Chef

Chef Candidate Pack

February 2026

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in the Mercury and the role of Chef.

We are recruiting a new chef who will lead our dedicated kitchen team to deliver an outstanding
food offer and customer service to all our audiences.

This is an exciting time to be joining the Mercury. In 2021 the Mercury re-opened the theatre
after a major refurbishment both back and front of house. We offer a warm and friendly casual
dining experience to our theatre going audiences and café bar visitors in our accessible café
bar.

Our all-day café’s offer includes a wide selection of light meals, cakes, and snacks alongside a
range of teas, coffees, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Additionally, we will cater for
afternoon teas, conferences and special events at the theatre. You can see our current
seasonal menu here.

We are a family friendly employer and the hours of operation for the kitchen reflect this with the
kitchen open to orders between 11:00am - 2:30pm and 5:00pm – 7:30pm on the days we are
open to the public.

Our commitment to our local community is strong and, where possible, ingredients will be locally
sourced and all coffee is Fairtrade.

In this pack you will find:

•  Job description and person specification
•

Information about how to apply

Further information about the Mercury can be found on www.mercurytheatre.co.uk

We recognise that these are challenging times for theatre, but we are committed to maintaining
and building our audience, delivering artistic excellence, and growing the Mercury’s reputation as
a launchpad for talent and innovation in the East of England and on tour across the UK.

We warmly encourage applications from people who identify as having a protected characteristic.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Steve Mannix
Chief Executive Officer

February 2026

Job Title
Department
Responsible to
Responsible for

Job Description

Chef
Operations
Head of Customer Experience
Sous Chef
Kitchen Assistants

Key working relationships   Commercial and Operations Director

Customer Experience Supervisors
Customer Experience Assistants

Purpose of the Post

As Chef, and working closely with the Head of Customer Experience, you will play a key role
in  delivering  all  aspects  of  the catering  offer,  coordinating  all catering  activities  and
operations on time and within budget.

The Chef is responsible for planning, scheduling and delivering catering for all events and
activities  across  the  Mercury’s  programme  (including  hires)  to  plan,  prepare,  cook  and
present food to the highest standards.

Main Duties

•  With the Commercial and Operations Director, to plan menus for the Mercury’s Café

Bar and other functions and events as booked

•  To be responsible for the planning and arranging of all catering requirements for the

Café bar, conferences and events

•  Ensure all food is planned, prepared, cooked and served to the highest standard
•  Determine  how  much  to  order  and  maintain  an  appropriate  supply,  within  agreed

budget and stock control limitations

•  Prepare and follow menus to ensure adequate yield of foods and avoid waste
•  Maintain excellent relationships with key suppliers
•  Receive and store food deliveries properly
•  To keep up with trends in cooking so theatre visitors have a positive experience
•  Work with  the hires  team  to provide  excellent  catering  and  buffet for conferencing

and events

•  Apply appropriate portion and wastage control

Financial

•  To be responsible for budgetary planning, costing, monitoring spending and control

of agreed amounts on catering materials and labour, and other catering items
•  To encourage the team to be aware of and seek to achieve commercial targets
•  To be responsible for the monitoring and accounting for all expenditure in the kitchen

including the spending of and accounting for petty cash payments

•  To be guide and report the maintenance  needs and monitor financial control of all

catering department stocks

February 2026

•  Work with the Head of Customer Experience to maintain adequate record keeping,
stock  control,  allergen  information  and  pricing  on  the  theatre’s  till  systems  and
website.

•  To maximise income and minimise expenditure wherever possible whilst maintaining

quality.

Human Resources

•  To line manage the Sous Chef, and Kitchen Assistants.
•  To coordinate the kitchen team rota as required, within budget
•  To  monitor  and  co-ordinate  the  provision  of  training  and  staff  development  for  the

kitchen team

Health and Safety

•  To ensure Health and Safety and Food safety standards methods are adhered to
by the department and to liaise with management team as necessary on any issues
identified.

