Reviews
Moorlands Manor, Foulridge, Lancashire
From start to finish Shaun was excellent.
Booking was straightforward. Shaun was very accommodating with changes to the menu and producing vegan dishes for one of our guests. He was prompt and efficient and produced an excellent tapas for 17 of us.
We all enjoyed the food and service and have no hesitation in recommending him. Thanks again Shaun.
Peter Iddon
November 2024
Absolutely fab from start to finish! Great communication, really unimposing and beautiful food and ingredients, can’t rate highly enough!
Clare Plant
November 2024
Pateley Bridge, North Yorkshire
My 80th was a great success and many thanks from all my family for such a fantastic meal - plenty of seconds and choice and no washing up. Even a temperamental oven at our rental location did not beat you.
Shaun you are a talent and we all wish all the best
in the future.Kind regards, Scott
Scott Thomson
October 2024
I found Shaun via his excellent website and he responded quickly to my questions. He is extremely flexible and we had a phone chat about the event and what we wanted. His ideas were brilliant and he came up with a fabulous menu for a large, special, family occasion. He is friendly and calm and worked quietly around our family gathering providing us with a truly scrumptious meal. I have no hesitation in recommending him and would use him again should we need to.
Alison Nuttall
September 2024
Shaun came and cooked the most perfect meal, which left me and my husband free to enjoy our guests' company.
I’m sure the kitchen was cleaner when he left.
Amazing food from a lovely chef.
Paula Rich
August 2024
I can't recommend Shaun enough, from requesting a quote to turning up on the day his service was faultless!
Shaun created a tapas feast for 10 of us on a hen do this weekend ensuring dietary requirements were catered for - it was sensational!!! Not only did he create an excellent feast he worked discretely around us and the kitchen was spotless after he left - the only reason you knew he'd been is because of the left over pudding in the fridge, this was a great addition to breakfast the next morning.
Would definitely book Shaun again!!
Suzie Cooper
August 2024
What a lovely man Shaun is. And so professional.
We had a fantastic family dinner. And had absolutely nothing to do and the kitchen was spotless when he left. And no washing up to do!
Don’t hesitate to book him.
Tony and Sue
August 2024
This was a special family occasion involving elderly parents and a family dog required a celebratory dinner for 9 in Keswick at our rental house. There was no better way to organise such an event to fit into our timetable and requirements than to bring the chef to us.
Shaun was the perfect choice, with a lovely personality that added to the atmosphere as we interacted with him in the open plan kitchen as he cooked and served the food whilst we concentrated on the eating and drinking!
The food was amazing, tasty and super quality even down to the dips, drizzles and breads which he sourced. We also served some very high end wines which we would never have bought at restaurants prices as well as our own eclectic music playlist.
The final menu choices (which involved some quite late changes during cooking), were swiftly and calmly dealt with. The only thing we had to do was to set up the table and decorations ourselves at the beginning and load up our glassware and cutlery in our dishwasher at the end, he took away all the plates and tidied up the food and prep.
All in all it was truly a magnificent experience and Shaun was the lynchpin who held it all together.
Wayne Jaffe
August 2024
Absolutely unbelievable! Shaun is incredibly talented and put together an absolutely phenomenal menu. The food was exquisite and he was so friendly and helpful, both in the planning stage and the evening itself.
An absolute superstar - we couldn’t have been happier and will definitely be bringing Shaun back for other events.
Absolutely spectacular!
Jess Lorimer
August 2024
A wonderful meal prepared for a very special occasion.
Highly recommend Shaun.
Thank you
Margaret Beacham
August 2024
We had the pleasure of Shaun‘s food when he catered for our tiny wedding in the Lake District. Shaun was on time, polite, and the food was exceptional.
I have never had a private chef before and the experience was fab, we felt very spoilt and looked after. Shaun cleaned up after himself, in fact it was probably tidier when he left.
If you are looking for a chef for your event, I would highly recommend booking Shaun. I would have no hesitation in booking him again!
Laura Howey
August 2024
Capernwray, near Carnforth, Lancashire
What an experience! A delicious 50th celebration meal catering for various dietary requirements - Shaun was wonderful from request to delivery and we would highly recommend - thank you!
Liz Rhodes
July 2024
Shaun was absolutely fantastic. His communication was great and created a custom menu for our special occasion. Most of all the food was incredible and would 100% recommend.
We were a group of 17 and he catered to everyone’s needs. The food was amazing and a great time was had by all.
Laura McIntyre
July 2024
Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District
Great food provided by Shaun. Made for a very special evening with friends and family. Turned up on time and left a clean and tidy kitchen, allowing us to relax and enjoy the meal.
Would highly recommend.
