What roles do you recruit for?

We specialise in permanent placements across all front and back of house roles: Head Chef, Sous Chef, Pastry Chef, Chef de Partie, Restaurant Manager, Front of House Manager, Bar Manager, General Manager, Events Manager, Head Barista and Sommelier.

How is Cookaburra different from other recruitment agencies?

Cookaburra was founded by Alexander Scrase, who spent 14 years working in hospitality, from cafes and fine dining in Perth to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. He recruits in London because that's where he built his career, and every candidate is personally vetted by someone who has done the work themselves. We present a small, curated shortlist of people we would genuinely hire.

Hospitality Workforce Specialists · London

Hospitality Recruitment Agency London: Build a Hospitality Team That Stays.

Cookaburra places permanent kitchen, front of house and venue management professionals in independent restaurants, hotels, bars, cafes, wine bars and members clubs across London. Every venue meets the Cookaburra Standard for how staff are treated, so the people we place stay.

Book a Free Consultation CallSee Our Process

✓Zero Upfront Risk✓Permanent Placements Only✓Hospitality Industry Only

0wk

rebate period

No Placement,

No Payment.

Elegant restaurant interior with warm lighting and bar seating in London

Guarantee

No Placement,

No Payment.

0wk

rebate period

Hospitality Workforce Specialists · London

Hospitality Recruitment Agency London: Build a Hospitality Team That Stays.

Book a Free Consultation CallSee Our Process

✓Zero Upfront Risk✓Permanent Placements Only✓Hospitality Industry Only

0wk

rebate period

No Placement,

No Payment.

Guarantee

No Placement,

No Payment.

0wk

rebate period

Trusted by London's Finest Venues

Who We Work With

Across Every Corner of London's Hospitality Scene

From Michelin-starred fine diners in Mayfair to members clubs in St James's and neighbourhood gems in Brixton, Cookaburra places permanent staff across the full breadth of London's food and hospitality industry.

Head Chef Sous Chef Pastry Chef Restaurant Manager Bar Manager Front of House Manager Sommelier General Manager Events Manager Head Barista

Currently viewing

Dining

Currently viewing

Bars & Cocktails

Currently viewing

Hotels

Currently viewing

Members Clubs

Currently viewing

Catering & Events

Not sure if your venue fits? get in touch and we'll let you know how we can help.

The Staffing Reality

Why London Hospitality Has a Staffing Crisis It Cannot Temp Its Way Out Of

Finding great hospitality professionals is only half the challenge. Keeping them is where most placements fail. We're built to solve both.

annual staff turnover in UK hospitality, the highest of any sector (CIPD / UKHospitality, 2024)

Since Brexit, the EU talent pool that London hospitality relied on has contracted sharply. Venues that once absorbed that gap with seasonal European workers now face a structural shortage that casual hiring cannot solve. Only permanent placements with real retention behind them close it.

0×

the annual salary, the true cost of a bad hire (REC / Oxford Economics)

A bad hire carries hidden costs: lost productivity, rehiring, retraining, and team disruption. REC research with Oxford Economics puts the total impact at up to three times the role's salary.

0 wks

or more that management-level hospitality roles can sit unfilled (CIPD, 2024)

In hospitality, understaffing is immediately visible to your guests. Weeks without the right person means burnt out staff, eroded service standards, and lost bookings.

The reason our placements stay is not luck.

Every venue we recruit for has to clear eight published requirements before we take the brief. Salary on every role. Proper rosters. Paid trial shifts. Real wellbeing support. When candidates know the venue meets the Standard, they accept and they stay. That is what backs our placement guarantee.

See the Standard

See It for Yourself

What is turnover costing your team?

Team size8 staff

260

Average annual salary£38,000

£24k£80k

Annual staff turnover rate50%

10%120%

Industry research estimates each departure costs around 33% of annual salary in rehiring, training and lost productivity.

Your annual turnover cost

£50,160

per year in turnover costs

Staff leaving each year4 people

Cost per departure£12,540

Industry benchmark used33% of salary

Fix this with Cookaburra

Staff stay where they are treated well. That is why every venue we recruit for meets the Cookaburra Standard.

See It for Yourself

What does the wrong hire really cost?

Role salary£70,000

£40k£200k

Bad hires in the past year

Based on industry research estimating bad hire costs at 3× annual salary, including lost productivity, rehiring and retraining.