•  To ensure risk assessments relevant to the kitchen are up to date and acted on.
•  Contribute to the maintenance of a clean, tidy and safe working environment.
•  Maintain the hygiene of kitchen equipment and related areas

General Duties

•  To manage time effectively meeting deadlines as directed by the Head of Customer

Experience

•  Maintain a working knowledge of the Mercury’s programme, including hire activities
•  Participate actively as a member of the Operations team
•  Attend and contribute to staff meetings and/or training sessions
•  Maintain positive and effective relationships with colleagues across the organisation
•  To adhere to all Mercury policies included Safeguarding, Health and Safety and

environmental policies

•  To maximise income and minimise expenditure whilst ensuring high quality delivery
•  Undertake any further duties as may be reasonably requested

This job description is a guide to the nature of the work required of this position. It is
neither wholly comprehensive nor restrictive and does not preclude change or
development that might be required in the future. It does not form part of the contract of
employment.

Person Specification

Professional Competencies

Essential

•  Proven experience in a similar role with relevant qualification relating to the food

and beverage industry

•  Strong food presentation skills
•  Ability to approach the presentation and cooking of food to suit a range of

customers budgets and taste, with equal enthusiasm and quality expectation.

February 2026

•  Experience of preparing buffets for small and large commercial events
•  Experience of effective management of budgets and ability to demonstrate excellent

financial control

•  Excellent attention to detail
•  High level of positive people management and the ability to build and maintain

excellent professional relationships

•  Ability to create and lead a team to fulfil detailed and complex schedules;
•  Excellent knowledge of current production food safety health and safety regulations

and good practice

•  A current food hygiene certificate

Desirable

•  Competent IT skills.
•  First Aider Qualification.
•  Full UK driving license.

Personal Qualities

•  Creative flair
•  Self-disciplined, organised and self-motivating
•  Proven experience of good relationships with kitchen teams
•  Ability to work as part of a flexible team, responding to instructions, contributing
ideas, supporting other team members and taking a lead on projects as required

•  Adaptable and receptive to new ideas and initiatives
•  Ability to work under pressure and manage competing deadlines
•  Good organisational/housekeeping skills
•  Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to listen, build rapport and communicate

with people at all levels

Outline of Terms and Conditions

Salary:
Hours:

Annual Leave:

Probationary Period:
Notice Period:

DBS Check:

February 2026

£30,000 – 32,000 per annum depending on experience
37.5 hours per week, although additional hours may be
necessary in order to fulfil the post’s requirements for which
Time Off in Lieu is available. This post will require the
successful candidate to work unsocial hours on occasion.
Annual leave entitlement is 20 days for each holiday year plus
statutory Bank Holidays.  When you complete one year of
service, your holiday entitlement will increase by one day each
year thereafter to a maximum of 25 days per annum.
Six months
Two month by either party in writing after an initial probationary
period during which time the notice period is one month by
either party
Should your post have regular contact with children and/or
vulnerable adults a DBS check will be required

Pension:

Other Benefits

Colchester Mercury Theatre Ltd operates a Stakeholder
Pension scheme. Full details of the scheme are available from
the Finance Department
Discount on drinks and meals in the Mercury’s bar including
access to the discounted staff menu
The company offers an interest free season ticket loan
The company encourages attendance at performances with an
allocation of tickets to employees (subject to availability and the
Mercury’s ticket policy
A discount on specific Creative Engagement activities.

How to apply

To apply for this post, please send

•  a  letter  of  no  more  than  2  sides  of  A4  or  a  video  of  no  more  than  4  minutes,
explaining what attracts you to this position, and evidence of your ability to meet the
job description and person specification. If you choose to apply via video, please
include the link to your video in a word or pdf document.

•  Your CV
•  Names and contact details for two employment/professional referees, however, we
shall not take up references unless candidates are invited to a second interview
•  A completed Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form (part of the application link)

Applications  should  be  submitted  to  via  this  Staffology  link  by  10:00am  on  Friday,  13
March 2026.

First round interviews will take place in person at the Mercury on Tuesday, 24 March 2026.

The Mercury Theatre is an equal opportunities employer and actively promotes diversity
in our staff team. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless
of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. Please let us know if
you need this information in a different format by contacting the recruitment team on
recruitment@mercurytheatre.co.uk, or by calling 01206577006, ext. 204.

February 2026