Chef Simon McKenzie
Chef Simon McKenzie is a UK private chef and event catering business founded in 2019 by Simon McKenzie, serving HNW individuals, wedding clients, corporates, and party hosts across the Home Counties from a 5-rated professional kitchen in Burghfield, Berkshire, with full event setup and signature sous-vide barbecue service.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersReading, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Chef Simon McKenzie does
Chef Simon McKenzie Ltd is a UK private chef and event catering business founded in 2019 by Simon McKenzie and based in Burghfield, Berkshire. The firm delivers restaurant-quality in-home fine dining, weddings, corporate catering, parties, and a signature sous-vide-then-lumpwood-charcoal barbecue service to clients across the Home Counties (primarily Berkshire and Oxfordshire) within roughly a two-hour radius of its base. All preparation occurs in a dedicated professional kitchen that holds the highest UK Food Hygiene Rating of 5.
The core technology is a manual culinary method rather than a software platform: proteins are precision-cooked sous vide in water baths and then finished over restaurant-grade lumpwood charcoal at 290°C+, producing a signature smoky flavour without carbonisation. Service delivery is full-stack — the firm supplies fine crockery, linens, cutlery, glassware, chafing stations, and a professional service team, and coordinates the wider event through a curated partner network (marquees, mobile bars, photographers, bands).
The business operates a direct-to-consumer, quote-based professional services model. Revenue is generated per-event from HNW individuals and families, wedding clients, corporate clients (with NDA-capable discretion), and party hosts. Acquisition is primarily through the website, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, a monthly newsletter, and word of mouth reinforced by 70 consecutive 5-star Google reviews. Pricing is bespoke and not publicly disclosed.
Chef Simon McKenzie firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Chef Simon McKenzie
- Legal name
- Chef Simon Mckenzie Ltd
- Website
- https://chefsimonmckenzie.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Chef Simon McKenzie is a UK private chef and event catering business founded in 2019 by Simon McKenzie, serving HNW individuals, wedding clients, corporates, and party hosts across the Home Counties from a 5-rated professional kitchen in Burghfield, Berkshire, with full event setup and signature sous-vide barbecue service.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Chef Simon McKenzie industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Chef & Event Catering Services
- NAICS
- Caterers (722320)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Chef & In-Home Dining Services (HSACAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal) (THAJALAH), Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA), Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB)
Keywords
Where Chef Simon McKenzie is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reading
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Chef Simon McKenzie business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Private Chef Services: Direct engagement of Chef Simon McKenzie and team for in-home fine dining experiences, dinner parties, multi-course tasting menus, and intimate gatherings. Revenue generated through per-event fees based on guest count, menu selection, and service requirements.
- Wedding Catering: Full-service wedding catering including bespoke menu design, planning consultations, on-site team deployment, and full event management. Multiple meetings and detailed planning included as part of the service.
- Corporate Event Catering: Corporate catering services including break-out buffets, drink receptions, boardroom lunches, working lunches, and canapé events for business clients.
- Barbecue Services: Premium private barbecue chef services featuring Michelin-level menus cooked using sous vide technique then finished over lumpwood charcoal. Includes full setup, service team, and equipment provision.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Bespoke quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Chef Simon McKenzie product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Chef Simon McKenzie is a private chef and event catering business that delivers restaurant-quality food and full-service event execution directly to clients' homes and venues. The core offerings include in-home fine dining, wedding catering, premium BBQ services using a sous vide and lumpwood charcoal method, corporate catering, and party/event catering. All preparation occurs in a 5-star Food Hygiene rated professional kitchen in Burghfield, Berkshire, with services delivered across the Home Counties.
Product overview
Chef Simon McKenzie is a private chef and event catering business offering a portfolio of services centered around in-home dining and event catering. The core offerings include In-Home Dining (restaurant-quality multi-course meals served at home), Wedding Catering (bespoke menus with full planning support), BBQ Services (premium charcoal-cooked meats using sous vide techniques), Corporate Catering (business lunch and event catering), and Parties & Events (canapes, bowl food, garden parties, and themed events). Location-specific private chef services are available for Ascot, Henley, and Beaconsfield. All services include professional setup with fine crockery, linens, glassware, and a dedicated service team, with preparation taking place in a 5-star rated professional kitchen.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- In-Home Private Dining Restaurant-quality fine dining delivered in the comfort of the client's home. Offers bespoke multi-course tasting menus, three-course meals, and tailored dining experiences with a professional service team. Location-specific variants serve Ascot, Henley-on-Thames, and Beaconsfield.