Dean Fallon
July 2024
Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District
Shaun cooked a fantastic 3 course dinner for 12 of us during our stay at accommodation in the Lake District.
He arrived bang-on time, brought all his own equipment and got straight to work, preparing the dinner.
Not only did Shaun cook the most delicious food with superb flavours, but he also presented each course exquisitely and professionally. He shows strong attention to detail and is very attentive.
The kitchen was also left absolutely spotless after he had finished, and tidied up everything after himself.
We all had such a memorable experience and wouldn’t hesitate to book Shaun again!
Greg
July 2024
Shaun catered for 15 of us and produced the most wonderful tapas selection which each of our guests enjoyed thoroughly.
He catered for several dietary requirements but most importantly, he arrived promptly, interacted so nicely with everyone (including some ambitious home cooks) and took care of absolutely everything that we could have thought of.
We wouldn’t hesitate to book him again and from booking to departure, I honestly couldn’t fault his service.
Steph McFadzean
June 2024
Shaun cooked for my friend's Hen Do.
The food was unreal and he was extremely professional, funny and accommodating.
The kitchen was spotless when he left, as if he hadn’t even been here.
I would highly recommend Shaun and would use him again for future events!
Shanice Mulla
May 2024
I booked Shaun for a very special occasion with my closest friends over Mayday Bank Holiday.
Shaun was so responsive and immediately had a wonderful meal plan which he had duly personalised to meet my every request.
Reassuring in his preparedness and wholly reliable Shaun arrived and like a whirlwind set about the task of cooking a wonderful meal for my 16 guests and so fitting for my planned celebration.
Shaun has a warm and friendly and totally professional presence in the kitchen and wowed us all with a tapas banquet fit for a King, impressing us with course after course which he served with great attention.
I would highly recommend Shaun.
Linda Harris
May 2024
Shaun delivered a range of delicious meals while I was convalescing after surgery. This was such a treat, organised by my sister in the States.
Everything was freshly prepared and ready to eat or pop in the oven. The menus were fantastic, delicious comfort food such as roast chicken, aubergine bake, salmon en croute, beef stew and desserts like rhubarb crumble and molten chocolate pudding.
The meals were really tasty with quality ingredients and wonderful flavours. One day he brought a selection of tapas dishes for me to share with visiting family. It was an amazing spread!
Being gluten and dairy intolerant was no problem at all. Shaun was a delight to deal with and really friendly.
I would totally recommend him, it’s a very professional but personal service. Lovely food and a lovely guy. Many thanks!
Rosemary Pegg
May 2024
Low Row, Swaledale, North Yorkshire
Shaun delivered an exceptional dining experience at our cottage.
He expertly crafted a delicious three-course meal, accommodating my daughter's coeliac disease.
Every dish was a masterpiece of flavour, and Shaun's professionalism and personable nature added to the evening's charm.
Highly recommended for anyone seeking an amazing private chef experience. Thank you Shaun.
Stephen Muchmore
May 2024
Shipton by Beningbrough, near York, North Yorkshire
Shaun catered my friend’s hen do! The whole experience was great! We had tapas and all the food was delicious and great quality. The only issue was there too much food to finish haha!
Shaun was lovely and left the kitchen spotless too. Would deffo book again!
S E
May 2024
Kelbrook, Lancashire & North Yorkshire border
This guy though!! For Laura’s hen party this weekend we brought in the absolute insane skills of Shaun Nixon, The Cook in the North, to start the weekend off with a full (and very happy) stomach.
The food was absolutely incredible and belongs in a Michelin star restaurant.
Shaun came to the barn and prepared everything on his own, served to us all and then left the kitchen ABSOLUTELY spotless.
We also had some vegetarian, gluten and dairy free requests in our party and every single one was catered for without without any problem whatsoever.
Such an incredibly friendly and lovely guy that we cannot recommend enough!! Thank you so much Shaun!!
Toni Procter
April 2024
Shaun was absolutely brilliant hosting for my best friend's Hen Do.
The food was spectacular, absolutely amazing.
For me, the way Shaun accommodated to certain dietary requirements was unmatched, he was so considerate and inclusive.
Shaun communicated thoroughly beforehand and reassured me by being so clear and consistent.
Shaun was also on time to prepare food and gave us time in between courses so we had time to settle the food we’d already eaten.
The kitchen was left immaculate and Shaun’s presence was pleasant overall!
Thank you for taking the time to take a group picture of us and making this fun and memorable!
Aimee Jayne
March 2024
Shaun was booked for a hen do for 12 of us, he made a wonderful meal and was so lovely!
He brought each course out and explained to us what everything on the plate was, the food was really fancy and presented so nicely!
He also clears up and leaves the accommodation spotless so no cleaning up for us!
