TEMPORARY FAMILY COOK / PRIVATE COOK – GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Location: Stinchcombe, near Dursley, Gloucestershire Dates: Friday 7th August – Friday 14 August 2026 Position
Temporary, Live-out Schedule:
Shire & Wold Staffing is seeking an experienced, organised and practical Temporary Family Cook / Private Cook to support a large family group during a one-week summer stay at a private holiday residence in Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire.Providing Breakfast, lunch and dinner as required throughout the assignment.
This is a relaxed, family-focused assignment catering for approximately 18 adults, plus young children, over the opening weekend. Numbers will reduce to approximately 14 adults, plus children, for the remainder of the week.
The family is looking for a confident and capable cook who can take full ownership of menu planning, provisioning and the day-to-day running of the kitchen.
This is not a formal or fine-dining environment. The focus is on delicious, simple and well-prepared family food, served in generous sharing dishes for guests to help themselves.
The position would particularly suit an experienced Family Cook, Private Cook, Chalet Cook or Villa Cook who is comfortable catering for larger family groups and managing a busy kitchen
independently.
Assignment Schedule:
The assignment will finish following dinner and the kitchen reset on Friday 14 August.
Cooking & Menu Planning:
The Family Cook will take responsibility for food provision throughout the assignment.
Duties will include:
· Planning a simple, practical and family-friendly menu for the stay
· Preparing breakfast, lunch and dinner in line with the assignment schedule
· Catering for approximately 14–18 adults, plus young children
· Preparing relaxed family-style food served in generous sharing dishes
· Creating straightforward, crowd-pleasing meals such as curries, chilli, pasta bakes, traybakes and similar family favourites
· Providing vegetarian options for a small number of guests
· Adapting quantities as guest numbers reduce throughout the week
· Planning ahead and preparing elements of meals in advance where practical
· Maintaining excellent food hygiene and kitchen standards
There is no requirement for formal dining, plated service or multiple-course meals.
Babies and younger children will primarily be catered for by their parents, and no specific baby food preparation is required.
Menu Planning, Shopping & Provisioning:
The successful candidate will take full ownership of grocery provisioning for the assignment. The family will settle grocery costs directly where possible or reimburse expenditure against receipts.
Candidates should be:
· Confident catering for larger family groups
· Experienced in menu planning and provisioning
· Comfortable taking full ownership of food provision
· Highly organised and able to plan ahead
· Practical and confident working independently
· Calm and adaptable within a busy family environment
· Comfortable working around babies and young children
· Confident catering for vegetarian dietary requirements
· Experienced in maintaining excellent kitchen and food hygiene standards
· Available for the full assignment from Friday 7th August to Friday 14 August 2026
This is a fantastic temporary summer assignment for a capable and experienced Family Cook who enjoys relaxed family environments and is confident managing the full food provision
