real opportunity to shape the food offer and have a genuine impact on how the kitchens evolve.
You will work alongside passionate people who care about quality and standards. Ideas are welcomed, and the team works hard while enjoying what they do.
And yes, there are always games. Lots of games
Pay: £40,000 - £46,000 OTE
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
Company pension
Discounted or free food
Employee discount
- Department
- Kitchen
- Role
- Kitchen Manager
- Location
- Draughts Waterloo
- Salary
- £40,000 - £46,000/year
Colleagues
About Draughts
Draughts began in 2014 with a simple idea and a whole lot of belief. In a fast, digital world, we wanted to create places where people could slow down and connect again; face to face. Our first venue opened in a railway arch in Haggerston, followed by new spaces in Waterloo, Dalston and now in Stratford , each transformed from empty shells into warm, vibrant destinations filled with laughter and conversation.
Driven by passion, perseverance, and purpose, we’ve grown into one of London’s most loved destinations for connection, through play, food, and drink; and we’re proud to keep that spirit alive in every venue we build.