Chef Jobs in Brighton: The 2026 Guide
Live pay data, the areas where Brighton kitchens actually hire, and the seasonal calendar for the UK's most food-obsessed seaside city.
Brighton has more restaurants per head than almost anywhere in the UK outside London — and a chef market that behaves like no other seaside town. This guide covers real 2026 pay, where the work is, and when to apply, using live data from our own listings rather than national averages.
What chefs earn in Brighton in 2026
Brighton pay sits roughly 15–18% below London — while rents, though the highest on the south coast, still undercut the capital comfortably.
| Position | Typical annual | Hourly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Commis Chef | £24,000–£27,000 | £12.50–£14 |
| Chef de Partie | £27,000–£33,000 | £14–£17 |
| Sous Chef | £33,000–£42,000 | £17–£22 |
| Head Chef | £42,000–£60,000 | £22–£32 |
Live medians from current listings update daily on our Brighton chef salaries page.
Where the kitchen jobs are
The Lanes and North Laine are the independent heartland — small plates, natural wine, coffee-first brunch rooms. Brigades are small, so chefs de partie genuinely run sections and progression is fast.
The seafront and Kemptown carry volume: hotel kitchens, event catering and the venues that triple their covers every sunny weekend. This is where seasonal contracts and banqueting work cluster.
Hove trades louder for calmer: neighbourhood bistros and family-run places that value chefs who stay. If you want a year-round contract and regulars who know your name, look west.
Chains and groups — Brighton is a proving ground for national brands (Honest Burgers runs a busy site here), which means structured training and transferable progression for CV-building years.
Browse what's live now: all Brighton chef jobs.
Seasonality: Brighton's rhythm
- March–May — the hiring window. Venues build summer brigades before the May bank holidays; apply early spring to beat the rush.
- June–September — peak trade, walk-in opportunities for chefs who can start immediately; burnout churn frees up sections mid-season.
- October–December — hotels and event kitchens staff up for conference and party season; the Lanes stays surprisingly busy year-round thanks to weekend trade.
- January–February — the quiet trough; the best time to negotiate a senior move for spring.
Standing out in Brighton kitchens
- Show a section, not a CV of adjectives — "strong on grill and sauce at 150 covers" is the whole interview.
- Say you'll stay past September — summer-only CVs are the default here; commitment moves you to the top of the pile.
- Know the scene — Brighton head chefs care that you've eaten in the city. Name two places you rate and why.
Start here
- Live chef jobs in Brighton — updated daily
- Brighton chef salary data — medians from real listings
- Every page above has a one-click job alert signup — new Brighton roles land in your inbox, no account needed.