- Wedding Catering Full-service wedding catering including bespoke wedding breakfast menus, champagne receptions, grazing tables, evening buffets, and comprehensive wedding day planning support. Includes multiple planning meetings and on-site team deployment.
- BBQ Services Premium private barbecue service featuring sous vide-cooked meats finished over restaurant-grade lumpwood charcoal at 290°C+. Includes full setup, service team, equipment, chafing stations, and Michelin-level menus.
- Corporate Catering Business event catering including boardroom lunches, networking canapés, working lunches, break-out buffets, drink receptions, and corporate entertainment with discreet professional service. NDA capabilities available.
- Parties & Events Catering Party catering including canapés, bowl food, garden parties, buffets, and themed events (such as Pulp Fiction, Studio 54, and Alice in Wonderland). Includes full setup, professional service team, and equipment provision.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70 consecutive 5-star Google reviews
Companies that use Chef Simon McKenzie
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Chef Simon McKenzie technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Chef Simon McKenzie partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Various Event Service PartnerssupportingThrough their 'little black book' of trusted partners, they can arrange furniture, marquees (including stretch tents), mobile bars, photographers, and bands. These partnerships extend service capabilities beyond pure catering to comprehensive event management.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Chef Simon McKenzie competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Cozymeal: US-based marketplace for private chefs and culinary experiences; comparable in connecting customers to private chefs but operates across the United States rather than the UK Home Counties.
- Hello Chef: UAE-based private chef platform offering in-home dining experiences; comparable in the bespoke private chef use case but operates primarily in the Middle East rather than the UK.
- Yhangry: UK marketplace connecting customers with private chefs for in-home dining; comparable in target use case but operates a platform model rather than direct chef delivery, and is earlier stage.
- Fork & Field Supper Club: UK supper club and private dining operator focused on intimate, chef-led dining experiences; comparable in experiential chef-led dining but operates through ticketed events rather than bespoke in-home service.
Broad incumbents
- Rhubarb Food Design: Established UK luxury event catering and hospitality group serving weddings, corporate, and private clients at scale; comparable in premium event catering niche but as a much larger, multi-vertical incumbent.
Direct peers
- Blue Strawberry: London-based event catering company specialising in weddings, private parties, and corporate hospitality; comparable in full-service event catering positioning and premium clientele, though operating at larger scale.
- The Private Chef Company: UK private chef service offering in-home dining and bespoke menus to private clients; directly comparable in service model, target market (affluent households), and bespoke quote-based pricing.
- Social Pantry: London private chef and event catering business offering in-home dining, weddings, and corporate catering; highly comparable service portfolio and premium positioning, with broader geographic reach.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Chef Simon McKenzie social profiles
Digital presenceChef Simon McKenzie compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Chef Simon McKenzie financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Chef Simon McKenzie leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Chef Simon McKenzie funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Chef Simon McKenzie M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Chef Simon McKenzie
What does Chef Simon McKenzie do?
Chef Simon McKenzie is a private chef and event catering business that delivers restaurant-quality food and full-service event execution directly to clients' homes and venues. The core offerings include in-home fine dining, wedding catering, premium BBQ services using a sous vide and lumpwood charcoal method, corporate catering, and party/event catering. All preparation occurs in a 5-star Food Hygiene rated professional kitchen in Burghfield, Berkshire, with services delivered across the Home Counties.
Is Chef Simon McKenzie a public or private company?
Chef Simon McKenzie is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Chef Simon McKenzie founded?
Chef Simon McKenzie was founded in 2019. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Chef Simon McKenzie based?
Chef Simon McKenzie is headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Chef Simon McKenzie make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Private Chef Services are the primary driver. The others are wedding Catering, corporate Event Catering and barbecue Services.
Who are Chef Simon McKenzie's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Cozymeal, Hello Chef, Yhangry and Fork & Field Supper Club. Rhubarb Food Design is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Blue Strawberry, The Private Chef Company and Social Pantry.
Does Chef Simon McKenzie have an API?
No public API is recorded for Chef Simon McKenzie.
What industry is Chef Simon McKenzie in?
Chef Simon McKenzie's product category is Private Chef & Event Catering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSACAGAE, Private Chef & In-Home Dining Services, with a secondary code of THAJALAH, Private Culinary Experiences (Chef’s Table, Home Dining, Market-to-Meal). Its NAICS code is 722320.