Chef Residency / Live-In Hospitality Couple

Historic Country Hotel – Canowindra NSW Accommodation Available | Working Holiday Visa Holders Welcome Opportunity for you to run your own restaurant

Accommodation Available | Working Holiday Visa Holders Welcome

The Old Vic Hotel in Canowindra is looking for a chef, ideally with a partner or hospitality duo, to help launch a simple food and bar concept inside a historic country hotel.

We have recently taken over The Old Vic and are working to bring it back to life as a warm, character-filled accommodation, events and food destination in the heart of Canowindra.

Canowindra is a beautiful Central West NSW town surrounded by farms, wineries, tourism and weekend visitors — but there is currently very limited dining in town. We think there is a real opportunity for the right person to create something simple, local and profitable.

The opportunity

We are interested in a 3-month chef residency / trial, with the potential to extend if it works well for everyone.

The venue has a dining room and bar that can seat up to around 80 guests, but we do not want to overcomplicate things at the start. The idea would be to begin with a focused offering — likely Thursday to Sunday — and grow from there as the menu, staffing and demand are proven.

The food concept could include:

• simple breakfasts open to hotel guests, locals and visitors

• coffee, toasties, pastries or a small morning menu

• casual lunches or dinners a few days per week

• pasta nights, steak night, roast lunches or wine bar food

• group lunches, private dinners and small events

• food for accommodation guests, locals and regional visitors

This does not need to be complicated or fine dining. We are more interested in someone who can create a small, delicious, reliable menu that works in a country hotel and can be run profitably.

Think simple Italian, pasta, steak and sides, farmhouse cooking, shared plates, beautiful breakfasts, local produce — or whatever you do well.

The ideal setup

This would suit:

• a chef wanting to run their own kitchen without taking on a full restaurant lease

• a couple where one person is kitchen-focused and the other can help with front-of-house, bar, housekeeping and guest experience

• a small hospitality duo with energy, maturity and a practical mindset

• working holiday visa holders looking for a live-in regional NSW hospitality opportunity

• someone excited by the idea of helping build a destination venue from the ground up

Accommodation is available on-site at the hotel.

How the arrangement could work

We are open to shaping the arrangement around the right person.

This could include:

• accommodation available on-site

• agreed paid work for hotel duties such as housekeeping, guest work, bar or events

• a simple food and bar concept that starts small and grows

• a structure that gives the right person genuine upside, not just a standard wage

• a profit-share or bonus arrangement linked to the food and bar concept once direct costs are covered

We would agree the details clearly before starting, including what costs are covered, how revenue is tracked, and how any upside is shared.

The aim is to keep it fair, simple, transparent and motivating for the right people.

What we need from you

For the chef/kitchen side:

• ability to design and run a small, profitable menu

• confidence with ordering, prep, stock control and kitchen hygiene

• ability to cook consistently without overcomplicating things

• interest in using local produce where practical

• calm, practical approach to service

• willingness to start lean and build carefully

For the partner/front-of-house side, ideally:

• bar service and customer service

• helping run the dining room

• guest check-ins and guest experience

• housekeeping and room turnovers

• event setup and pack-down

• general help around the hotel

You do not need to be perfect at everything, but you do need to be reliable, honest, energetic and comfortable living in a small country town.

Working holiday / visa note

This role may suit Working Holiday Visa holders, 417 visa holders, 462 visa holders, backpackers, travelling couples or hospitality workers looking for a live-in regional NSW job.

We can provide proper payslips and employment records. Applicants seeking 88-day, second-year or third-year visa specified work should confirm their own eligibility, as hospitality roles do not qualify in all regional locations.

Search terms: working holiday visa, WHV, 417 visa, 462 visa, backpacker job, live-in job, accommodation included, regional NSW, country hotel, hospitality couple, chef job, cook job, 88 days, specified work, second year visa, third year visa.

About The Old Vic

The Old Vic is a historic hotel in the centre of Canowindra, NSW. We have guest rooms, shared lounges, conferencing spaces, a bar, dining areas, garden spaces and a beautiful old building we are gradually restoring.

We want to create a place that works for locals, travellers, wedding guests, workers, small events, retreats and weekend visitors.

To apply

Please send:

• a short introduction

• your hospitality experience

• the type of food concept you would be excited to run

• whether you are applying alone, as a couple or as a duo

• your availability

• visa/work rights if relevant

• any sample menus, photos or references if you have them

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 02 6344 1009
Location: The Old Vic Hotel, 56 Gaskill Street, Canowindra NSW 2804