Roaming Chef
Upham Inns
From £16.00 per hour
SO22 6QS, United Kingdom
Part time
The Breakroom Take
About Upham Inns
Upham Inns operate pubs and inns across Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Surrey.
Job description from Upham Inns
Join Our Premium Pub Group
Are you a kitchen-savvy leader with a passion for hospitality, food, and teamwork? Do you thrive in high-energy environments and love variety in your work? We're on the hunt for Roaming Chefs to join our dynamic support team and bring their magic to our 14 stunning pubs across Hampshire, Wiltshire, Berkshire, and Surrey.
This is your chance to be a key player in a fast-growing pub company, working closely with different General Managers, supporting teams on the ground, and making a real impact. Whether you're leading the line or inspiring the FOH crew, every day will bring something new.
You'll need your own wheels (we cover the mileage, of course).
Your Mission as Roaming Chef:
- Be the kitchen and operations hero across multiple venues.
- Lead, train, and motivate our BOH teams to deliver exceptional service and outstanding food.
- Ensure our pubs are always guest-ready, upholding the highest standards in food, service, cleanliness, and safety.
- Partner with General Managers to deliver strong commercial results and seamless operations.
- Share your expertise to support performance in people, profit, safety, and satisfaction.
- Inspire and mentor teams, helping to build skills, confidence, and camaraderie.
- Be the go-to support during busy periods, holidays, or to help new openings hit the ground running.
What's In It For You?
- Up to £16/hr + Tronc (worth up to £3,500/year )
- Paid mileage across your travels
- Flexible shift patterns - we work around life
- Up to 40% off meals on shift for you and up to 6 guests
- Discounted stays at our charming inns - 33% for you, 20% for your friends & fam
- Pathway to General Manager - clear, supported career growth
- Free access to the Lifestyle Card - unlock 5,000+ discounts on travel, fashion, fitness & more
- Service awards & milestone bonuses
- Up to £1,000 in referral rewards for finding more amazing team members!
What You Bring:
- Experience in a similar leadership role - ideally in hospitality, kitchens, or premium pubs
- Strong knowledge of restaurant & kitchen operations
- A people-first approach with proven success leading high-performing teams
- Solid financial skills - you know your way around P&L, stock, rotas, and compliance
- Commercial instincts - you can drive sales and spot opportunities
- Cool under pressure with great problem-solving skills
- Top-notch communication and team motivation skills
- You're legally able to work in the UK
Who We Are:
We're Upham Inns, a collection of premium, individually styled pubs and inns across Southern England. Our venues are known for top-quality fresh food, warm hospitality, and charming locations. Many of our pubs also feature boutique bedrooms, making us the local go-to for food, drink, and staycations.
We've also recently launched Harper's Steakhouse - our bold and buzzing American steakhouse brand - and it's already turning heads.
Why Join Us?
We're big enough to offer brilliant opportunities, but small enough to know your name. As we continue to grow, we want you to grow with us. We believe in investing in our people, rewarding effort, and creating places where teams feel proud to work.
Ready to take your career on the road (and to the next level)?
Join the Upham family and be part of something awesome.
Job insights from Breakroom
Chefs
Chefs prepare and cook food in restaurants, hotels and bars.
What you’ll do as a chef:
- Plan meals
- Prepare and cook food
- Purchase food and look after a budget
- Be responsible for the hygiene and safety of food served
Is it right for you?
This job may involve:
- Standing
- Physical activities
- Wearing a uniform
- Cleaning
- Anti-social hours
What employees say
Pay
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Okay
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Only some people are paid a living wage
Do Upham Inns pay a living wage?
Some people are not paid a living wage.
How we know this
46% of people say they are paid below the Real Living Wage for where they live.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should be paid enough to live on.
The Real Living Wage is a voluntary rate employers can sign up to that is based on the real cost of living.
The current rates are £12.60 per hour, and £13.85 per hour in London.
Find out more in our explainer about the Real Living Wage.
Good
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Most people are paid market rates
Do Upham Inns pay market rates?
Most people are paid above average for their job.
How we know this
80% of people are paid above average for the type of work they do.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Pay can vary a lot between types of job. Employers should be ensuring that the rates their staff are paid are in line with similar roles elsewhere.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get paid breaks
Do workers at Upham Inns get paid breaks?
No. Most people don’t get paid breaks.
How we know this
100% of people say they don’t get paid breaks.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should have paid breaks.
You should be paid for all your time at work, whether you’re on a break or not.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get sick pay
Do Upham Inns pay sick pay?
No. Most people don’t get proper sick pay.
How we know this
86% of people say they wouldn’t get paid if they were sick but scheduled to work.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off without worrying.
At a good job you should still get paid if you’re scheduled to work but can’t due to sickness. Your contract should say how many sick days you can take each year.
This is more than the legal minimum, which says you should only get paid if you are unwell for 4 full days. See Citizens Advice for more details.
Okay
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Some people do unpaid extra work
Do workers at Upham Inns do extra work that they don't get paid for?
Sometimes. Some people do unpaid extra work.
How we know this
40% of people report that they do extra work that they don’t get paid for.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone should get paid for any extra work they do, even if it is outside your contracted hours. At a good job, you should be paid for all the time you spend at work.
Hours and flexibility
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Needs improving
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Less than 4 weeks notice of shifts
How much notice do people get of their shift pattern at Upham Inns?
Most people don’t get 4 weeks notice of when they’re working.
