Location
London

Hours
Flexible hours including evenings, weekends and key hospitality moments

Salary
Negotiable

About the Role
Delano London, opening in late 2026 and overlooking Kensington Gardens, brings the spirit and celebrated heritage of the iconic Delano Miami Beach to London, reimagined for a new generation. The hotel will feature 67 rooms and suites, Lana Lusa, the legendary Rose Bar and Rose Lounge, alongside The Source wellness offering. Delano is a place where personality, creativity and genuine connection come together, valuing curiosity, individuality and a sense of fun to create an environment where our people can be themselves while delivering thoughtful, intuitive and genuinely warm hospitality.

We are seeking an exceptional Sous Chef to join the pre-opening culinary team. Reporting to the Executive Head Chef and working closely with the Senior Sous Chef, you will play a key role in delivering the food experience across Lana Lusa, our all-day restaurant, while supporting the wider culinary operation.

You will help build a confident opening kitchen, lead by example during service, and bring together precision, warmth and a genuine passion for great food. Your responsibilities will include supporting the day-to-day running of the kitchen across breakfast, lunch, dinner, events and wider hotel food operations; taking responsibility for an assigned section or service period ensuring excellent preparation, organisation, timing, presentation and consistency; and helping deliver the Lana Lusa food concept, ensuring the menu feels polished, generous, vibrant and connected to its Mediterranean and London influences.

Additional duties include preparing, cooking and presenting dishes to Delano standards, supporting recruitment and training of the opening kitchen team, coaching junior chefs, implementing kitchen SOPs, maintaining mise en place, coordinating with Front of House and other departments, monitoring food quality and safety, supporting stock control and waste reduction, maintaining food cost and productivity targets, ensuring compliance with food safety and health regulations, keeping the kitchen clean and organised, communicating operational challenges, supporting menu tastings and pre-opening activities, and being flexible to step into different kitchen sections as needed.

Joining Delano London means being part of something from the very beginning, helping shape the next chapter of an iconic brand alongside an ambitious and creative team.

Experience
Strong experience as a Sous Chef within a high-quality restaurant, luxury hotel or premium hospitality operation. Previous pre-opening experience is a plus. Excellent knowledge of food preparation, cooking techniques, presentation, kitchen organisation and service delivery. Mediterranean and Portuguese cuisine experience is highly desirable.

About you
Confident, hands-on chef who leads by example and enjoys being present on the pass and in the kitchen. Comfortable working across busy breakfast, lunch, dinner, events and hotel operations. Natural team player with clear communication skills who supports colleagues and fosters a positive working environment. Passionate about coaching and developing junior chefs. Strong understanding of food safety, HACCP, allergen management, cleanliness and disciplined kitchen routines. Awareness of portion control, food cost, waste reduction and commercial kitchen realities. Organised, reliable, able to prioritise effectively while maintaining attention to detail. Calm under pressure, adaptable, and willing to take ownership of problems and solutions. Passionate about ingredients, quality and guest experience with an interest in Mediterranean, Portuguese-inspired and contemporary London cooking. Flexible to work evenings, weekends and key hospitality moments.

Qualifications
Relevant culinary qualifications are advantageous but not explicitly required. A strong track record and passion for quality and hospitality are essential.