Head Chef & Junior Chef – New Craft Brew Pub

placeNapier calendar_month 

Padda Enterprises Limited (T/A Barrel Brothers Meeanee) is launching a premium Indian Fusion Brew Pub alongside Hawkes Bay Brewing Co in Napier.

This is not a traditional restaurant.

We are building a destination venue combining:
  • Craft beer tasting experiences
  • Indian fusion cuisine with gastropub mindset
  • 150-seat restaurant + 50+ bar capacity
  • Orchard-based family zone
  • Private functions & corporate meeting space

We are seeking an experienced Head Chef to lead the culinary vision and establish a high-performance kitchen ahead of our opening in 2–3 months.

The Role – Head Chef

This is a leadership position responsible for:
  • Designing and delivering an Indian Fusion menu with premium presentation
  • Integrating Indian flavours with modern gastropub concepts
  • Creating beer-pairing dishes aligned with craft releases
  • Managing food cost, portion control and GP targets
  • Leading and training kitchen team
  • Establishing kitchen systems and SOPs
  • Ensuring compliance with NZ food safety regulations
  • Handling high-volume service (weekends & events)

We are looking for a chef who understands both flavour and financial performance.

Ideal Candidate
  • Minimum 5 years’ professional kitchen experience
  • Strong Indian cuisine background (authentic foundations required)
  • Experience in hotel, premium dining, or structured gastropub environments
  • Multi-cuisine capability (Continental & modern bar menu preferred)
  • Proven leadership skills
  • Strong understanding of food cost control
  • Calm and structured under pressure

AEWV candidates welcome (Accredited Employer).

Position Details
  • Full-time (minimum 30+ hours per week)
  • Venue operates 7 days
  • Salary range: $60,000 – $80,000 depending on experience
Additional Opportunities
  • Junior / Sous Chef: -
Responsible for:
  • Supporting Head Chef
  • Running service independently on rostered days
  • Consistent preparation & plating
  • Assisting with specials and prep management
  • Maintaining kitchen cleanliness and standards
We are also recruiting for:
  • Kitchen Hands
  • Cleaners

If you are passionate about hospitality and wish to be part of an exciting new venue, we encourage you to apply.

Location
Napier, Hawke’s Bay

To Apply

Please email:
  • CV
  • Cuisine strengths
  • Experience details
  • Visa status (if applicable)
  • References
We look forward to hearing from you!

Please email your CVs to sales@bigbarrel.co.nz

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