The cost comparison

£210,000

Cost of bad hire

Ask us

Cookaburra placement fee

Stop Losing Money on Bad Hires

Chef and bar staff working together at a London hospitality venue

Close-up of a perfectly made espresso at a London café

0wk

rebate guarantee

The Permanent Advantage

Why Permanent Placements in London Win Every Time

Casuals plug gaps. Permanent staff build businesses. There's a fundamental difference in performance, loyalty, and the experience they deliver. Cookaburra connects you with the latter.

A Cohesive Team Culture

Permanent staff invest in your business, build relationships with regulars, and elevate your service standards every single shift, because they see a future there.

Dramatically Lower Long-Term Costs

One quality permanent placement costs less over three years than the endless cycle of temp fees, agency premiums, and emergency cover that casual staffing demands.

Exceptional Guest Experiences

Guests notice when staff know their names, remember their preferences, and genuinely care. Only permanent employees build those relationships that keep guests coming back.

Protected by Our Guarantee

You only pay when we place the right person. With up to 20 weeks rebate or free replacement, your investment is protected long after day one.

Find Your Next Permanent Hire

Our Proven Approach

Our London Recruitment Process: Brief to Brilliant Hire

We handle the heavy lifting so you can focus on running your venue. Here's exactly what to expect when you work with Cookaburra.

Step 01

Free 15 Minute Consultation

We start with a free, no obligation 15 minute call to understand your business, the roles you need to fill, and any recruitment challenges you're facing. We'll walk you through how Cookaburra works, how we find candidates who fit your culture, and outline the next steps. You'll leave with a clear plan and no pressure.

Step 02

Role Brief: Online or by Call

Most employers choose our online brief: a private link sent after your consultation, completed at your own pace in under 10 minutes. Answer conversationally and our AI builds a complete, ready-to-approve job description. Prefer to talk it through? We offer a video discovery call instead. Same outcome, your choice.

Online brief route: you receive a private link immediately after your initial consultation. The brief works like a guided conversation and most employers complete it in under 10 minutes. Our AI generates a full job description which you can edit and approve directly in the browser before signing our agreements. Video call route: we guide the conversation through venue details, team culture, salary, hours, and what makes the ideal candidate. The call takes around 20 to 30 minutes and we capture everything as we talk. Either way, the approved job description becomes the benchmark our system uses to score every candidate in our talent pool against the role, objectively, before a recruiter reviews anyone.

Step 03

AI Targeted Hospitality Search

Our network activates alongside our AI powered candidate search. We use intelligent targeting to surface the right profiles across our database, social platforms and job boards, reaching top passive talent who are not actively looking. Every incoming application is automatically AI assessed against your approved job description, evaluating candidates objectively so every application is considered on merit alone.

Once your job description is approved, our system immediately scores every eligible candidate in our talent pool against it. Each CV is read by our AI, which assigns a relevance score and writes a one-line summary. The highest scoring candidates are reviewed by our team first. At the same time, targeted outreach campaigns reach hospitality professionals who are not actively looking but closely match the role. Every inbound application from job boards is also automatically pre-screened before a recruiter reviews it. The result: by the time your shortlist reaches your inbox, an objective filter has already removed the noise.

Step 04

Curated Shortlist Presented

You receive a shortlist of 3 to 5 thoroughly vetted candidates. Before anyone reaches your inbox, each has been phone screened by our team to gather further context and cleared a right-to-work verification. Every shortlisted candidate comes with our detailed recommendation.

Step 05

Interviews & Decision Support

We coordinate the entire interview process and stay close throughout, so you get expert advice at every step and make the right hire with complete confidence.

Step 06

Placement & Rebate Guarantee

Your new team member starts. We check in at 4 weeks and 12 weeks to ensure a smooth transition for both sides, and back every placement with up to 20 weeks rebate or a free replacement if things don't work out.

Book a Free Consultation Call

Alexander Scrase

Founder & Director, Cookaburra

Meet the Founder

Built by Someone Who's Worked the Pass.

I started in hospitality at 16 in Perth, washing dishes, working the line, learning what it actually takes to run a kitchen and a floor under pressure. Over the next 14 years I worked my way through cafés, fine dining, and Michelin-starred kitchens across Perth and London.

London is where I fell in love with the industry at its best, the pace, the craft, the culture of the great venues here. So when I decided to move into recruitment, this was always where I wanted to do it. I founded Cookaburra to connect London's best venues with the people who will genuinely thrive in them. Two years later, I launched Cookatoo in Perth, bringing the same approach back to the industry I grew up in. Together, the two agencies are working to bridge the gap between Australia and the United Kingdom, helping talent and venues connect across both markets.