It was a really nice treat to have a 3 course meal and not have to cook or go anywhere for it! Highly recommend this fab business.
Michelle Harrison
March 2024
Shaun came to cook in our rented house in Masham for a 60th birthday celebration for 17 people and he was great.
He was flexible with us for people who had specific dietary requirements or taste and worked quietly and diligently in the kitchen, introduced and served a lovely three course meal single-handedly with generous portions and great flavours (two days later we are still eating the leftover dessert!).
Would definitely recommend.
Paul Howe
February 2024
Shaun was great - very friendly, coped well with our party banter and, most importantly, the food was really, really good. All very enjoyable and very efficient.
Thank you. Highly recommended.
Richard Wright
February 2024
Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Shaun attended our holiday cottage in North Yorkshire to cook a retirement dinner for my family.
He cooked a fantastic 3 course meal selected by us, taking into account a nut allergy and a dairy intolerance.
He arrived on time with everything he needed, made our meal a special occasion, made us very relaxed and he left the kitchen spotless.
I can only recommend Shaun.
The McDill Family
February 2024
Shaun was our private chef for a hen party recently and his food was exquisite.
He was fantastic at catering for a variety of needs and allergies. We thoroughly enjoyed working with him and selecting from the variety of amazing menu options he suggested.
On the evening he was prompt, efficient and his service was extremely professional. He left behind a spotless kitchen.
We had a fabulous dinner and would thoroughly recommend him.
Kristina Goodwin
January 2024
Shaun catered for us, for party of twelve people. We discussed menus beforehand. He arrived prompt at the venue and brought everything needed for a three course meal.
The food was prepared from fresh and we all agreed it was delicious.
He then cleared up and washed everything and left the kitchen absolutely spotless.
Would I recommend Shaun? ……..most definitely 100%
Marilyn Hannan
January 2024
Thank you so much for cooking for us. We had an amazing day, you were fantastic and we are so grateful for your hard work behind the scenes.
You proved why you were the only person we considered for our event - I can't praise you highly enough.
You made the 60th birthday one that will be remembered and talked about for a long time to come.
We would definitely consider you again for the next big family gathering!
Inga Willett
January 2024
Appletreewick, Yorkshire Dales
Shaun was fantastic. Catered for a vegan menu for a non-vegan crowd and smashed it.
Excellent hospitality, very warm and great tasting food above all else.
Nicky Velani
January 2024
near York, North Yorkshire
Fantastic evening, where everything was done by Shaun, leaving us to enjoy time with friends.
Food great and kitchen left clean and tidy. What more can we ask?
Well worth it.
Tim Hobbs
December 2023
Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Can’t thank Shaun enough for an excellent private meal cooked for our 10 guests at our house.
Shaun’s food was excellent and served with style and a smile.
He turned up early to prepare and left the kitchen spotless.Can only recommend highly for private dining events.
Andreas Bauer
November 2023
Amazing experience! Shaun was completely flexible to suit everyone’s needs and choices.
Cooked the most incredible three course meal, accompanied with special breads, we had pulled pork nachos or prawn cocktail for starter, fillet steak for main with either peppercorn sauce or mushroom sauce, then for pudding it was sticky toffee pudding and it’s got to be the best pudding I’ve ever tasted.
Everything was beautiful and I really couldn’t fault Shaun and his cooking!
Highly recommend and will definitely use Shaun again!
Lisamarie Lowe
November 2023
Shaun arrived punctually and was very friendly. He prepared the meal for my wife’s 60th. We barely noticed him being there!
We had a delightful meal enjoyed by everyone; the hake and lamb main courses were fabulous.
Shaun thank you so much for making such a memorable evening.
J
November 2023
Shaun, The Cook in the North, produced the most fantastic dinner for a big family celebration. He handled all difficult situations brilliantly, went the extra mile, and put on a delicious three course meal for 27. Nothing fazed him and he left the kitchen spotless.
I would recommend him and his services without hesitation.
Jeremy Cox
October 2023
Shaun - thank you so much for a wonderful meal which made our evening so special. The food was absolutely delicious and we really couldn’t have asked for more.
Thank you too for being a judge in our chutney challenge!
We would all highly recommend Shaun and feel very grateful for having his services and being part of our family celebration.
Philippa Cox
October 2023
Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District
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
Shaun was the most excellent chef. Very delicious dinner, a choice of starters which were excellent and the most outstanding beef Wellington for our very rowdy family of 27 people. He also took on the onerous task of judging the family Chutney Challenge which is no mean feat!
Shaun was flexible, highly professional, unfazed by our rather chaotic family party and so kind, thoughtful and a good laugh.
We highly recommend Shaun for any high end catering and we are so pleased to have met him.
Lizzy Moriarty
October 2023
5 stars!
