How Much Does a Private Chef Cost in the UK?

Hiring a private chef sounds like something reserved for the very rich, but for a dinner party of eight it can cost less per head than you might expect, and you keep the whole evening at your own table. The catch is that prices vary a lot, and two quotes for the same Saturday night can look nothing alike.

In this guide we've gathered the prices that UK private chef platforms and independent chefs actually publish, explained what's normally included, and set out the questions to ask so you can compare quotes fairly. Every figure is linked to its source, and the sources are listed at the end.

Private chef prices in the UK at a glance

These are the per-person rates Take a Chef publishes for one evening in the UK, last updated in September 2026, and they normally include menu planning, shopping, cooking, plating, basic table service and clearing up.

Other published figures tell a similar story. Take a Chef's UK booking page puts its average at £106 per guest for a party of six, and its typical booking at around £89 per person for just over three courses. Yhangry's pricing guide, last updated in October 2024, quoted about £120 per person for two, £71 for three to seven guests and £66 for eight to twelve, and noted that high-end London menus can reach £200 or more per person.

Independent chefs publish their own prices too. The Dorset Chef, for example, lists £75 to £100 per person all-inclusive for private dining, with no separate charges for staff or service.

Why a dinner for two costs the most per head

A chef's time doesn't shrink much when the guest list does. Planning the menu, shopping, travelling, setting up, cooking, serving and clearing up take almost as long for two people as for six. That fixed effort is shared between fewer plates, so the price per head is highest for couples and falls as numbers rise.

It's also why many chefs set a minimum spend. Yhangry's guide reported minimums from around £250 per event for some chefs, rising to £2,000 for the most experienced. If you're planning a small dinner, ask about the minimum before anything else.

What affects the price of a private chef

Number of guests. More guests means a bigger total but usually a lower price per person, as the table above shows. Above a certain size, a chef may also need help in the kitchen or front of house.

Courses and complexity. A relaxed sharing feast takes less labour than a plated tasting menu with several elements on every plate. Yhangry's 2024 figures put a sharing-style three-course meal at about £50 per person, a plated three-course dinner at about £70 and a five-course menu at £100 or more. Canapés on arrival, a cheese course or petits fours with coffee all add time.

Ingredients. Seasonal British produce costs less than imported luxury ingredients. Lobster, wagyu beef, truffle and caviar will push a menu to the top of any price range. Most per-person quotes include ingredients; some chefs charge them separately at cost, which makes the headline number look lower.

Location and travel. London prices tend to sit at the higher end. Outside the cities, chefs travelling to rural postcodes may add mileage, and in central London they may add parking or congestion costs. Ask whether travel is included.

Service staff. Most chefs can plate and serve a small dinner on their own. For larger groups, waiting staff or a bartender are usually charged separately, and they're what lets the host sit down and enjoy the evening.

The date and notice. Fridays and Saturdays, December, Valentine's Day and bank holidays are in demand, and Take a Chef notes that last-minute bookings can cost more. Christmas Day is in a category of its own: Yhangry's guide quoted £500 to £2,000 or more for a full Christmas dinner, plus ingredients.

Dietary requirements. Many chefs adapt a menu for allergies and common diets at no extra cost (The Dorset Chef, for one, includes it). A completely separate menu for one or two guests takes extra time, so mention it when you enquire.

What's usually included, and what isn't

This split reflects what Take a Chef lists as included and excluded, and it's a sensible starting point for any quote. Every chef works differently, so ask.

One point catches people out: if you supply your own wine, some chefs and platforms may charge corkage. It's worth asking before you buy the bottles.

Is a private chef more expensive than a restaurant?

For two people, usually yes. You're paying for a professional to plan, shop, cook and serve for one table, and that's a premium experience.

For six to ten guests the gap narrows. You're not paying restaurant drinks prices, there's often no service charge on top, nobody has to book a taxi home, and you can stay at the table for as long as you like. Many hosts find that the comparison is closer than they expected once drinks are included.

If you're weighing up options for a bigger event, our guide to private chef vs catering compares the two in detail.

What a private chef might cost for your occasion

Using the published per-person ranges above, here's roughly what common occasions work out at before drinks:

• An anniversary dinner for two: about £260 to £330.
• A dinner party for six: about £480 to £720.
• A dinner party for eight: about £520 to £640.
• A birthday dinner for twelve: about £780 to £960, plus waiting staff if you'd like them.

These are worked from published averages, not quotes. Your own figure will depend on your menu, your location and your date, which is why it's always worth asking two or three chefs for a price. Planning a dinner party specifically? See our page on hiring a private chef for a dinner party.

How to compare private chef quotes

The headline number is the least useful part of a quote. Before you compare two chefs, check each quote for:

1. What's included. Ingredients, serving, clearing up and equipment, as in the table above.
2. How ingredients are charged. Included in the per-head price, or itemised at cost.
3. Travel. Included, a flat fee, or mileage beyond a set distance.
4. Staff. Whether the chef works alone or brings help, and what any staff cost.
5. Timings. When the chef arrives, when they expect to leave and what happens if you run late.
6. Guest numbers. What happens if numbers change, and by when you need to confirm.
7. Allergies. How the chef handles allergens and dietary requirements, in writing.
8. Deposit and cancellation. How much secures the date, when the balance is due, and what you get back if plans change.

A chef who answers all of that clearly, in writing, has done this before.

Deposits, cancellations and tipping

Deposits are normal. The Dorset Chef asks for £100 to hold a date, with the balance due before the event. Yhangry's terms at the time of its guide asked for a 10% deposit when booking more than five weeks ahead and allowed a full refund up to seven days before the event. Every chef and platform sets its own terms, so read them before you pay.

Tipping a private chef in the UK is entirely optional. Yhangry suggested 10% to 15% for exceptional service; plenty of hosts simply pay the quote and say thank you. If waiting staff have looked after you, it's a kind gesture to include them.

How to find a private chef within your budget

The easiest way to stay within budget is to say what it is at the start. A good chef will tell you what's realistic, and suggest a menu style that fits: a sharing feast rather than a tasting menu, or one show-stopping course with simpler dishes either side.

In our chef directory you can filter by budget as well as area, cuisine, guest numbers and rating, then contact the chefs whose prices fit directly. You can also browse by area, starting with private chefs in London, or read what to expect from a chef cooking in your home.

The short version: budget roughly £65 to £120 per person for a dinner party, more for a dinner for two, and less per head for a bigger group. Then ask for a quote for your actual evening, with your guest numbers, menu and date, and compare what each quote includes rather than the number at the bottom. When you're ready, browse private chefs by budget and contact the ones who fit.