The catering and hospitality sector in St Albans
- Head chef salary (August 2019) in St Albans: £29,750 a year / £14.30 per hour
- Sous chef salary (August 2019) in St Albans: £26,500.80 a year / £12.56 per hour
- Chef de partie salary (August 2019) in St Albans: £23,000 a year / £11.67 per hour
St Albans may take its name from a third-century AD Christian martyr, but it's unlikely that the Alban of history would recognise the city’s present-day incarnation. With medieval structures, lush green parks and modern shopping complexes, this cathedral is characterised by its diversity. From humble origins as a Roman outpost named Verulamium to its current status as a major commuter city for London, St Albans has always undergone significant transformation.
This transformation extends to the food and drink scene in the city: in recent years, the number of establishments has exploded. From a wide selection of global street food on market days to fine dining in smart restaurants, foodies will love this Hertfordshire hotspot. If that’s not all, there are also plenty of traditional pubs serving local ales, thriving cafes on every corner, and street festivals with food and drink taking top billing.
For talented and highly skilled catering and hospitality professionals, wages in St Albans are among the best in the London commuter belt. According to our latest data, a head chef can earn over £29,000 annually. Meanwhile, a chef de partie can earn over £23,000 a year.
For chefs looking to expand your culinary repertoire, St Albans and the surrounding area is home to a number of training opportunities to help you upskill. Oaklands College, a further education college with campuses in St Albans and nearby Welwyn Garden City, offers a range of hospitality and catering courses for budding food industry workers to choose from.
If you’re looking for somewhere that combines city living with a small-town feel, St Albans is the place for you. A number of hospitality and catering jobs are available across the city — from a head chef in a high-end eatery to a catering assistant in a primary school. There are also various events taking place throughout the year, meaning seasonal employment opportunities are rarely in short supply. And with London only 20 minutes away by rail, it's easy to stay abreast of all the culinary trends going on in the capital.
