The Cook in the North
Shaun Nixon
Travelling private chef for hire in Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria
What a wonderful celebration meal we had! Shaun prepared and served for us a delicious meal of local, tasty produce that was cooked to perfection. Our group of 13 all thought it was one of the best meals we had ever had.
Shaun was friendly, attentive, efficient, a gifted chef and left the kitchen spotless (bonus!). Our experience with him from our first contact, to selecting the menu options and on the day was brilliant.
Absolutely 5 stars - we couldn’t recommend him highly enough and look forward to another meal prepared by The Cook in North soon!
Thank you again for the wonderful evening.
Liz Kavanagh
October 2023
A private restaurant experience
in your home or holiday cottage
We agree a menu and I shop for all ingredents
I cook in your kitchen with my own equipment
I serve the meal to the table and clear away
I wash up, pack up and clean the kitchen
We had a fabulous family dinner with Shaun. The tapas feast was a perfect way for us to share delicious food as well as each other’s company. Shaun was attentive to every need - even preparing a separate meal for the kids.
We couldn’t possibly recommend him more highly - 11/10.
Can’t wait to get back to Yorkshire and hire him again.
Amir Louka, USA
August 2023
I am consistently rated
100% 5 stars
I come to you
...and cook
Enjoy a freshly cooked meal in the comfort of your own home or holiday cottage:
- Special occasions and celebrations
- Family birthday meals or as a gift
- Holiday home or airbnb rentals
- Dinner at home with friends
- Guests with food intolerances
I do the shopping, bring all of the ingredients and my own equipment, cook, serve and clear up!
Shaun came in and cooked for a 50th birthday party where one of the party was gluten free and dairy free. We had a beautiful 3 course meal, flavours were delicious and all ingredients were top quality. Shaun was great with all the organisation... he is friendly, diligently works in the background and left a very tidy kitchen. Would highly recommend.
Nicky Bateman
February 2023
Chef's Diary
What I've been doing in December and before
YES to requests
Delicious irritant- and allergen-free cooking is my everyday speciality, including gluten-free, grain-free and dairy-free dishes as standard. My pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan meals are a delight to share, alongside top quality locally-reared grass-fed and organic meats that taste amazing.
I cater for food intolerances because I have food intolerances myself. Having me cook a meal for you means none of that frustrating menu analysis or awkward interrogation in restaurants - I know exactly what's in every dish, create meals from scratch to suit you and cook it because I love it myself.
We booked Shaun for a family dinner at a cottage we were staying at in Yorkshire. He managed with the rustic kitchen no problem. He cooked a terrific meal which everyone thoroughly enjoyed, and we had a great time getting to know him and learning all about his culinary journey. Thoroughly recommend.
James Stokes
April 2023
Good ingredients
Good food
I have been cooking for over 20 years with seasonal, fresh, predominantly organic ingredients to create tasty, honest meals.
Quality organically grown and locally farmed ingredients are sourced from trusted nearby suppliers like Growing with Grace in the Yorkshire Dales • Organic North in Manchester • Suma Wholefoods in Elland • Wholesome Bee in Settle • Nathan Brown Butchers in Barnoldswick • Riverford Organic Farmers
As a lifelong environmentalist, I aim for zero-landfill. All packaging is recycled or composted. Any plant-based food peelings and scraps become compost for my two daughters' flower and vegetable plots.
Book the Cook
in the North
How much does it cost?
I charge a set amount to travel to you plus a price per person for the meal. For an estimate, you can get an instant quote
The cost is fully inclusive - it includes the shopping, prep, travel, cooking, service and cleaning up, leaving the kitchen spotless.
A £100 deposit books and secures the date. Half of the remainder is due a fortnight before the meal, with the balance payable on the night, either when I arrive or after the meal.
We booked Shaun for a hen do in Lancashire and he cooked an amazing tapas feast for us.
Beautiful and delicious food and very neat and tidy afterwards!
Definitely recommend.
Lucy Callaghan
April 2023
Serving the North
I am based in Barnoldswick - near Skipton, on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire - overlooking the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Just minutes from Settle, Clitheroe, Hebden Bridge and Ilkley. Within 1 hour of Manchester, Preston, Lancaster, Kendal and the Lancashire coast in the west, and Harrogate, Leeds and York in the east.
All travel is by electric car, powered by ecotricity 100% renewable energy.
We asked Shaun to cater for 16 people at the farmhouse we had rented for our friend's hen do. Shaun was professional, communicative and easy to work with to agree on budget, dishes and overall experience.
The food was lovely and beautifully presented, and we really valued his approach to home grown or locally sourced, seasonal tasty and nutritious meals, and being so accommodating to dietary needs and menu choices.
Shaun presented the menu to us at the beginning of the meal, was focussed throughout the cook but happy to chat when we passed through the kitchen, and was kind enough to spend a few minutes with the party to have some pictures and be thanked!
Would highly recommend Shaun for a large group to take the pressure off and enjoy the evening - and he left the kitchen spotless!!
Rebecca Hodge
June 2023
About me
I am fully insured, ethical,
passionate about good food,
honest, fair and transparent.
I am all about:
family • community • trust
sustainable food • living my values
When I cook for you, you are supporting:
A local family
Independent local food retailers
Small, local food producers
Organic farming
Regenerative agriculture
Community volunteering
The environment and wildlife
Renewable energy
Composting and zero waste
Seasonal food
Where I cook
As a travelling chef, I can drive to your venue pretty much anywhere in the North of England.
I'm based in the edge of the Yorkshire Dales in the Pennines, on the border of Lancashire and Yorkshire, so am within easy reach of much of the North.
