Hire a Private Chef in Dorset & Hampshire
Bespoke private dining at home from £75 per person, all-inclusive. Award-winning, 5-star rated.
Your Location. Your Menu. Your Evening.
Whether you call it a personal chef, a private chef, or simply hiring a chef for the evening — the result is the same: a bespoke multi-course meal cooked in your home, every course served, and your kitchen left spotless. From £75 per person, everything included.
Imagine your favourite restaurant — the quality, the presentation, the service — but in the comfort of your own home. That's what we create.
We arrive a few hours before service, bring everything we need, and prepare each course fresh. You sit down, enjoy the food, enjoy your guests.
When the evening ends, your kitchen is spotless.
Based in Bournemouth, we serve private dining clients across Dorset and Hampshire — from a private chef in Sandbanks on the BH13 peninsula through to the New Forest.
Planning something larger? We also offer boutique wedding catering across Dorset for up to 60 guests, and corporate dining for milestone moments. Holidaying on the south coast and renting a villa? See holiday let catering in Dorset — Sandbanks, Studland, the New Forest and beyond.
Everything, Except Lifting a Finger
Menu Planning
A bespoke menu designed around your tastes, your guests' dietary requirements, and the best seasonal ingredients available.
Wine Pairing & Recommendations
We can recommend wines to complement each course, or work with your own selection. The right pairing elevates every dish.
Preparation & Cooking
Everything prepared and cooked fresh in your kitchen. No reheating, no shortcuts. Restaurant-quality food, made in front of you.
Table Service
Each course served at the right moment. We manage the pacing so you can relax and enjoy the conversation.
Full Clean-Up
Your kitchen left cleaner than we found it. Washing up done, surfaces wiped, everything put away. Like magic.
Monitoring for Dietary Requirements
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, nut allergies — every guest gets an equally exceptional meal. No compromises.
What Private Dining Actually Costs
Private dining with The Dorset Chef is £75 to £100 per person, all-inclusive — no extra for transport, staff, service, or kitchen kit. Every quote is bespoke, but these worked examples give a realistic sense of total spend for typical evening sizes across Dorset and Hampshire.
| Occasion | Guests | Service | Ballpark total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intimate dinner | 2–6 | 3-course menu, full table service | £450–£600 |
| Dinner party | 6–12 | Canapés + 3- or 4-course menu | £600–£1,200 |
| Larger gathering | 12–18 | Canapés + 3-course + cheese course | £1,200–£1,800 |
Smaller dinners sit at the higher end per head; logistics don't shrink as fast as guest counts. Premium ingredients (lobster, wagyu, truffle) push toward the top of the range. There's no transport charge within roughly 90 minutes of Bournemouth. For a tailored quote, get in touch — we'll send a clear breakdown within 24 hours.
A Taste of What's Possible
What Dinner Party Guests Say
5 out of 5 stars"Hired The Dorset Chef for a group dinner at our rental in Burley. Eight of us, five courses, every single dish was outstanding. He left the kitchen cleaner than he found it. Genuinely the best meal any of us have had outside a restaurant."
— Tom Henderson, New Forest
5 out of 5 stars"We hosted a dinner party for eight at our home in Westbourne and Mark made the whole evening effortless. The scallops were incredible, the beef Wellington was cooked to perfection, and the kitchen was spotless when he left. Already booked again for next month."
— Sarah & Tom, Bournemouth
5 out of 5 stars"Mark stepped in at short notice and provided a fantastic meal for a group of nine friends. Great food presented beautifully and served with just the right touch. Personable and friendly but not intrusive."
— John Andrews
Private Dining FAQ
How much does a private chef cost in Dorset?
Private dining with The Dorset Chef costs £75 to £100 per person, all-inclusive. That covers menu planning, locally sourced ingredients, cooking, full table service with luxury crockery and personalised printed menus, and complete kitchen clean-up. There are no hidden charges for transport, staff, or service. Wedding catering starts from £85 per person.
How many guests can a private chef cater for?
Our sweet spot for private dining at home is 2 to 12 guests, where every plate gets the same care as a fine-dining service. Up to 18 guests is straightforward in larger homes; above 18 we shift to a dinner-party-plus service style with additional staff. For 30 guests or more, take a look at our wedding and event catering — different operating model.
What's included in a private chef evening?
Everything for the food side of your evening — bespoke menu planning, all ingredients sourced day-of, all preparation and cooking, full table service with luxury crockery, cutlery, napkins and personalised printed menus, and a spotless kitchen at the end of the night. The only thing you do is open the door.
Will my kitchen be left clean afterwards?
Yes — kitchen cleaner than we found it is part of the service. Surfaces wiped, washing-up done, hob and oven cleaned, equipment packed away, bins managed. Most clients tell us it's one of the parts of the evening they remember most.
Do you cook in holiday cottages and self-catering villas?
Yes — frequently. We work in self-catering villas in Sandbanks, country cottages in the New Forest, and beach houses along the Purbeck coast. Most holiday-let kitchens have everything we need; for sites with limited equipment we bring portable induction and hot-hold cabinets. See holiday let catering in Dorset for the full picture.
How do you handle dietary requirements and allergens?
Every booking includes a dietary mapping conversation when we plan the menu — allergens, religious diets, vegan or vegetarian requirements, low-FODMAP, keto. Allergens (gluten, dairy, nuts, shellfish, egg, soy, sesame, sulphites) get separate prep zones in the kitchen. Plant-based courses are designed from scratch, not the meat course with the protein removed.
How far ahead should I book a private chef?
For dinner parties, 2 to 4 weeks ahead is ideal — especially for weekend dates and the summer months in Sandbanks. We can sometimes accommodate shorter notice, so it's always worth asking. For weddings and larger events, 3 to 6 months gives the best availability.
Where do you cook across Dorset and Hampshire?
Based in Bournemouth, we cook across Dorset and Hampshire — Poole and Sandbanks, Christchurch, Wimborne, the New Forest, Lymington, Dorchester, Weymouth, Winchester, Salisbury, Ringwood, the Purbeck coast, and surrounding villages. Anywhere within roughly 90 minutes' drive is straightforward, with no transport charge added to your quote.
Private Dining Across Dorset & Hampshire
Based in Bournemouth, we bring private chef dining to homes, holiday cottages, and venues across the region.
Bournemouth
Private dining at home across all BH postcodes.
Poole & Sandbanks
Harbourside homes and Sandbanks properties.
Christchurch
Riverside properties and Mudeford dining.
Wimborne
Period homes near the Minster and Colehill.
New Forest
Holiday cottages and country houses.
Ringwood
Country properties and Avon Valley homes.
Lymington
Coastal town dining and yacht club events.
Dorchester
County town celebrations and rural estates.
Weymouth
Jurassic Coast cottages and harbour dining.
Winchester
Cathedral city townhouses and Hampshire homes.
Salisbury
Cathedral Close dining and Wiltshire countryside.
Purbeck Coast
Swanage, Corfe Castle, and coastal retreats.
Planning a Dinner Party?
Private dining from £75 to £100 per person. Tell us about the occasion and we'll start creating your menu.