How Much Does a Private Chef Cost in Dorset?

What Does a Private Chef in Dorset Cost?

A private chef experience in Dorset typically costs between £70 and £100 per person. That’s the all-in price — there are no hidden costs for transport, staff, booking fees, or service charges.

For that price, you get a completely bespoke evening: menu planning consultation, locally sourced seasonal ingredients, preparation and cooking in your home, full table service with luxury crockery and personalised printed menus, wine advice, and a complete kitchen clean-down afterwards.

What’s Included in the Price?

Everything. When we say everything, we mean it:

• Menu planning — a conversation about your tastes, your guests, dietary requirements, and the occasion
• Ingredient sourcing — locally sourced from our trusted Dorset suppliers: day-boat fish from Parkstone Fisheries, organic vegetables from Four Acre Farm, fully traceable meat from Fordingbridge
• Preparation and cooking — everything made fresh in your kitchen, no reheating
• Seasonal canapes — served on arrival while we prepare the main courses
• Full table service — each course served at the right moment
• Luxury crockery, cutlery, and table settings — no need to hire anything separately
• Personalised printed menus — a keepsake from the evening
• Wine advice and pairing recommendations
• Complete kitchen clean-down — your kitchen left cleaner than we found it

There are no extras for transport, staff time, washing up, or anything else. The price you’re quoted is the price you pay.

What Affects the Price?

The main factors that move the price within the £70–£100 range are:

Number of guests — intimate dinners for 2–4 guests tend to be at the higher end per person, while larger groups of 10+ benefit from economies of scale.

Number of courses — a 3-course dinner with canapes sits at a different price point to a 7-course tasting menu.

Ingredient choices — a menu featuring lobster, wagyu beef, or truffles will naturally cost more than one built around seasonal chicken or day-boat fish.

Day and date — weekend evenings in summer are our busiest periods. Midweek bookings can sometimes offer more flexibility.

How Does This Compare to a Restaurant?

Consider what you’d spend on a comparable evening out. A quality restaurant in Dorset for a group of 6–8 people — with a tasting menu, wine, service charge, taxis there and back — quickly reaches £100–£150 per person. And you’re sharing the space with other diners.

With a private chef, you get a more personal experience, food cooked specifically for you, no background noise, no time pressure, and your own home as the setting. When you factor in everything that’s included, it’s genuinely competitive — and far more memorable.

Private Chef vs Catering Company

National agencies and catering companies typically charge similar per-person rates, but with a crucial difference: you don’t know who’s turning up to cook. With The Dorset Chef, you’re booking Mark — the same chef who plans your menu, sources every ingredient, and cooks every course.

No middlemen, no commission-inflated prices, no last-minute substitutions. You meet the person who’ll cook for you before the event, and you have a direct relationship throughout the planning process.

Wedding Pricing

Wedding catering starts from £85 per person and includes everything above, plus a complimentary tasting session, canape reception service, and coordination with your wedding planner and venue. We specialise in boutique weddings of up to 60 guests.

How to Get a Quote

Getting a quote is simple and free. Get in touch via WhatsApp, email, or the contact form. Tell us about:

• The occasion
• Number of guests
• Preferred date(s)
• Any dietary requirements
• Any particular dishes or ingredients you love

We’ll come back with a menu suggestion and a clear, detailed quote — usually within 24 hours. There’s no obligation, and we’re always happy to adjust the menu or discuss options.

Visit our pricing page for more details, or contact us directly.