Alex Cox
October 2023
Knaresborough, North Yorkshire
We had a fantastic evening with The Cook in the North for our anniversary dinner party. There were 8 of us in total and Shaun is very friendly, making it easy to have him in your home cooking.
Everyone enjoyed the food and thought it was delicious and we would definitely recommend him. Everyone is just trying to think of another occasion to have him back again!
Thanks for a very lovely evening!
And what a treat not having to cook or wash up after!Katy Hitchings
October 2023
We had a fantastic meal and were spoilt for options. Shaun gave excellent recommendations, answered all our questions and was extremely professional and tidy.
I would highly recommend Shaun.
Peter Lang
October 2023
I was so lucky to have Shaun cook my special, surprise birthday dinner.
Not only was the food sublime but Shaun is a lovely person to have in your home.
Isabelle Harrison
October 2023
Shaun catered the main meal for a family event and it was excellent.
Shaun was professional, punctual and personable. His communication and time taken to plan the meal that would work for our whole group was very good.
The food produced was exceptional. His food was delicious and he catered to various fussy diners easily.
I highly recommend The Cook in the North for your private events. Thank you so much. We will be booking Shaun again.
Katie Singleton
October 2023
Richmondshire, North Yorkshire
Shaun cooked the most incredible meal for my husband’s 40th birthday this weekend.
Fantastic service too. Can’t recommend highly enough!
We will definitely be planning more dinner parties in the future.
Heather Hardman
September 2023
Shaun prepared a fantastic meal which was a real highlight of our family celebration weekend. The food was delicious and Shaun was a lovely friendly guest, who left the kitchen spotless!
Sarah Huntington
September 2023
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
A great experience and lovely meal made with local fresh ingredients!
Andrew Watson
August 2023
Amazing! Shaun catered for 23 guests at a pre race day party I hosted last weekend. The food was delicious, there was plenty of it and it was all presented amazingly! Shaun cleared up after and left the kitchen spotless.
Would definitely use again.
Millie Haythornthwaite
August 2023
5 stars!
Dominic Littlewood
August 2023
Private home near Preston, Lancashire
Many thanks Shaun for a fabulous Tapas night / menu.
Our kitchen has never been so well organised!Richard Ashcroft
August 2023
South Ribble, Lancashire
We absolutely loved our meal, all of the food was absolutely delicious and it was such a treat to be able to try so many different dishes with it being a tapas style dinner, thanks so much for a lovely evening!
Lizzie
August 2023
Shaun catered for 20 of us at a celebration for my Mum’s 70th birthday and I would 100% recommend.
From first contact, to planning the menu, to the day itself, he was an absolute pleasure to deal with.
We loved the focus on sustainability and local sourcing, with some of the produce even being grown in Shaun’s own garden! And of course the food itself was delicious, there were clean plates all round!
To top it all off Shaun is just a genuinely nice guy, we all enjoyed chatting to him as he was prepping and serving the food. Thank you Shaun!
Aisling Balfe
July 2023
Thanks again for the amazing food! (everyone is mentioning how nice it was). A pity you are not based in Switzerland.
Plus this was basically the first time my sister was able to eat everything from her plate without having to worry about her IBS. We are very grateful how you were able to cater for her.Moniek and Jakub, Switzerland
July 2023
Shaun (aka The Cook in the North) did a fantastic job of catering for my husband’s 50th.
The menu was perfect for the occasion and Shaun took all the stress out of the evening. He was very professional but still happy to chat to guests, take photos and just slotted in - working quietly away in our open plan kitchen without at any point making it feel like the cooking and food prep was the main focus - until the point when he served the food (as a buffet style) when everyone’s attention was fully on the delicious - and beautifully presented - spread of food.
Shaun left the kitchen looking immaculate (having washed all the crockery), meaning we could just focus on the celebrations. Even though I love cooking and entertaining, it was so lovely to have the evening off.
I would highly recommend The Cook in the North for any special occasion.
Elizabeth Selby
June 2023
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
Five stars
Jess Brown
May 2023
Bowness-on-Windermere, Lake District
What a brilliant night!
Shaun came to cook for us as we celebrated a 70th birthday. Communication was great, he was well organised, professional and the food was truly delicious. We were really impressed and will definitely use Shaun again in the future. Thank you from all of us! 🙂
Lindsey Mishreki
May 2023
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
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
Oughtershaw Hall, Langstrothdale, Yorkshire Dales
An absolutely superb chef to help us celebrate our special event in the Yorkshire Dales. The smells of the 3 course menu were spectacular. Every one of the 10 guests dining have continued to sing the praises of Shaun and his cooking. Thank you Shaun once again! We would certainly all recommend you!
Elizabeth Doyle
March 2023
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