A warm, welcoming, and down-to-earth family is seeking a professional live-in chef to join their household on a stunning private estate in Southwest Scotland. This is a rare opportunity for a talented and passionate chef to enjoy a slower pace of life in the countryside while still delivering high-quality, thoughtful food in a well-supported and appreciative environment.
The household consists of a couple and their four children, though on most days, only two of the children are in residence. The family enjoys a relaxed, informal lifestyle and is looking for someone who can create wholesome, seasonal, and delicious meals with care and consistency.
You will be responsible for cooking five days per week, typically preparing lunch (served between 9am–3pm) and dinner (served from around 6pm to 8/9pm). The style of cooking is unfussy but elegant — think modern British comfort food, with plated starters and puddings, and self-serve mains at the table.
During the shooting season, the estate becomes a lively hub of activity, and you’ll be catering to larger groups of up to 20 guests. This is where your ability to remain calm under pressure and deliver consistently high standards will shine — whether you're preparing a hearty country breakfast, a celebratory post-shoot dinner, or a buffet-style lunch for a house full of friends and guests.
The ideal candidate will:
1. Be confident cooking with seasonal, local produce, including game and estate-grown ingredients
2. Have experience in private households.
3. Must be happy to work independently and plan menus around what’s fresh and available
4. Understand the rhythm of country life and the nature of hosting guests throughout the year
5. Be flexible, discreet, and genuinely enjoy being part of a warm, informal household
Accommodation is provided as part of the package: a private cottage with a bedroom, sitting room, and access to additional guest rooms if needed. All utilities are included. Accommodation can be made suitable for a partner/child/pet. This is a long-term role with plenty of scope for the right person to feel truly at home. The start date is flexible, and the family is willing to wait for the right fit.
Outside of the shoot season (Sept - Jan) the role tends to be Monday - Friday, during the shoot season you will need to work weekends. The ability to be flexible with workdays and working weekends, as with all our private household jobs, is essential.
Salary: £40-45,000
Email your CV, food photos and sample menus to ella@sugarellacooks.co.uk if interested in this role.