Dillon Chalmers
Newent ,Gloucestershire
Summary
Award winning legacy staff member with 7 years continuous service. Rapidly progressed from part-time FOH member to top performing Senior Head Chef across 19 UK sites.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Head Chef (Regional)
Brewhouse and Kitchen
Southwest
06.2025 - Current
- Recognised a business need following the departure of the Gloucester Head Chef and proposed a new multi-site leadership model, resulting in appointment as Senior Head Chef with responsibility for developing Head Chefs across additional locations while continuing to lead the Gloucester kitchen.
- Balanced operational delivery with regional leadership, supporting operational, compliance and kitchen performance across multiple sites, driving consistency, quality and commercial success through regular audits and performance reviews.
- Coach, develop and support Head Chefs and kitchen teams through mentoring, training, menu rollouts and operational projects, building high-performing teams and strong leadership capability.
Head Chef
Brewhouse and kitchen
Bristol
01.2024 - 06.2025
- Maintained a five-star EHO.
- Grew the kitchen from four to seven team members.
- Maintained a low kitchen turnover of 32% in a typically high turnover site due to the student demographic (approximately 100% turnover). Holding the longest established kitchen team for any Head Chef in the Bristol site.
- Exceeded record sales during Christmas 2024.
- Won employee initiatives, including a 'specials' menu design competition.
- Increasedenagement with Yapster (internal comms platform) across the kitchen team
- Created food guidelines and distributed amognst other head chefs across the business to improve cross-site quality.
- Interviewed and inducted all new head chefs.
- Completed future leaders progamme.
- Consistently hoste quarterly team cook-off to educate FOH on new menu items.
- Consistently hosted quarterly team cook-offs to educate FOH on new menu items.
- Built positive relationships with General Manager to improve site performance, montior customer feedback, respond to environmental trends and keep tabs on maintaince needs.
Sous Chef
Brewhouse & Kitchen Bristol
Bristol
04.2023 - 01.2024
- Maintained company standards and suceeded KPI's
- Completed L3 Snr Production Chef Apprenticeship
- Achieved company recognised Legend award for individually running the kitchen over the Christmas period and managing agency staff due to COVID
- Oversaw kitchen employee management, meeting all coverage needs, and avoiding wasted labour.
- Supervised all kitchen food preparation, operating in demanding, high-volume environment
- Rota management for all kitchen team
- Successfully retained x2 FOH members of staff through kitchen training / development
- Upheld strict standards of cleanliness and organisation in the kitchen, setting an example for junior staff and ensuring a safe working environment
- Proactively helped chefs during difficult and time-sensitive tasks, throughout busy restaurant periods
Junior Sous Chef
Brewhouse and Kitchen
Bristol
12.2022 - 04.2023
- Took on additional responsibility of stock management, successfully maintained good kitchen prep and par levels
- Continued to successfully deliver highly rated beer and gin masterclasses with up to 30 guests
Kitchen Assistant
Brewhouse and Kitchen
Bristol
09.2021 - 12.2022
- Cross-trained in food service to support team and maintain consistent staff availability
- Assisted in the preparation of basic food items under chef supervision, adhering to recipes and quality standards
- Continued to be acting FOH team lead and gin / beer masterclass specialist
FOH Specialist
Brewhouse and Kitchen
Bristol
03.2019 - 09.2021
- Part-time roles during university
- Trained in running gin / beer masterclasses to 30 + guests
Education
BA (hons) - Music Production
BIMM Bristol
Bristol05-2020
Subsidiary BTEC Level 3 - Music Technology, Music Performance
Exeter College
Exeter11 GCSE's -
Shebbear College
References
- Tim Turvey, Head of Food, Brewhouse and Kitchen
- Simon Hunt, BIMM Bristol Tutor
Hobbies and Interests
Compete for England in the 2016 World Karate Federation tournament held in Japan. Required mental and physical resilience, determination and 10 years of consistent training.
Timeline
Senior Head Chef (Regional)
Brewhouse and Kitchen
06.2025 - Current
Head Chef
Brewhouse and kitchen
01.2024 - 06.2025
Sous Chef
Brewhouse & Kitchen Bristol
04.2023 - 01.2024
Junior Sous Chef
Brewhouse and Kitchen
12.2022 - 04.2023
Kitchen Assistant
Brewhouse and Kitchen
09.2021 - 12.2022
FOH Specialist
Brewhouse and Kitchen
03.2019 - 09.2021
BA (hons) - Music Production
BIMM Bristol
Subsidiary BTEC Level 3 - Music Technology, Music Performance
Exeter College
11 GCSE's -
Shebbear College