Private Party Catering in Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight Cookery School offers catering for all occasions and all styles of food and dietary requirements. Events they provide for include private clients celebrating a special event, corporate clients who need catering for an event. and cookery courses, delivered online and in-person,

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

To provide a quote that meets the needs of a client, we need the following details: date, event venue (indoor or outdoor), the type of event that they are holding, number of guests, any dietary requirements. A description of the type of food that the client would like would also be helpful. From this information, we can respond with a detailed set of ideas for the menu, choices, what equipment and logistics would be required and staffing needed. We can then provide an estimate of the cost of the event.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

If you are looking for a caterer, I would ask about the different food they can prepare, where they source the key ingredients from, i.e. are they locally sourced? What staffing would be required for the event? What drinks can the caterer supplier, if licensed? Also, ask about the logistics and what help the caterer would require at the event, i.e. kitchen, type of cooker (s), crockery, glassware, cutlery, etc.

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

I started the business originally in 2009 as a ready meals business. Whilst developing the product range, selling the food online and at markets, customers asked regularly me if I could do catering. I started offering catering services in 2010 and the business took off. By 2019, I was doing several events each month. Then the pandemic hit and I did my last event on the 13 March 2019.
When lockdown lifted in the summer of 2021, I restarted the catering business here on the Isle of Wight, starting with Cowes week! By the end of 2021, I had built up a list of satisfied clients, some islanders and the rest visitors who came with families and a reason to celebrate being able to be together for the first time in two years! This year promises to be just as busy with lots of new clients booking ahead for holidays and local events.
I am based on the Isle of Wight but will travel to the mainland to places such as Lymington, New Milton, Brockenhurst and along the south coast but I have to include the cost of ferry and petrol as part of the job.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

I have a lot of booking through this system, and a recent one stands out! We agreed on the menu. The venue was a rental near to where I am based. I checked the location and the facilities in the kitchen. I kept in touch with the client and informed them of the progress and logistics needed for the day. On the day I arrived and set up in the kitchen. Following the clients' timings, the starters were prepared and placed on the table. The freshly cooked main course was served. After the main course was cleared, I prepared the dessert, which was served with a lot of noise and appreciation!
I recommend Add to Event to other suppliers and caterers as often as I can.