Live-in Summer Chef - Cycling Guesthouse in the French Pyrenees

We’re looking for a capable, motivated chef to join us for the summer season at a small, high-quality cycling guesthouse in the French Pyrenees.

This is a unique role that sits somewhere between restaurant cooking and lifestyle hospitality: serious food, but in a relaxed, friendly environment.

The Role

You’ll be responsible for preparing three-course dinners each evening for 5–15 guests. We serve a set menu of your choice each evening, with adaptations as necessary for dietary requirements.

Typical workload: ~4–5 hours per day

Our guests are here to ride big weeks in the mountains, so the food is a core part of the experience:

• Restaurant-quality cooking
• Fresh, nutritious, generous portions
• Thoughtful menus suited to guests burning 3-5000kcal/day cycling

You’ll also handle:

• Daily grocery shopping (car provided)
• Kitchen organisation and cleanliness

Who This Suits

This role works best for a young professional chef who:

• Has solid kitchen experience and can work independently
• Enjoys cooking to a high standard without restaurant pressure
• Likes the idea of combining work with time in the mountains

If you have worked in a professional kitchen, you’ll likely find this significantly less stressful than service in a restaurant—while still being rewarding and creative.

Pay & Conditions

• €13/hour (fixed-term French contract – fully declared)
• Payslips, social security contributions, and legal employment
• Payment via bank transfer

Included:

• All food and drink
• Accommodation (see below)

→ Your living costs here are essentially zero

Accommodation

• Private modern caravan in the garden
• Double bed
• Electricity + WiFI
• Small bathroom + awning living space
• Access to a full shower room in the house
• Large domestic kitchen with two ovens + plenty of workspace
• Electric car provided for shopping and personal use

⚠️ Important: Schedule

We serve dinner every night when guests are in-house, so there are not regular fixed nights off. However:

• The workload is relatively short each day
• Breaks do occur (especially mid/late season) and are often multiple days at a time
• This structure has worked well with previous chefs over the past 3 summers

? This role suits someone comfortable with a steady daily rhythm rather than a classic rota.

The Lifestyle

This is a social, relaxed environment:

• Friendly dinners with guests each evening
• A small team (you + housekeeper + host)
• Plenty of each day free

We actively encourage staff to enjoy the area—cycling, hiking, swimming, exploring the mountains. Many of our previous staff have stayed friends.

Non-smoking environment:

Smoking is not permitted anywhere on the property (including accommodation and vehicles). Applicants must be comfortable adhering to a fully non-smoking workplace.

? Dates

Season starts: 30 May 2026

Season ends: 11 Oct 2026

I am open to splitting the season, so perhaps you might prefer to work half of this period.

(Flexible start/end dates depending on availability)

? Apply

Please send:

• A short introduction
• Your relevant kitchen experience
• A three-course dinner menu tailored to a group of hungry cyclists
• Your availability for the summer

If you’re looking for a summer that combines great cooking in a low pressure environment, great people, and an incredible location, we’d love to hear from you.