Hotel Café Royal is an iconic 5-star luxury hotel located in Central London, featuring 159 rooms and suites, 3 renowned restaurants, 1 stylish bar, and an award-winning luxury spa. Our food and beverage offerings include Barbounia, an all-day dining Mediterranean restaurant; The Grill Room, an afternoon tea lounge with a rich history; and Cakes & Bubbles, a collaboration with Michelin-starred pastry chef Albert Adri. In addition, we host prestigious banqueting events and cater to a wide range of guest experiences.
The Role:
We are seeking an experienced Pastry Sous Chef to join our esteemed culinary team. You will assist in leading our dedicated pastry team, which consists of nearly 20 chefs, including 3 bakers. You will work closely with our Head Pastry Chef to oversee all pastry operations across our outlets, events, and banqueting functions. You will help to ensure the highest standards of quality, creativity, and presentation for all pastries, desserts, and baked goods, while maintaining a smooth and efficient kitchen operation.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist in overseeing the daily operations of the pastry kitchen, managing a team of pastry chefs and bakers.
- Support the creation and execution of innovative pastry and dessert menus for all outlets, including Barbounia, The Grill Room, Cakes & Bubbles, and banqueting events.
- Ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality products, with a focus on creativity, precision, and presentation.
- Assist in managing food production, from ingredient sourcing to preparation, ensuring food safety and hygiene standards are upheld at all times.
- Collaborate with the Executive Pastry Chef to develop new dessert concepts and seasonal offerings, incorporating current pastry trends.
- Supervise the teams performance, providing training and mentorship to junior chefs to enhance their skills and creativity.
- Monitor stock levels and assist with ordering supplies and inventory management, ensuring cost control without compromising quality.
- Work closely with the banqueting and events teams to design custom dessert menus tailored to clients needs.
- Assist with scheduling and ensuring the team is flexible and able to meet the demands of the hotel, including special events and peak periods.
- Maintain a positive working environment, promoting teamwork and a culture of excellence.
Requirements:
- Previous experience as a Pastry Sous Chef or Senior Pastry Chef within a luxury hotel or high-end restaurant is essential.
- Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage and inspire a large team of pastry chefs and bakers.
- A creative flair for developing innovative and visually stunning desserts and pastries.
- Excellent knowledge of pastry techniques, ingredients, and current pastry trends.
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to work under pressure and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Flexibility to work varying shifts, including weekends and evenings, based on the needs of the hotel (typical shifts include 8am to 6pm and 1pm to 11pm).
- Strong understanding of food hygiene and health and safety regulations.
- Passionate about delivering exceptional guest experiences and creating memorable dessert moments.
The Benefits:
- Pay of up to £48,000 per year including service charge
- Access to heavily discounted friends and family rooms rates across the Set Hotels
- Two complimentary rooms nights per year in London, Paris or Amsterdam (after 1 year of employment)
- Up to 50% colleagues discount in all our food and beverage outlets
- Colleague wellness sessions in our Akasha spa each month including osteopath, podiatrist, yoga and fitness classes (as well as staff discounts on spa treatments)
- Regular social events, including our infamous Summer Party (August) and Black-Tie Annual Awards dinner (January)
- Christmas celebrations, including colleague lunch, childrens party and Christmas gift
- Automatic membership of the companys life assurance scheme from day one
- Generous discounts on retail and dining in Central London through the West End Club app
- Mental health support including Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and mental health champions in all departments