“Originally private chefing was seen more as the preserve of the ultra-high net worth, quite a luxury thing to have,” said Daniel Lee, a private chef and former winner of MasterChef: The Professionals in 2021.
“But people are busy now and the cost of food is still expensive. If you want to organise a family get-together, there is so much planning: who eats what, have you got enough plates, cutlery? But now you can pay a private chef to do that. And because of the number of chefs available at varying price points, it’s becoming accessible and attractive to more people.”
Private chefs, once only associated with billionaires and A-list celebrities, are fast becoming a feature of more British households, from parents who want stress-free family meals to professionals hosting dinner parties at home.
Demand for private chefs in the UK has surged, fuelled by TikTok, wellness culture and the decline of eating out. The hashtag #privatechef has racked up more than five billion views on TikTok, with families, friends and food lovers booking chefs not just for dinner parties but for weekly meal prep.
Industry data suggests demand for private chefs is strongest within 25 to 45-year-old dual-income households in urban and suburban areas, a demographic that is time-pressed and wellness-driven.
Lee, 33, added: “Since Covid, people don’t eat out as much as restaurants, which is a shame. But you can now get a restaurant in your own home and a unique dining experience.
Lee says the price for a group of ten compares well with that for eating out
“You do get families hiring private chefs to help with the day to day but I think the majority is based around special occasions and birthdays. It still costs money. But people are starting to look and say, ‘I can spend this much going out to a restaurant or I can spend this much and get a personalised menu, personal chef, and the cuisine I want — and I don’t even have to leave the house.’ The price difference between a group of ten eating in a restaurant or a group of ten getting a private chef for their house is very minimal.”
TikTok has turned chefs into influencers, and clients will book them directly after seeking videos online. Meanwhile, time-poor households are increasingly outsourcing meal prep, and diners seeking healthier, personalised menus find that private chefs can be a solution.
Carola Cafiero, who runs the childrenswear boutique Il Porticciolo in Chelsea, said that hiring a private chef had become part of both her personal and professional life. She has two children, aged eight and five, and said that it had transformed the way she entertained and spent time with her family.
“I use it mostly at home for dinners with friends,” she said. “Instead of pre-booking a restaurant that will take me a month to get a reservation, if you have a chef at home it means that they take care of it. I find it very hard to find the time to plan so this way I can really manage working at the same time.
“It’s a very nice thing to invite friends over for a sushi night and you have a chef that actually cooks homemade sushi for you.”
She added that rising prices in London had made private chefs a surprisingly affordable option. “Even if you go and eat a pizza outside in London, it costs you £25 per person. But with the private chef you can still invite friends over. It’s becoming even more affordable than going out for dinner. If you want to finish your first meal slowly, you can, without the rush of London restaurants where in two hours you need to leave.”
Rates for hiring a private chef typically run from £40 to £100 per head, similar to eating at a mid-to-high end restaurant. There are, however, no service charges, no taxis, no two-hour table limits and every menu is tailored to the host’s preferences.
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Hala Sayess, founder of the Cheffie app, said: “Demand for private chefs has exploded in the last five years. It’s no longer just the domain of the ultra-wealthy. Today, it’s families wanting to gather without stress, food lovers chasing memorable experiences and Airbnb guests wanting to turn a trip into something special.
“In the UK alone, the private dining sector is projected to reach £873.6 million by 2030. At Cheffie, we see that shift every day: parents booking a chef so they can actually sit at the table with their kids, friends sharing a beautiful meal at home instead of a noisy restaurant, couples surprising each other with intimate dinners, and wellness-minded clients turning food into self-care. Private chefs are no longer just about luxury.”