Pay: up to £14.60 per hour depending on experience
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week, complete flexibility of days required
Location: The Balloon Tree Farm Shop & Café, Gate Helmsley, York

Join our kitchen team

At The Balloon Tree, we believe that great food starts with great ingredients.

Our café kitchen is built around proper home cooking, seasonal produce and traditional recipes. Much of our fruit and vegetables are grown here on the farm, with the rest carefully sourced from trusted Yorkshire suppliers. Everything we serve is made with care, from scratch, by a team who takes real pride in what they do.

We’re looking for an experienced and reliable Chef to join our busy daytime kitchen. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who loves cooking fresh, homemade food and wants to be part of a friendly, close-knit team where ideas are welcomed and your experience is valued.

You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to our changing specials board, work with fantastic seasonal ingredients and help create the dishes that our loyal customers return for time and time again.

The role

• Full-time position, approximately 40 hours per week
• Daytime hours only – no evenings or split shifts
• Typical shifts are around 8:00am–5:30pm
• Flexibility is required, with the average working week being Wednesday to Sunday
• Regular weekend working is essential

What you’ll be doing

• Preparing and cooking fresh, homemade dishes using seasonal and locally sourced ingredients
• Maintaining consistently high standards of food quality, presentation and portion control
• Helping to develop daily and seasonal specials alongside the kitchen team
• Supporting smooth service during busy periods
• Maintaining excellent food hygiene and safety standards
• Assisting with stock control, ordering and reducing food waste
• Keeping the kitchen clean, organised and compliant with food safety requirements
• Working closely with the front-of-house team to provide excellent customer experiences
• Supporting your colleagues and contributing to a positive kitchen environment

What we’re looking for

The successful candidate will have:

• Previous experience working as a Chef in a busy café, restaurant or similar hospitality environment (essential)
• A genuine passion for fresh, seasonal ingredients and quality homemade food
• The ability to prepare traditional dishes to a consistently high standard
• A calm and organised approach, even during busy service
• Strong knowledge of food safety and kitchen hygiene
• Good communication skills and a positive, team-focused attitude
• Pride in your work and attention to detail
• A recognised catering qualification would be desirable, but relevant experience and a passion for cooking are equally valued.

Due to our rural location, your own transport is essential.

Why join The Balloon Tree?

The Balloon Tree is a family-run farm shop and café with over 40 years of farming heritage and a strong reputation for quality food and friendly service.

Our kitchen team plays an important part in creating the experience our customers love — from homemade breakfasts and lunches to seasonal specials made using produce grown right here on the farm.

We offer:

• Daytime hours only, with no evening shifts
• A great work-life balance
• Staff discount
• Free on-site parking
• A friendly and supportive working environment
• The opportunity to share your ideas and help shape our seasonal menus

If you’re passionate about good food, enjoy working with fresh ingredients and want to be part of a team that genuinely cares about what it serves, we’d love to hear from you.

To apply, please send your CV and cover letter to info@theballoontree.co.uk