5 reasons Christmas chef jobs are the best seasonal work

If the thought of tinsel, festive tunes, and roast dinners gets you excited, or even if you’re usually a bit of a Scrooge, then a Christmas chef job might just be your perfect seasonal gig. 

It’s fast-paced, fun, and full of opportunities to show off your skills, earn some extra cash, and be part of a kitchen team that really feels like a family.

We’ve rounded up the five best things about working as a chef during the most magical time of the year. Spoiler alert: it’s all about the energy, the food, the fun, and yes… making someone’s Christmas truly special. 

1. The festive energy is contagious

Christmas kitchens are buzzing with energy, and if you thrive off that kind of vibe, you’re in for a treat. Sure, shifts are busy, but busy doesn’t mean chaotic. 

With a great team of chefs, kitchen assistants, and managers working together, it’s all organised chaos that feels more like magic than madness. Handle a Christmas service like a pro, and you’ll be ready to tackle any shift all year round. 

2. Chefraderie: friendships that stick

Call it “chefraderie” if you like, it’s real, we promise. The bonds you form in the kitchen at Christmas are something special. 

Everyone’s working toward the same goal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t laugh, joke, and have fun along the way. Many chefs can’t imagine working anywhere else, and during the festive season, that team spirit is stronger than ever. 

3. Extra shifts = extra festive cash

Let’s be honest: Christmas means more people out enjoying festive drinks, hearty meals, and big celebrations. 

For you, that translates to extra shifts and extra pay. It’s the perfect way to top up your paycheck so you can spoil your friends and family (or treat yourself) with all those festive goodies.

4. Christmas food heaven

If you’re a foodie, working in a Christmas kitchen is like winning the culinary lottery. From golden roast potatoes to crispy pigs in blankets and perfectly seasoned gravy, you’ll be at the heart of all the festive feasting. 

There’s something undeniably satisfying about bringing these dishes to life and seeing guests enjoy them. 

5. You get to make someone’s Christmas

The best part? The food you create can genuinely brighten someone’s day. Knowing that your work on the line puts smiles on faces and adds a little extra joy to the holidays… it’s pretty hard to beat that feeling. It’s more than a job, it’s a way to make a real difference this festive season.

Find your perfect Christmas chef job at M&B

There’s no better time to join the M&B family than at Christmas. Our pubs, bars, and restaurants are bursting with life, festive cheer, and plenty of opportunities for you to step into a kitchen and shine.

As part of the team, you’ll enjoy perks like 33% off food and drinks across all M&B brands and the chance to work across 13 unique brands, including Miller & Carter, Nicholson’s, and Premium Country Pubs.

Whether it’s your first kitchen role or you’re already a seasoned chef, a Christmas chef job at M&B is the perfect way to earn, learn, and make the season brighter for everyone.

Explore our chef jobs today and bring festive magic to life in the kitchen!

1 - The high energy

If you feed off other people's energy, you'll be well fed in a kitchen during the festive period. And if you can handle a busy Christmas shift and keep your cool, we bet you can boss any shift.

Now we know what you might be thinking. Busy equals chaotic, right? Not at all. That's just one of the most common kitchen myths. Because if you've got a good team where all the kitchen assistants, chefs and the kitchen manager work together, well, it's just magic. This takes us to our next point.

2 - The chefraderie

No, chefraderie isn't a word, but we think it should be. The close friendships you make in a kitchen are just one of the reasons to love a chef job, and it's no different during Christmas.

Many chefs can't possibly see themselves working anywhere else. And that's just one of the many things you'll have in common with your fellow chefs. There's definitely a job to get done, but that won't stop you from having fun working in the kitchen.

3 - Pick up some extra shifts

Christmas is the time of the year our nation loves nothing more than cosying up together for a festive drink or treating ourselves to a generously portioned roast dinner. So what does that mean for our pubs and restaurants? It means they're brimming with thirsty and hungry people and more shifts for the taking. It's the perfect opportunity to bulk up your paychecks so you can treat your friends and family to some snazzy gifts.

4 - You're in Christmas food heaven

If you're a fellow foodie, then the food will be the ultimate thing you look forward to at Christmas. And guess what? At M&B, our kitchen teams are right in the action, bringing our Christmas menus to life. Think golden roasted potatoes, crispy pigs in blankets and gravy seasoned to perfection.

5 - You get to make someone's Christmas

A chef job means combining your love for food with your joy for leaving people feeling satisfied. You can bet the plates you serve will put a smile on a face or two. Does it really get better than that?

Find a Christmas job at Mitchells & Butlers

We can't think of a better time to join our team than at Christmas. Our pubs, bars and restaurants are never more alive and merry. And, let's not forget the benefits of working at M&B. You'll scoop up a 33% discount that can be used on food and drink at any of our businesses, and get access to 30% off your earned pay within 24 hours of finishing your shift, just to name a few.

With 13 brilliantly unique brands, including Miller & Carter, Nicholson's and Premium Country Pubs, there are plenty of options for you to feast on. Check out our kitchen jobs or find out why Simon Whitfield, Accredited Kitchen Manager, has spent more than 30 years building a kitchen career at M&B.