Chef Agency London
Finding the right permanent chef in London is one of the hardest recruitment challenges in hospitality. Cookaburra is a London chef agency that operates differently: we recruit exclusively for permanent roles, present only personally vetted candidates, and work with venues across every type of kitchen, from neighbourhood restaurants and gastropubs to Michelin-starred fine dining operations and five-star hotels.
Get in TouchWhy Use Cookaburra to Recruit for Your Chef Agency London Venue?
We place permanent chefs across all senior kitchen roles in London: Head Chefs who can lead a brigade and shape a menu, Sous Chefs who run service under pressure, Pastry Chefs with the technical skill and creativity the role demands, and Chef de Parties ready to take the next step. Every chef we recommend has been personally interviewed and reference-checked by a recruiter who has worked in professional kitchens. We do not send bulk CVs. No placement, no payment.
Cookaburra is a London hospitality recruitment agency founded by someone who has worked the industry from the ground up, starting as a dishwasher in Perth at 16, through to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. Every placement is permanent, and every recommendation is personal.
We don't fill seats. We find people who fit.
The SHRM Workforce Research (2023) found that 68 per cent of hospitality workers leave within their first year. A bad hire costs up to three times the role's annual salary, and key positions in London sit unfilled for an average of six weeks. Permanent recruitment, done well, solves all three problems at once.
Permanent Only
No temp placements. We build teams that stay.
Industry-Led
Founded by a hospitality professional, not a generalist recruiter.
No Placement, No Fee
You only pay when we find the right person.
London-Based
Local knowledge, city-wide reach.
Staffing Chef Agency London Venues in London
Chef Agency London venues have staffing challenges that generalist agencies often fail to appreciate. The pace, the service style, the guest expectations and the team dynamics specific to Chef Agency London operations require candidates with genuine relevant experience, not people who have simply listed the right keywords on a CV.
Cookaburra places permanent staff across all key positions in Chef Agency London venues, from kitchen leadership through to front of house management and bar teams. Our search is active rather than passive. We approach candidates in our network directly, including those who are performing well in current roles and may be open to the right opportunity.
Our matching process for Chef Agency London venues begins with a thorough brief from the hiring venue. We want to understand the culture, the service style, the existing team structure and what a successful hire looks like in practice. That brief informs every stage of the search and results in a curated shortlist of people who fit genuinely, not just on paper.
Every Cookaburra placement in a Chef Agency London venue comes with a rebate period. If the person we place leaves within that window, we conduct a replacement search at no additional cost. Permanent recruitment done properly is a long-term investment, and we stand behind every placement we make.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Cookaburra charge for hospitality recruitment?+
Cookaburra operates on a no placement, no payment model. You only pay a fee when we successfully place a candidate. There are no upfront costs, retainers or ongoing fees.
How long does the recruitment process take?+
Most placements are completed within 2–4 weeks of taking a brief. We present a curated shortlist of personally vetted candidates rather than bulk CVs, reducing the time you spend screening.
What happens if a placement doesn't work out?+
All Cookaburra placements come with a rebate period. If a placed candidate leaves within the rebate window, we will conduct a replacement search at no additional cost.
Do you only recruit permanent roles?+
Yes, Cookaburra specialises exclusively in permanent hospitality placements across London. Permanent recruitment builds teams that stay.
Let's Talk About Your Next Hire.
Book a free 15-minute call or send an enquiry. We respond within one business day.