The catering and hospitality sector in Peterborough
- Head chef salary (October 2019) in Peterborough: £27,889 a year / £13.41 per hour
- Sous chef salary (October 2019) in Peterborough: £26,285.71 a year / £12.64 per hour
- Chef de partie salary (October 2019) in Peterborough: £23,400 a year / £11.65 per hour
Roughly equidistant between Birmingham and Norwich and between London and Hull, Peterborough is an ancient medieval city with a rich heritage and a prosperous future. From the 900-year-old Peterborough Cathedral, one of the UK’s best-preserved Norman churches, to modern city-centre redevelopments, this city on the River Nene effortlessly blends the old and new.
With a population of just under 200,000, this young, cosmopolitan metropolis is growing rapidly. In recent years, a focus on investment, growth, connectivity and opportunity has bolstered Peterborough’s reputation as the city of choice for major global businesses and innovative start-ups.
A thriving food and drink scene has also emerged, with eateries ranging from tasty Indian street food stalls at City Market to rustic rural inns in the surrounding villages. Combined with an above-average employment rate, this makes Peterborough a great place for catering and hospitality professionals to further their career goals.
For a spot of culture, the Cresset Theatre regularly hosts some of the biggest names in British showbiz, as does the equally revered Key Theatre. History buffs will love Peterborough Cathedral and Peterborough Museum, as well as rural attractions such as Burghley House, John Clare Cottage and the Sacrewell Farm and Country Centre with its historic watermill. Meanwhile, football fans can get stuck into some matchday action down at London Road, home of Peterborough United FC (nicknamed “The Posh”).
If that’s not all, a number of festivals and events are held in the city throughout the year. Cathedral Square hosts established events like the Italian Festival, Diwali Festival and the Heritage Festival. In August, the River Nene Embankment hosts the Peterborough Beer Festival — the largest of its kind in Europe, it showcases more than 400 beers from 120 UK breweries as well as a carefully chosen selection of ciders, wines and gins.
According to the latest Blue Arrow data, catering and hospitality wages in Peterborough are well above the national average. A permanent head chef can expect to earn up to £28,000 a year, while a part-time chef de partie takes home around £11.65 an hour. For chefs looking to expand their culinary repertoire in and around Peterborough, opportunities such as the Hospitality and Catering courses at Peterborough Regional College can help you upskill.
