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Original poster

If you do UK cottage holidays, can I ask you...?

131 replies

VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 01:45

..If the offer of a hot meal on arrival day would be of interest?

I've just taken over the housekeeping/management of a rural family sized holiday cottage about half a mile from me. The owner lives in London, he is a very nice older man, always arranges a nice bottle of wine and flowers and a welcome card - likes to offer a personalised welcome via the manager.

We have day jobs but my DH and I are keen cooks, run an occasional pop up restaurant etc. We have food safety certs and a 5* hygiene certificate for our own kitchen. We have a Facebook page that could be checked out.

We were thinking that for those who have a long journey, there might be an appeal of a home cooked casserole in the fridge ready to be heated up etc. We are miles from any shops at all, although there is a decent, fairly pricey local pub.

A few months ago, we were asked to provide a 3 course special meal for a multi generational family group staying at a different local holiday let. We cooked it mostly at home, served it and cleared up again. It went well - great feedback. Would love to do it again.

Has anyone tried this at a holiday let? If you haven't, is it the sort of thing that you would be interested in? To me, it offers the ease of eating out but with no taxis, babysitters or expensive restaurant wine...but I'm probably biased!

OP posts:
Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 07:07

Interesting to see lasagne crop up more than once. Its one of my favourites. My DH makes a spectacular version. It's definitely a team effort.

OP posts:
Pascha · 10/01/2019 07:08

A place we use in the peak District always leaves us a chilli in the slow cooker, with rice to heat and tortilla chips, cheese, sour cream and a bottle of wine. After half a day or more on the road it's a welcome sight. The children don't eat it but we know and I usually have quick pasta for them.

I would always be impressed with the option.

Passthecake30 · 10/01/2019 07:08

We enjoyed the hm apple cake that was left at our cottage stay. As for a meal, dc and I are fussy, so other than a roast dinner... I'm not sure what would work for us.

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twopairsofsocks · 10/01/2019 07:13

Would be a definite yes please from us.
The last thing we'd want to do after driving for hours is go out again. Light fire, unpack, open wine and reheat a meal would be the best start especially if the winter.
In the summer I would imagine a barbecue might be more attractive.

hugoagogo · 10/01/2019 07:14

No, I'm vegetarian and everyone else is awkward in their own special way.Hmm
Also I would not want to be tied to eating in.
I also like to consider a holiday home my own when I am there so I can relax-something like this would kind of break the spell.

GnothiSeafton · 10/01/2019 07:20

I think it sounds a brilliant idea. Obviously, as it's an optional extra, nobody has to take you up on it!

fleshmarketclose · 10/01/2019 07:20

Yes would love this because the last thing I want to do on the day of arrival is shop and cook tbh. Usually have a shopping delivery next morning because can never be sure of time of arrival with traffic.
One of our favourite cottages, that we returned to many times, used to leave a homemade cake and the dc always spent the last hour of the journey pondering which cake it would be. The visitor's book had numerous positive mentions of the cake on arrival.

MeetOnTheledge · 10/01/2019 07:21

We definitely wouldn't use the meal cooked to order, served, cleared, option either. I wouldn't be able to relax with strangers in the house.

Tiredismymiddlename85 · 10/01/2019 07:22

No I wouldn't like this. The welcome packs are always a nice touch though.

Spam88 · 10/01/2019 07:23

As an optional thing I think it's a lovely idea, although genuinely not sure if I'd use it. For the arrival evening I think it would be nicer if the food was already hot and waiting for you, so something in a slow cooker as the PP suggests maybe. I appreciate that's a bit more complicated and limiting though.

