What Does a Private Chef Actually Do?

"Private chef" can mean different things to different people. To some it's a chef who travels with a family on holiday; to others it's someone who cooks a one-off dinner for friends at home. Both are right, but they're different jobs.

This guide explains what a private chef does for a dinner party or celebration at home, which is what most people in the UK mean when they search for one, and how that differs from a personal chef or a household chef. It also covers what happens on the day and the questions to ask before you book.

What is a private chef?

A private chef is a professional cook who prepares a meal for you and your guests in your own home, or wherever you're staying, rather than in a restaurant. You agree the menu with them in advance, they buy the ingredients, and on the day they cook, plate and serve the food, then clear up the kitchen before they leave.

Most private chefs are independent: they run their own small business, set their own prices and decide which areas and occasions they cover. Many have worked in restaurant or hotel kitchens. Our co-founder, James Callery, is a professional chef who has run restaurant kitchens, so we've seen the job from both sides.

Private chef, personal chef or household chef?

The lines blur: plenty of private chefs also cook a series of meals over a weekend, and some offer weekly meal preparation. But when you're planning a dinner party, an anniversary or a birthday at home, you're looking for a private chef booked for the occasion. A full-time household chef is a job, not a booking, and is a different conversation entirely.

Before the day

Most of a private chef's work happens before anyone sits down.

The conversation. A good chef starts by asking about the occasion, your guests and what you like to eat. They'll want to know the number of guests, the date and time, the style of meal you'd like and your budget.

Dietary requirements and allergies. Expect to be asked about allergies, intolerances and diets. In the UK, food businesses must be able to tell customers about any of the fourteen major allergens in the food they serve, as set out in the Food Standards Agency's allergen guidance. Give the chef the full picture early, and in writing.

The menu. The chef suggests a menu, often with options for each course, and adjusts it with you. This is where you can ask for a favourite dish, a cuisine or a menu built around the season.

Your kitchen. Expect questions about your oven, hob, fridge space and equipment, and how much crockery and glassware you have. A chef planning for a small flat kitchen will write a different menu from one cooking in a farmhouse with a range.

The shopping. Close to the date, the chef buys the ingredients, usually from suppliers they trust. Some prepare elements in their own kitchen the day before: stocks, sauces, pastry or desserts that are better made ahead.

On the day

Timings vary, but a typical dinner at home runs something like this:

1. Arrival. The chef usually arrives a few hours before your guests with the ingredients, equipment and anything prepared in advance.
2. Setting up. They unpack, check the kitchen and start the jobs that take longest, such as slow cooking, roasting or setting desserts.
3. Preparation. Vegetables are prepared, sauces finished and garnishes made, so that everything is ready to cook to order.
4. Arrival drinks. If you've asked for canapés, they go out as your guests arrive.
5. Service. Each course is cooked, plated and served at the pace of your table. For a small dinner the chef often serves the food themselves; for a larger group, waiting staff help.
6. Clearing up. The chef washes up, cleans down the kitchen and takes their rubbish and equipment away, usually while you're enjoying dessert or coffee.

What a private chef brings

Most chefs bring their own knives and the specialist equipment they rely on, which might include a portable induction hob, a blowtorch, thermometers or particular pans. Some can arrange hired crockery, glassware or linen for larger dinners. You'll usually provide the kitchen, the oven and hob, and the table settings, unless you agree otherwise.

Table service

For six to eight guests, many chefs plate and serve each course themselves and explain the dish as it arrives. For larger groups, or if you'd like drinks poured and the table looked after all evening, ask about waiting staff. Staff are usually charged separately, and they're what lets the host sit down and stay there.

Regular household cooking

Some private chefs also offer ongoing cooking: a week of meals prepared in your kitchen and left in the fridge, or several meals cooked during a holiday. If that's what you're after, ask how it's priced, because it's usually quite different from a single dinner.

What does a private chef cost?

Most private chefs in the UK charge per person, and the price per head falls as the guest list grows. Published UK platform rates in 2026 run from about £130 to £165 per person for a dinner for two down to £65 to £80 per person for seven to twelve guests, usually including ingredients, cooking and clearing up. Our guide to private chef costs explains what's included and what's extra.

Questions to ask before you hire a private chef

• What's included in the price: ingredients, serving, clearing up and travel?
• What time will you arrive and leave, and what do you need from my kitchen?
• How do you handle allergies and dietary requirements?
• Can I see a sample menu, or photos of dishes you've cooked?
• Will you serve the food yourself, or do I need staff?
• What deposit holds the date, and what happens if I need to cancel or change numbers?
• Are you comfortable cooking in my kitchen, given its size and equipment?

Private Chef Finder is a directory: you contact independent chefs directly and agree everything with them. That's why these questions matter, and why a chef who answers them clearly and in writing is a good sign.

Is a private chef right for you?

If you want to host without spending the evening in the kitchen, or you'd like a menu you couldn't easily cook yourself, a private chef is a lovely way to do it. Read more about having a chef cook in your home, or if you're planning a bigger event, compare a private chef with catering.

A private chef takes the planning, the shopping, the cooking and the washing up off your hands, so you can be a guest at your own table. When you're ready, find a private chef whose cooking and area fit.