How we know this
- 67% of people with changing schedules report getting one week notice or less.
- 33% of people with changing schedules report getting two weeks notice.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting three weeks notice.
- 0% of people with changing schedules report getting four weeks notice or more.
Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you get plenty of notice about when you’re working.
This makes it easy for you to plan the rest of life, as well as your finances, because you know how much you’ll be working and when.
Okay
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Some people worry about their hours
Do workers at Upham Inns worry about hours?
Some people worry about getting enough hours.
How we know this
42% of people report they worry about getting enough hours.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, you shouldn’t have to worry about getting enough hours each week.
A good job should guarantee you a minimum number of hours in a contract, if you want it.
This makes it easier to plan your finances, because you know how much you’ll be earning.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t get any choice of shifts
Do Upham Inns workers get to choose the shifts they work?
Most people don’t get enough choice over which shifts they work.
How we know this
69% report that their manager doesn’t give them enough choice over which shifts they work.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. This means you get a say in when you prefer to work.
Needs improving
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Hard to change shifts
How easy is it for Upham Inns workers to change shifts?
Most people find it hard to change shifts.
How we know this
69% of people report that it’s hard to change shifts if they need to.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job is flexible around your personal life. It should be easy to change a shift if you need to, whether that’s in an emergency or for planning ahead.
Good
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Easy to book holiday
How easy is it to book a holiday at Upham Inns?
Most people find it easy to book holiday.
How we know this
82% of people report it’s easy to book holidays.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should let you take time off when you need it, and it shouldn’t be a nightmare to arrange.
Needs improving
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Shifts get changed at short notice
Do Upham Inns managers change shifts at short notice?
Most managers change people’s shifts at short notice.
How we know this
73% of people say their manager changes their shifts at the last minute.Based on data from 11 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and January 2025.
Why this matters
If your manager is often changing your shifts at short notice that’s a sign of poor planning. At a good job you won’t be messed around at the last minute.
Okay
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Some people find it hard to take sick leave
How easy is it to take sick leave at Upham Inns?
Some people find it hard to take sick leave.
How we know this
54% of people report that it’s hard to take time off if they are sick.Based on data from 13 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Everyone gets sick sometimes. You should be able to take time off when you need to.
A good job should support you when you’re unwell and have systems in place that will allow you to take time off to recover when you need it.
Workplace
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Needs improving
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Most people don’t get proper breaks
Do people at Upham Inns get proper breaks?
Most people don’t get proper breaks.
How we know this
70% of people report that they don’t get to take proper breaks.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
When you take a break it should be a proper rest. It should last the full duration and you shouldn’t get pulled off it.
Needs improving
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Most people are stressed
Is it stressful to work at Upham Inns?
Most people feel stressed here.
How we know this
100% of people say they often feel stressed at work.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
Work isn’t always easy, but if you’re frequently feel stressed, that’s not good.
Your employer should support you with enough people and resources to get your job done without feeling overwhelmed.
Okay
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Only some people recommend their team
Do people at Upham Inns recommend working with their team?
Only some people recommend working with their team.
How we know this
57% of people report that they wouldn’t recommend working with their immediate team to a friend.Based on data from 14 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job means enjoying the place where you work.
The people you work with every day really matter. They can be the difference between a terrible day and a great one.
If you’d recommend your team to a friend, this shows that something’s going right.
Okay
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Only some people get enough training
Do people get enough training when they start at Upham Inns?
Some people didn’t get enough training when they started.
How we know this
67% of people report they didn’t get enough training when they started working here.Based on data from 12 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should give you good training when you start, not just drop you in at the deep end.
This means that you’ll be happier and more productive from day one and shows that your employer values you.
It’s also very important if your job involves anything that could be dangerous. Good training from the outset keeps you and your team safe.
Okay
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Only some people get support to progress
Are people given support to progress at Upham Inns?
Only some people are given support to progress here.
How we know this
In the last year, 50% of people report not being given an opportunity to get better at their job, learn a new skill, learn to manage a team or get more responsibility in their role.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
A good job should help you progress at work, if you want to. That might be supporting you to get better at the job you currently have, learn something new, manage a team or take on more responsibilities.
This means you’ll be able to build on your skills and experience, and earn more money.
Needs improving
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Head office doesn’t understand what’s happening
Do people think Upham Inns head office understands what's happening where they work?
Most people think head office doesn’t understand what’s happening where they work.
How we know this
80% of people think that this employer’s head office or owners don’t have a good understanding of what’s really happening where they work.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, the role of head office should be to support the people on the frontline serving customers.
To do that properly, the company’s owners or head office need to have a good understanding of what’s really happening on the frontline. This is especially important when a company owns multiple locations.
Needs improving
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Most people don’t feel well informed by head office
Do workers feel well informed about how Upham Inns is doing?
Most people don’t feel well informed about how the company is doing.
How we know this
80% of people feel that they aren’t kept well informed about how the company is doing as a whole.Based on data from 10 people who took the Breakroom Quiz between June 2023 and March 2025.
Why this matters
At a good job, there should be a supportive relationship between the people working on the frontline serving customers and the people who own the company or work in head office.
You should be kept informed about how the company is doing as a whole, both in good times and when things get tough for the business.
What Upham Inns employees say about their job
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Best thing
People, locals and beer
Worst thing
Stress and entitalment
Trainee manager at Upham Inns, July 2023
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