Dining at home
Hire a chef to cook at home
A chef arrives with the food, cooks in your kitchen and leaves it tidy. You keep the evening, the table and the leftovers.
Having a chef cook at home is the most popular way to use a private chef, and the least understood. It isn't a restaurant brought into your house. The chef works with the equipment you already own, in the space you have, at the time you'd like to eat, and serves a menu you've planned together.
Most chefs prepare as much as they can before they arrive and finish the last stage on site, which is why a three-course dinner can come out of a single oven without the evening feeling like a service. You choose when you eat, who sits where and how long everyone stays at the table.
Private Chef Finder is a directory of independent private chefs across the UK. Filter by area, cuisine, budget and rating, and contact the chefs whose cooking suits the evening you have in mind.
How it works
Step 1
Find chefs who fit
Filter the directory by area, cuisine, budget, guest numbers and rating. Chefs who cover your area come first.
Step 2
Get in touch directly
Contact the chefs you like using the details on their profile. Tell them your date, guest numbers, budget and anything they need to know, from allergies to a small galley kitchen.
Step 3
You agree the menu directly
The chef talks you through the menu, dietary requirements, timings and price. You agree everything with them and book directly.
Step 4
The chef shops and preps
Closer to the date, the chef buys the ingredients and often prepares stocks, sauces, pastry or desserts in advance.
Step 5
They cook, serve and clear up
On the day the chef arrives a few hours before your guests, cooks in your kitchen, serves each course and usually leaves the kitchen as they found it.
What's included, and what isn't
Every chef works a little differently, so check each quote. This is a sensible starting point for what a chef cooking at home normally covers.
| Usually included | Often extra | |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Menu planning and any changes you ask for | Printed menus or place cards |
| Food | Shopping for and buying ingredients | Premium ingredients such as caviar or truffle |
| Cooking | Cooking and plating in your kitchen | Specialist equipment hire |
| Service | Serving each course at the table | Waiting staff or a bartender for bigger groups |
| Afterwards | Washing up and taking rubbish away | A late finish beyond the agreed time |
| Travel | Travel within the chef's local area | Mileage, parking or congestion charges further out |
What a chef at home costs
Most private chefs in the UK charge per person, and the price per head falls as your guest list grows, because the chef's planning, shopping and travel time is shared between more plates.
Take a Chef's published UK rates for one evening, updated in September 2026, run from about £130 to £165 per person for two guests, £80 to £120 for three to six, £65 to £80 for seven to twelve and £59 to £75 for thirteen or more. That normally includes menu planning, ingredients, cooking, serving and clearing up. Drinks, waiting staff and equipment hire are usually extra.
Our private chef cost guide explains what changes the price and how to compare quotes fairly.
What your kitchen needs
Almost any kitchen will do, but the chef will want to know a few things before writing the menu. It's worth having the answers ready when they call.
- How many ovens and hobs you have, and whether the oven is gas, electric or an Aga
- How much fridge space you can clear for the day
- Whether you have enough plates, glasses and cutlery for every course
- Where guests will be while the chef is cooking, especially in an open-plan kitchen
- Parking or unloading near your door
- Any pets that need to stay out of the kitchen
Occasions people book a chef at home for
Dinner parties
Three courses for six to twelve, served at your table.
Birthdays and anniversaries
A special menu built around the person you're celebrating.
Weekends away
Several meals cooked in a holiday cottage or rented house.
A quiet evening in
Dinner for two, without booking a restaurant or leaving the house.
Allergies and dietary requirements
One of the advantages of a chef at home is that you talk about dietary needs with the person actually cooking. Tell them about every allergy and intolerance at your table when you first speak, and confirm it in writing. UK food businesses must be able to tell you about any of the fourteen major allergens in the food they serve, so a professional chef will expect the question.
Many chefs will adapt a whole menu for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free guests, which is usually calmer than cooking a separate plate for one person.
Chefs who cook at home
Independent chefs listed on Private Chef Finder. Each one sets their own menus and prices.
James Callery
Winchester
Private chef and head chef at Hotel du Vin, Winchester
- British
- Modern European
- French
- +8 more
From £90 per person
House of Vida Catering
Brighton
Private chef to the stars and wealthy. Now own a catering company serving events, corporate and location contracts. Can design any menu you like!
- British
- Modern European
- French
- +12 more
Giovanni Andolfi
Morden
Italian and Mediterranean private chef based in Morden, cooking across Surrey and south London
- Italian
- Mediterranean
- Modern European
From £100 per person
Chef Nik
London
Self-taught London private chef with experience in five-star hotels, private members' clubs and private homes
- British
- Modern European
- French
- +9 more
From £100 per person
ChefGary
Hampshire
Hampshire private chef with 35 years in the industry and 20 as a private chef, cooking dinner parties, buffets, BBQs and weddings
- British
- Modern European
- French
- +7 more
From £65 per person
Luke Frost
Hampshire
- British
- French
Find a chef near you
- Private chefs in London
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Not listed? Search all chefs anyway. Many travel for the right booking, so it's worth asking.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to have a chef cook at home?
Most UK private chefs charge per person. Published platform rates for one evening in 2026 run from about £130 to £165 per person for two guests down to about £65 to £80 per person for seven to twelve, usually including ingredients, cooking, serving and clearing up.
Does the chef bring the food?
Usually, yes. The chef buys the ingredients and brings them with them, and the cost is normally included in the price per person. Some chefs charge ingredients separately at cost, so check when you compare quotes.
Can a chef cook in a small kitchen?
Yes. A good chef plans the menu around the kitchen they'll be using, and many prepare parts of the meal in advance. Tell the chef about your kitchen when you get in touch, so they can plan a menu that suits the space.
Do I need to provide anything?
Usually your oven, hob, fridge space, and plates, glasses and cutlery for your guests. Most chefs bring their own knives and specialist equipment. If you're short of crockery, ask whether the chef can arrange hire.
How far in advance should I book a chef to cook at home?
A few weeks is usually enough for a weekend dinner. For December, Valentine's Day, bank holidays or a large group, book as early as you can, because good chefs' diaries fill first on those dates.
Is Private Chef Finder the chef's employer?
No. We're a directory. The chefs are independent businesses, and you agree the menu, price and terms directly with them.
Hire a chef to cook at home
Find chefs who cover your area and cook for your numbers, then contact them about your date and your kitchen.