Great recruitment isn't about filling a role. It's about understanding a venue's culture and finding someone who fits. Every placement is personal. I won't put someone in front of you that I wouldn't hire myself.

14+

Years in hospitality

Age 16

Started in Perth

London

Michelin-starred kitchens

Cookaburra

Founder & Director

Connect on LinkedIn

The Retention Case for Wellness

Hospitality has long carried a culture that takes more from people than it gives back. As the industry evolves and a younger generation moves away from that, the businesses that invest in their people beyond the payslip will be the ones that attract and keep the best talent.

That's why every candidate we place gets access to our Wellness Perks Portfolio, with discounted rates at gyms, studios, and wellbeing venues across London. And because culture is a team effort, we extend those same perks to your entire existing team at no extra cost.

Gyms Sauna Ice Baths Pilates Meditation Yoga Breathwork Steamrooms+ more

Industry avg

With wellness programs

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

% of employees still employed. Source: SHRM Workforce Research (2023), Deloitte Global Wellbeing Report (2024).

Google Reviews

What London's Hospitality Says

5.0· 12 reviews on Google

“Alex went out and found the perfect candidate for us. I can't thank you enough for the time and effort spent. I would recommend Cookaburra to anyone looking to hire, the care and attentiveness has been perfect.”
ZW
Zara White
EmployerPomelo London
“Outstanding service and exceptional customer attention. This agency has been instrumental in helping our business by providing a wide range of excellent candidates. Their professionalism made the hiring process seamless and stress-free.”
TO
Tomas Oliveros
EmployerSpacetalk
“As a small business, we were weary of working with a recruiter, but Alex was a breath of fresh air and shared our philosophy of fostering sustainable, balanced and rewarding hospitality environments. Alex understood our needs and aligned our goals with the right candidate.”
KE
Kiki Evans
EmployerUnwined
“We together worked out whether I would be a great fit, I of course got the job and I'd very much say it felt like a team effort. In the future, if I'm ever looking for another placement, I wouldn't go anywhere else.”
SK
Sudais Knight
CandidatePlaced via Cookaburra
“As a jobseeker, I felt genuinely valued. Cookaburra took the time to understand my skills and career aspirations, and matched me with opportunities that were a perfect fit. Thanks to their efforts, I was placed at La Maritxu, a position I am absolutely thrilled about.”
EB
Esmira Bairamova
CandidatePlaced at La Maritxu
“Highly recommend Alexander and his team. They have frequently sent me help at short notice and the chefs they've sent have all been absolutely fantastic, going above and beyond and working brilliantly with my existing team.”
JB
James Blunt
Employer
“Really awesome placement company. Alex helped me find a job that met all my requirements. Even though he's a recruiter, he made sure the process was smooth and checked up on me along the way. I highly recommend him.”
KB
Kevin Botha
CandidatePlaced at Unwined
“Cookaburra has been an outstanding partner in our recruitment efforts. They consistently provide top-notch candidates who are not only skilled but also a great fit for our team culture. Their extensive network and deep industry knowledge have been invaluable.”
LL
Lucia Larragoiti Fisher
EmployerLa Maritxu London
“I am extremely grateful to Cookaburra for helping me secure a fantastic job. A special thanks to Alex, whose intervention was instrumental in getting me hired. They are 100% trustworthy and dedicated to helping you succeed.”
VV
Vishnu V S
CandidatePlaced at SpaceTalk
“I have received brilliant communication and services whilst using Cookaburra. They are very attentive and share brilliant information. They offer great support and attention to detail, a well-deserved 5-star rating!”
RG
Rosie Gulbis
CandidatePlaced at Forge Coffee
“Cookaburra Hospitality Recruitment connects top talents with leading hospitality employers. Their friendly, personalised service and industry expertise make the job search enjoyable and successful.”
ST
Sandra Torrano Marcos
CandidatePlaced via Cookaburra
“Alex was great! He found me a sous chef position in a company perfect for what I was looking for. He made sure it was the right fit & that I would be happy long term. Outstanding”
RL
Rachel Lunn
CandidatePlaced at Pomelo
“Alex went out and found the perfect candidate for us. I can't thank you enough for the time and effort spent. I would recommend Cookaburra to anyone looking to hire, the care and attentiveness has been perfect.”
ZW
Zara White
EmployerPomelo London
“Outstanding service and exceptional customer attention. This agency has been instrumental in helping our business by providing a wide range of excellent candidates. Their professionalism made the hiring process seamless and stress-free.”
TO
Tomas Oliveros
EmployerSpacetalk
“As a small business, we were weary of working with a recruiter, but Alex was a breath of fresh air and shared our philosophy of fostering sustainable, balanced and rewarding hospitality environments. Alex understood our needs and aligned our goals with the right candidate.”
KE
Kiki Evans
EmployerUnwined
“We together worked out whether I would be a great fit, I of course got the job and I'd very much say it felt like a team effort. In the future, if I'm ever looking for another placement, I wouldn't go anywhere else.”
SK
Sudais Knight
CandidatePlaced via Cookaburra
“As a jobseeker, I felt genuinely valued. Cookaburra took the time to understand my skills and career aspirations, and matched me with opportunities that were a perfect fit. Thanks to their efforts, I was placed at La Maritxu, a position I am absolutely thrilled about.”
EB
Esmira Bairamova
CandidatePlaced at La Maritxu
“Highly recommend Alexander and his team. They have frequently sent me help at short notice and the chefs they've sent have all been absolutely fantastic, going above and beyond and working brilliantly with my existing team.”
JB
James Blunt
Employer
“Really awesome placement company. Alex helped me find a job that met all my requirements. Even though he's a recruiter, he made sure the process was smooth and checked up on me along the way. I highly recommend him.”
KB
Kevin Botha
CandidatePlaced at Unwined
“Cookaburra has been an outstanding partner in our recruitment efforts. They consistently provide top-notch candidates who are not only skilled but also a great fit for our team culture. Their extensive network and deep industry knowledge have been invaluable.”
LL
Lucia Larragoiti Fisher
EmployerLa Maritxu London
“I am extremely grateful to Cookaburra for helping me secure a fantastic job. A special thanks to Alex, whose intervention was instrumental in getting me hired. They are 100% trustworthy and dedicated to helping you succeed.”
VV
Vishnu V S
CandidatePlaced at SpaceTalk
“I have received brilliant communication and services whilst using Cookaburra. They are very attentive and share brilliant information. They offer great support and attention to detail, a well-deserved 5-star rating!”
RG
Rosie Gulbis
CandidatePlaced at Forge Coffee
“Cookaburra Hospitality Recruitment connects top talents with leading hospitality employers. Their friendly, personalised service and industry expertise make the job search enjoyable and successful.”
ST
Sandra Torrano Marcos
CandidatePlaced via Cookaburra
“Alex was great! He found me a sous chef position in a company perfect for what I was looking for. He made sure it was the right fit & that I would be happy long term. Outstanding”
RL
Rachel Lunn
CandidatePlaced at Pomelo

