Private Chef for Your New Forest Holiday Cottage
Why Hire a Private Chef for Your New Forest Stay?
You’ve booked a beautiful cottage in the New Forest. The group’s confirmed, the walks are planned, and the pub lunches are sorted. But one evening — usually the Saturday — you want something different. Something memorable. Something that turns a good holiday into an extraordinary one.
That’s where we come in. We arrive at your cottage a few hours before dinner, bring everything we need, cook a bespoke multi-course meal, serve every course with full table service, and leave the kitchen spotless. You don’t lift a finger — just enjoy the evening with your group.
How It Works
The process is simple:
- You get in touch — tell us your dates, group size, and any dietary requirements
- We plan the menu — a bespoke menu designed around your group’s tastes and the best seasonal ingredients available
- We arrive and cook — typically 1–1.5 hours before service, bringing all ingredients, equipment, luxury crockery, napkins & napkin rings and personalised printed menus
- You enjoy dinner — each course served at the table, paced to let conversation flow
- We clean up — your cottage kitchen left cleaner than we found it
The whole experience costs from £70 to £100 per person, with everything included.
Where We Cook in the New Forest
We cook across the entire New Forest every week — it’s one of our favourite areas. Popular spots include:
- Brockenhurst — a popular area for cottage bookings, with beautiful properties tucked into the woods
- Lyndhurst — the capital of the Forest, with a mix of hotels, B&Bs, and private cottages
- Burley — a favourite for larger group weekends in country houses and farmhouse rentals
- Beaulieu — riverside cottages and grander properties near the Estate
- Sway, Hordle, and the forest edges — quieter villages with stunning properties
As long as there’s a working kitchen, we can cook. We’ve prepared meals in everything from cosy three-bedroom cottages to 10-bedroom country houses.
What Makes It Special
There’s something about the combination of a beautiful New Forest setting and exceptional food that creates a genuinely magical evening. The fire’s going, the table’s set, and the first canapes arrive. Your group gathers, glasses are filled, and the first course is served.
It’s not a restaurant — it’s better. There’s no background noise, no clock ticking, no bill to split. Just your favourite people, extraordinary food, and a kitchen that’s cleaner at the end of the night than it was at the start.
The Food
Every menu is bespoke, but the New Forest setting inspires particular dishes:
- Venison from Hampshire Estate’s
- Day-boat fish from nearby Poole and Lymington
- New Forest mushrooms foraged & cultivated
- Organic vegetables from Four Acre Farm in Ringwood & Sopley Salads in Sopley, on the Forest’s edge
- Local honey, artisan dairy, asparagus, berries and shortbread
We source as locally as possible — many of our suppliers are within the Forest itself or on its borders.
Dietary Requirements
Every group has different needs, and we handle them all. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut allergies — every guest receives an equally exceptional meal. We discuss all dietary requirements during menu planning so there are no compromises on the night.
When to Book
We recommend booking 2–3 months ahead, especially for weekends and school holidays when the New Forest is at its busiest. That said, we can sometimes accommodate shorter notice — so it’s always worth asking.
If you’ve already booked your cottage, get in touch as soon as you have dates confirmed. We’ll start planning a menu that makes your New Forest holiday one to remember.
Ready to book? Visit our New Forest page or contact us directly.