Private Chef FAQs: Prices, Menus & Booking
I’m Chef Alpay. Here is what you need to know about inviting me to cook for your next celebration.
From choosing your food to getting the kitchen ready, these answers explain how my private dining service works. You will find practical details about prices, dietary requirements, travel and what happens on the day.
Based near Loughborough and Leicester, I cook for guests across the Midlands, in homes, holiday rentals and suitable private venues.
Prices and booking
Start with your date, location and guest numbers. I will help you understand the options and confirm a clear quote before you book.
How much does a private chef cost?
Private dining starts from £69 per person. Your personalised quote depends on your guest numbers, menu choices, event date and location. Minimum booking values apply.
Share your plans through the booking page, and I will confirm the total cost and everything included before you book.
Is there a minimum booking value?
For standard private dining, the minimum booking value is £500 Monday to Thursday and £600 Friday to Sunday. This is a minimum event spend, rather than a fixed minimum number of guests.
Seasonal dates and special arrangements may have different minimums, which will be included in your quote.
What is included in the price?
The agreed dining service includes menu planning, ingredients, preparation, cooking, plated meal service and kitchen clean-down. I bring my pans, utensils and chef equipment.
Additional waiting staff, drinks service, tableware hire or other extras are only included where specifically agreed in your quote.
How do I book Chef Alpay?
Use the booking enquiry page and share:
- Your event date and preferred serving time.
- The venue postcode and guest numbers, including children.
- Your occasion, preferred dining style and budget.
- Any dietary requirements or allergies.
I will check availability, discuss your food preferences and provide a personalised quote.
How much deposit do I pay, and when is the balance due?
The standard deposit is 25%, with the remaining balance due 30 days before the event. Your booking is secured once the arrangements are agreed and the required deposit is received.
For bookings made within 30 days, or dates with special terms, I will confirm the payment schedule in your quote.
What if my plans or guest numbers change?
Please contact me as soon as possible. Changes to your date, location, guest count or food choices may affect availability, the total price and the preparation required.
Your booking confirmation sets out the applicable cancellation terms and deadlines. Christmas and other special bookings may have separate conditions.
Menus and dietary requirements
Tell me what you enjoy and what your guests need. We can then plan a meal that suits the occasion and the people around your table.
Can we personalise the menu?
Yes. We can discuss dish changes, favourite ingredients, additional courses and themed meals. I cook in styles including modern British and European, Turkish and Mediterranean, Italian and Pan-Asian.
Let me know your ideas when you enquire. I will explain what is practical for your group, kitchen and budget, and confirm any price changes.
Does everyone have to eat the same dishes?
For a standard three-course booking, the group normally chooses two options per course, with individual choices agreed before the event. Vegetarian and vegan guests can discuss suitable alternatives.
Some smaller-group offers or specially priced bookings use a set menu. Your proposal will make the available choices clear.
Can you cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free guests?
Yes, we can discuss suitable dishes and adaptations during planning. Please share the requirements before we agree the menu.
If a requirement relates to an allergy or coeliac disease, please explain this specifically so I can review ingredients and preparation arrangements with you.
How do you handle food allergies?
Please tell me about allergies at the enquiry stage, including the ingredients involved and any cross-contact concerns. I will discuss the proposed dishes, ingredients and kitchen environment before confirming what I can provide.
Do not rely on a dish name or a general dietary label alone. We need to agree the individual guest’s requirements in advance.
Can you provide halal food?
Halal meat can be arranged on request. Please mention this when you enquire, along with any requirements about alcohol in sauces or other ingredients, so we can agree the complete meal.
Do you offer children’s meals?
Yes. We can discuss simpler dishes, smaller portions or suitable choices from the adult menu. Please send the children’s ages, preferences and dietary requirements.
Children’s pricing and any earlier serving time will be confirmed as part of your booking.
From the first canapé to your main course
Examples from my private dining service. We will agree your own dishes around your preferences and occasion.
Your kitchen and the event day
You do not need a professional kitchen. We check the practical details together so I can prepare and serve the agreed meal in your space.
What do I need to provide in the kitchen?
I normally need a working oven and hob, clear preparation space, a sink and suitable fridge space. The exact requirements depend on your menu and guest numbers.
I bring my own pans, utensils and chef equipment. Kitchen photographs or an equipment list are helpful, particularly for holiday rentals.
Do you provide plates, cutlery and table decorations?
Please provide suitable plates, cutlery and glassware unless we agree otherwise. Table decorations are not included.
If you need specialist tableware, let me know during planning so we can discuss hire arrangements and any additional cost.
When do you arrive, and who serves the food?
I usually arrive two to three hours before the agreed serving time. I confirm the exact arrival time around the preparation required and your kitchen setup.
I prepare, plate and serve the meal. For larger events, we will discuss any additional kitchen or service support needed before confirming your quote.
Can we choose the serving time and pace of dinner?
Yes. Tell me your preferred start time and whether you want a relaxed evening or a more structured schedule. We agree the timing around the number of courses, guest numbers and any other plans for the event.
Do you clean the kitchen afterwards?
Yes. Kitchen clean-down and washing-up from the agreed food service are included. I leave the cooking area clean and tidy so you can continue enjoying time with your guests.
Can you arrange waiting staff or drinks service?
Additional waiting staff can be arranged, subject to availability, and quoted separately. Let me know whether you need help with drinks, clearing or a larger group.
Standard waiting staff do not provide cocktail-making services. If you would like a bartender or mixologist, please mention this so I can check separate arrangements.
More time with your guests
The aim is simple: a meal you enjoy and an evening you can be part of. You welcome your guests, while I take care of the cooking and agreed meal service.
Before the day, we confirm the food, timings and kitchen arrangements. If there is something particular you want to include, tell me during planning so we can work through it together.
Locations and occasions
From your own dining room to a countryside holiday stay, the location helps shape the practical plan for your meal.
Which areas do you cover?
I am based near Loughborough and Leicester and welcome bookings across the Midlands. Locations include Nottingham, Derby, Birmingham, Coventry, Mansfield, Chesterfield, Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and the Peak District.
Coverage depends on your date, postcode and service requirements. Send the full postcode so I can confirm availability and any travel costs.
Can you cook at an Airbnb, holiday cottage or hired venue?
Yes, provided the owner permits a visiting chef and the kitchen is suitable for the agreed meal. Please check permission and share the property’s kitchen facilities before booking.
Parking, unloading access, stairs and any venue restrictions are also useful to know in advance.
What types of events do you cater for?
I cook for birthdays, anniversaries, hen and stag celebrations, family gatherings, dinner parties and private business events. Wedding enquiries are also welcome, with staffing and kitchen requirements assessed for the event.
Tell me your guest numbers and the style of service you have in mind so I can confirm what is suitable.
Do you offer Christmas private dining?
Yes, subject to availability. Christmas Day and other festive dates have separate pricing and booking terms.
Visit the Christmas private chef page to explore the festive menu, then send your date, postcode and guest numbers through the booking page.
What my guests say
Still have a question?
Tell me what you are planning and what you would like to know. I will help you work through the details and explain the options for your event.
Or email hello@chefalpay.com or call 07810 139726.