Pricing & Packages

London Hospitality Recruitment Packages

Both packages include our placement guarantee and are priced at a competitive commission based on the candidate's first-year salary, exclusive of VAT.

✓Zero Upfront Risk✓No Placement, No Payment✓Free Replacement Within Rebate✓Up to 20 Week Rebate

Professional

Our foundation service. We handle the full search: consultation call, role brief, AI generated job description, advertising, screening, right to work checks, salary benchmarking and interview coordination. You receive a curated shortlist of two to three people worth meeting, with performance tracking and a 12 week rebate to protect your investment.

Free 15-minute consultation call
Video discovery call or online role brief (your choice)
AI generated job description for your review and approval
Salary benchmarking
Online & social media advertising
Professional candidate sourcing

Get Started

Commission % of first-year salary + VAT · confirmed on consultation call

Recommended

Premium

Everything in Professional, extended. Premium advertising, targeted headhunting, cultural fit assessment, contract review and a dedicated senior consultant from brief to handover. Our 20-week rebate period and retention consultation give you the deepest level of confidence in every hire.

Everything in Professional, plus:
Premium online advertisement
Targeted sourcing & headhunting
Cultural fit assessment
Contract review & advice
3–5 thoroughly vetted shortlist

Book a Free Consultation Call

Commission % of first-year salary + VAT · confirmed on consultation call

Not sure which package suits your needs? Book a free consultation call and we'll guide you through the right choice.

Wellness Partner Benefits, Included With Every Placement

Let's Talk

Ready to Build a Team That Actually Stays?

Book a free 15-minute consultation using the calendar, or drop your details below to download a copy of our Salary Benchmark Guide for 2026.

Send an Enquiry

We'll respond within one business day.

Looking for work? This form is for venues hiring staff. Apply as a candidate instead

Book a 15-Minute Call

Free, no-obligation consultation call.