In terms of cooking and serving a meal, the only time I've experienced this is when a friend booked a holiday cottage for her small wedding. Worked well although they had serving staff as well as the cooks, and we were occupied enough that we didn't particularly notice they were there. Would you be providing all the crockery etc to take away with you and clean or would you be hanging around afterwards to wash up? Is the dining area removed enough from the kitchen that you wouldn't be under their feet? I think I'd find it all a bit awkward really, although I might consider it for a large group going away for a special occasion. So I guess again, no harm in offering, but I don't think I'd expect uptake to be that high. You can always ask about these options when you ask guests for feedback on their stay though :)

TitsalinaBumSquash · 10/01/2019 07:27

I also appreciate the option of having a full fruit bowl waiting for us and the welcome pack containing decent coffee, tea, sugar, milk, fresh bread, butter, jam and squash for the kids.
Bacon, eggs, OJ added on for breakfast. I'm always happy to pay for the luxury of that waiting for me when I arrive, I wouldn't want anyone heating and serving it for me though.

Soontobe60 · 10/01/2019 07:30

I think it's a great idea. We went to a cottage in remote Anglesey once, with plans to pop to the chippynfor supper. It took me 1 1/2 hours! So yes'm, I would love the option of a fresh cooked ready meal that I could order in advance, but again would like everything for that meal. Having a simple menu to choose from would be great.

VenusClapTrap · 10/01/2019 07:34

Where are you and how many does it sleep? I’m always looking for nice cottages for group holidays.

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 07:34

Yes, the kitchen is completely away from the dining room to deal with the clearing up separately. I think that might be more something for reunion groups than families. Apart from the local pub which is nice but expensive (£8 for a sandwich and crisps!) there is nothing local. It is very rural so you would always have to factor in transport. The family we cooked for in the autumn, had children in bed so didn't want to go out but wanted to celebrate and it worked out really well, certainly not awkward at all.

It's definitely horses for courses!

OP posts:
Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 07:38

It's in west Dorset and it sleeps 7. I can pm the details to anyone interested.

OP posts:
Humphriescushion · 10/01/2019 07:41

Great idea. I would definitely want this.

adaline · 10/01/2019 07:45

I have to say it wouldn't appeal to me, unless when you're booking you give several choices - so no food, sandwiches, lasagne, chilli, fish or vegetarian options, for example.

PlumpSyrianHamster · 10/01/2019 07:48

Yes! As long as there's some choice. Some people unfortunately can't eat dairy, or gluten or are veggie.

Normandy144 · 10/01/2019 07:51

Great idea and certainly something we would take up if on offer. I went to a holiday rental a couple of years ago to celebrate a few milestone birthdays and the cottage owner ouy us in touch with a local lady who did catering. We booked her for a 3 course meal and it was fantastic. There were 3 children under the age of 4 (including a 2 month old baby) in our party and the thought of bringing them out to a restaurant was just too much hassle. This way the kids got put to bed and we could enjoy a meal together. The caterer had an assistant too and they cleaned up. Iy was perfect. I would definitely do it again!

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 07:52

There would definitely be choice; I would offer some suggestions but it would all be specifically prepared to order for each family. We run a supper club and am conpletely used to working with dietary needs and preferences.

OP posts:
Lokisglowstickofdestiny · 10/01/2019 07:54

As an optional extra it sounds good.

TranmereRover · 10/01/2019 07:56

A more general catering service for evening meals would be interesting and we’d probably use it once during a week’s stay but can imagine those with toddlers who can’t eat in a restaurant at a civilised time every night would love it- always comes as an option in overseas villa hire but have never seen it in the uk. Would probably want it to be more special than a lasagne though! The sort of dinners you get in a ski chalet maybe, cleared away afterwards... would love that if in a big group

CottonSock · 10/01/2019 08:00

If optional and there were a few choices I might. Not likely though as you would have to charge a decent amount to make it worth your while?

Holidayshopping · 10/01/2019 08:01

What sort of prices were you thinking-that’s the deciding factor for me, I think?

The Cook dishes always sound really nice, but for a big family, the cost is rather prohibitive for us.

3sugars · 10/01/2019 08:02

Not a hot meal but we loved a cottage we stayed in that had homemade cake waiting for us. There was also freshly baked homemade bread on our door step one morning which was very welcome! It's always appreciated by us when there are basics like tea, coffee, biscuits, milk, sugar etc provided after a long drive.