Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

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:
MeetOnTheledge · 10/01/2019 14:51

Thanks for the feedback about Cook. We are catering for 4 adult appetites and the main benefit of ready meals for us is that we can choose different things if we want so wouldn't be tending to buy a 4 portion dish but maybe 2x2, so it does get expensive.

Thinking about this a bit more we might, when the DCs were tiny, have taken up an offer for a home-cooked meal delivery during the stay rather than eating out. Probably not on arrival though. We did stay somewhere once where the pub over the road were happy for you to order and wait for food there and then bring it home to eat, we did do that once when the DCs were tiny and in bed. I think I would appreciate it being on offer even if we didn't take it up.

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 14:53

Thats a good idea - I would like to say my DD would tuck into a lovely home made lasagne; even at 11, it's not really happening!

OP posts:
cushioncovers · 10/01/2019 15:06

You said earlier that you could accommodate different dietary requirements, so yes as a vegan if someone could leave some homemade vegan dishes in the freezer that could just be popped into the oven. Along with a food hamper I would love that. I hate arriving at my destination and then having to go straight to the supermarket.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Holidays
BBInGinDrinking · 10/01/2019 15:13

Best type, surely?

For mums, staying in holiday cottages can sometimes feel a little bit like same work, just different location.

Unless we've eaten a good lunch out, we tend to cook in the evenings, rather than take the DCs out to pubs and restaurants to eat. This way we can also enjoy a G&T and then a glass or 2 of wine with our meal, rather than having to miss out to drive back. It also lowers holiday spending money costs to cook - important if on a budget. In most locations we stay in, there's little or no options for eating out or takeaway. I think having someone to come in once and do all the work for you, as a holiday treat or for a birthday or anniversary, would be right up our street. Menu options could give people the choice between a more simple home cooked meal, or to push the boat out a little more, to allow for most budgets. Also, I agree, you've got to compare like for like when looking at costs.

One of my pet hates are the holiday cottages where you have to clean thoroughly before leaving. I have done it, if required, but it doesn't really feel like a holiday to me. Yes, wash the dishes, empty the bins, and don't leave an awful mess for some poor soul to clean up, but I really don't want to be scrubbing the bathroom and oven, vacuuming, and mopping the floors at the end of the holiday. I prefer a cleaner at the end factored in.

This has made me reflect that what is provided isn't always relative to how expensive and naice or otherwise the holiday let is. At some quite simple places, we've had lovely homebaked cakes, welcome packs of decent wine and local produce, very fully stocked supply cupboard operating on trust, fresh flowers, a homemade welcome card, and cleaners at the end expecting to do the lot. Conversely at some more swanky cottages we've experienced, you're lucky to find a third of a loo roll and two squirts of washing up liquid, and are expected to deep clean at the end for the next renters.

Owners need to make a living, but for some that's the only reason, not wanting to be overly hospitable.

Ballbags · 10/01/2019 15:17

It sounds like a lovely thing to offer guests. There's no harm in offering it, you won't lose money by doing so.

Cook charge about £15-20 for their meals for four which I think is great value for the quality. We happily spend about £500 a month eating out, so you just need to find your target market.

PeridotCricket · 10/01/2019 15:22

We stayed in a gorgeous place in the Lakes, and it was lovely for the night we all arrived - no one had to shop on the way up - they'd asked if any allergies or anything. And left us out a 3 course meal. We just had to bring wine...

There was also a basket with milk, butter, bread etc.

Hairyhat · 10/01/2019 19:51

I don't suppose you're in the Lake District op?

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 19:56

Sorry, could hardly be further away! West Dorset.

OP posts:
Hairyhat · 10/01/2019 19:59

Good luck then Op. I think it's a lovely idea especially if it's optional. I usually go away with my friends for holiday cottages and as previous posters have said it's the personal touches you remember (like home cooked meal offer) and go back for

VenusClapTrap · 10/01/2019 20:10

West Dorset would work for me. Can you post a link or tell us what to search under? You sound like an amazing cook!

CurlyMango · 10/01/2019 20:15

I am a feeder but wouldn’t go with your meal. Not all of us would eat it, we don’t know if it would actually be nice/any good, £10 per head is a lot.....
U

Kezzie200 · 10/01/2019 20:19

Assuming these are booked and paid for items, it would be a great idea to have a list to choose from. As I wouldnt want a meal but I can imagine peopls who would. I would definitely go for things like... Charcuterie platter, wines and fresh bread. An added cake to go with the (i assume) provided tea and coffee. Curry meal with sides.

EggysMom · 10/01/2019 20:28

Offering a meal would not make me more likely to book your accommodation. We would decline the offer, we are all fussy about our food. We plan and bring a meal for the first night.

newmumwithquestions · 10/01/2019 20:39

West Dorset? Can you pop to Hampshire and cater for our wedding?
misses point of thread

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 20:40

We only manage the cottage locally, the owner does all the bookings so this isn't really about getting extra bookings. It's about offering choice/extra facilities.

OP posts:
Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 20:42

Venus have PM'd you.

OP posts:
newmumwithquestions · 10/01/2019 20:45

Seriously though back to your question.

I might not take you up because I’m very particular about meat (has to be free range British). And I find veggy dishes usually need a bit of spice, and then the DC won’t eat them. If you’d source meat for very picky people and keep the cooking low salt then I’d bite your hand off (and expect to pay more - I know how much good ingredients cost!).

If you did that I’d definitely do this as a first night thing... maybe a last night one too (and every night in between if you made me muffins with fresh vanilla in).

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 20:48

newmumwithquestions I've PM'd you too!

OP posts:
Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 20:53

We have fantastic local suppliers; we can walk to collect our free range pork and the rest of our meat comes from here

jurassiccoastfarmshop.co.uk

OP posts:
Artesia · 10/01/2019 20:56

I think it’s a great idea- if it’s a high end holiday rental it would be a great optional extra, and I think the suggested prices sound reasonable for what you offer. We’ve also used a outside caters before when we’ve rented large properties for family christmases (with 20+ family there, there’s a lot of cooking to be done, and it’s great for everyone to have a night off catering!). Given the set up, separate dining room so you aren’t all in one room, I think it works brilliantly. Would be interested in link to your property if you don’t mind PMing me too! Thanks

Artesia · 10/01/2019 20:57

(Am also slightly Hmm about how horrified some posters are about home made cake. I would bite your hand off for it- literally!!)

rebelrosie12 · 10/01/2019 21:02

Haven't read the full thread but one thing we always say we would love is access to a chest freezer stocked with high quality freezer meals... for example the 'cook' meals. Then you don t need to rush out to get shopping etc

Myusername2015 · 10/01/2019 21:27

I’d love a pm with the details of the let. It sounds amazing and a great idea regarding the food

Original poster
VeryFoolishFay · 10/01/2019 21:55

Have PM'd you!

OP posts:
AliBingo · 10/01/2019 22:42

Please could you pm me about the cottage too!