Can't see the calendar? Book directly on Calendly

Common Questions

Everything You Need to Know.

Cookaburra operates on a success-only basis, you pay a placement fee only when we successfully place a candidate who starts in the role. There are no upfront costs, retainers or subscription fees. Our fee is a competitive percentage of the placed candidate's first-year salary, discussed and agreed before we begin.

We recruit across Central London, including Mayfair, Soho, Covent Garden, Marylebone, Chelsea, Kensington, Fitzrovia, Belgravia, Canary Wharf and The City, as well as Greater London, including Shoreditch, Brixton, Clapham, Hackney, Islington, Notting Hill, Peckham, Richmond, Greenwich and Hampstead.

We specialise in permanent placements across all front and back of house roles: Head Chef, Sous Chef, Chef de Partie, Restaurant Manager, Front of House Manager, Bar Manager, Head Barista, Events Manager, Hotel Manager and Sommelier. If your role is not listed, get in touch, we are happy to discuss.

No. Cookaburra focuses exclusively on permanent placements. Our belief is that high turnover is one of the biggest problems in hospitality, and that permanent hires are the most effective solution. If you need long-term stability in your team, we are the right fit.

Our Professional package includes a 12-week rebate period or free replacement if a placement does not work out. Our Premium package extends this to a 20-week rebate period or free replacement, giving you greater protection on senior or hard-to-fill roles.

You have two options. If you prefer a conversation, book a video discovery call and we walk through your venue, culture, and the role together on screen. We capture everything during the call and send you a private link for final paperwork only. If you would rather work in your own time, we send you a private link to our online role brief. It works like a conversation and most employers complete it in under 10 minutes. Either way, our AI generates a complete job description from the brief for you to review, edit, and approve before we begin the search.

Timelines vary depending on the role and how quickly candidates are available, but most placements are completed within 2 to 4 weeks from brief to accepted offer. Senior or specialist roles may take a little longer. We will give you a realistic timeframe at the start of every engagement.

✓In-depth interview covering work history, motivations, culture preferences and career goals.
✓Reference verification with previous employers to confirm experience and work ethic.
✓Practical assessment against the specific demands of your role and venue type.
✓Personal endorsement: we only present candidates we would genuinely hire ourselves.
✓You will never receive a bulk CV drop. Every shortlist is curated.

Cookaburra was founded by Alexander Scrase, who spent 14 years working in hospitality, from cafes and fine dining in Perth to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. We recruit from the inside out: every candidate is personally vetted by someone who has done the work themselves. We do not bulk-send CVs. We present a small, curated shortlist of people we would genuinely hire.

Where We Operate

Proudly Serving London's Hospitality Scene

Cookaburra is a London recruitment agency, built for London hospitality. We know the venues, the market, and the talent because we're part of it.

Central London

Service Area

From Mayfair fine dining to Soho's buzzing neighbourhood restaurants, Shoreditch's creative scene and Islington's neighbourhood bistros, we recruit across every postcode and style of operation in the heart of London.

Mayfair Soho Covent Garden Marylebone Chelsea Kensington Fitzrovia Belgravia Canary Wharf The City Camden Shoreditch Islington Notting Hill Hackney Brixton Clapham Peckham Richmond Greenwich Hampstead

Greater London

Service Area

Wimbledon, Croydon, Ealing and beyond. London's outer boroughs have a thriving hospitality scene and we recruit across them with the same rigour we apply everywhere.

Wimbledon Croydon Kingston Ealing Stratford Wembley Bromley Lewisham Chiswick Barnet Enfield Sutton Tooting Balham Harrow Hounslow Ilford Romford Dulwich Crystal Palace

Based outside these areas? Get in touch and we'd love to hear from you.

From the Blog

Hospitality Recruitment Insights

Industry News

What London's Best Hospitality Operators Got Right in 2026

As the year closes, certain approaches separated the venues that grew stronger from those that struggled. Here is what the strongest operations had in common.

27 November 20268 min read

Recruitment

The Real Cost of a Bad Hire in London Hospitality

Most operators underestimate what a poor placement actually costs them. When you account for management time, lost revenue, and the knock-on effect on the team, the figure is rarely small.

13 November 20268 min read

Retention

Building a Back-of-House Culture That Front of House Respects

The gap between kitchen and floor is one of the most persistent tensions in hospitality. Venues where both teams operate as genuine partners have a measurable advantage in both service quality and staff retention.

30 October 20268 min read

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