Freelance Relief Chef · Book direct
Relief Chef in Preston, Blackpool, Lytham & St Annes
Experienced, direct-booked chef cover from Chef de Partie to Head Chef — for holidays, sickness, recruitment gaps and events. No agency in between.
How it works
Book an experienced chef directly
Tell Lee the role, dates and hours you need. He’ll confirm availability and a written quote before anything is booked.
Rates
From £25 per hour
Your quote depends on the role level, dates, hours and travel. It is confirmed with you before booking.
Levels of cover
From Chef de Partie to Head Chef
Chef de Partie (CDP)
A reliable pair of hands running a section to your standards and spec.
Sous Chef
Senior support on the pass, running service and keeping the team on track.
Head Chef
Interim kitchen leadership — menus, ordering, rotas and service — while you recruit.
Standards maintained
Food safety, hygiene and allergen procedures followed in line with your kitchen’s systems.
When kitchens call
Cover for the moments that matter
Holiday cover
Keep service running while your team takes their time off.
Sickness & absence
Short-notice help when someone can’t come in — subject to Lee’s availability.
Recruitment gaps
Steady, senior cover between a leaver and your new hire.
Events & busy periods
Extra capacity for functions, weddings, Christmas and summer peaks.
Main areas: Preston, Blackpool, Lytham, St Annes — with wider Lancashire and the North West by arrangement. For longer-term improvements, explore chef consultancy.
Lee direct vs CheckOn
This page is for booking Lee himself
Relief cover here means Lee personally working your shifts, subject to his own availability. If you need several chefs, recurring cover beyond Lee’s diary, or permanent recruitment, use CheckOn — Lee’s separate chef staffing business. Chefs looking for work can join CheckOn too.
Check availability
Send your relief chef request
Include the role, venue, dates and shifts so Lee can confirm his availability and a quote. Nothing is booked until he confirms in writing.
Call 07702 567835 · Email info@chefleeculinary.com
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Arrange a call
Need cover quickly?
Call or email Lee directly, or send the form with the days and times that suit you. Lee will reply to agree a time — a call is only arranged once he confirms it with you.
Relief chef FAQs
How much does a relief chef cost?+
Rates start from £25 per hour. Your quote depends on the role level, dates, hours and travel, and is confirmed with you in writing before anything is booked.
What level of cover can you provide?+
Lee covers every level from Chef de Partie (CDP) through Sous Chef to Head Chef, including running the kitchen while you recruit.
Do I book through an agency?+
No. You book Lee directly as a freelance chef — you speak to the chef who will be in your kitchen.
How quickly can you start?+
It depends on Lee’s existing bookings. Call or send your dates and he’ll confirm whether he can cover them.
Where do you cover?+
Mainly Preston, Blackpool, Lytham and St Annes, with wider Lancashire and the North West by arrangement (travel may affect the quote).