Mcleod 9 Private Dining

Mcleod 9 Private Dining is a new business based in Lancashire that has been created by chef Joe Mcleod and is targeted at customers who appreciate delicious food made with the finest ingredients, and 'brings the experience of fine dining into the comfort of the home'.

Joe has worked as a chef since the age of 14, previously working at Northcote Manor Michelin, The Manor House Michelin, Stanley House Hotel and Spa before becoming Head Chef at George’s Bar & Dining Room in Manchester, which is owned by Ryan Giggs. During his time there, they retained the AA Rosette accolade and served a loyal clientèle of regular patrons – a proud career highlight for Joe.

Like many chefs, Joe hopes one day to open his own restaurant and establishing Mcleod 9 during lockdown felt like the right time to launch his new business venture. It began by offering takeaways of the high-end, high-quality ilk to discerning customers unable to visit restaurants during lockdown but didn’t want to compromise on quality.

The business was launched with three strands: Mcleod 9 Private Dining recreates the restaurant experience in clients’ homes: Joe can come to a customer’s house to prepare and serve a meal – whether for two people or twenty – all tailored to the individual request. Mcleod 9 Cookery School delivers private cookery lessons and Mcleod 9 At Home offers box meals pre-prepared by Joe and delivered to clients across the North West.

It has inevitably been difficult to launch a new business in these uncertain and unpredictable times but Joe is delighted with what they have achieved to date. They have adapted the business to comply with Covid regulations, for example, hosting the cookery courses via Zoom rather than in person, and Joe speaks warmly of his great satisfaction in delivering wonderful meals to clients during a time where everyone needs a pick-me-up. Currently he is still able to provide customers with private dining, for up to groups of six people within the same bubble of a household (as per government guidelines, cooks are classified as workers and therefore permitted to enter peoples’ homes).

Joe currently works alone in the kitchen but could not manage without the support of his partner, Catherine, who assists with every aspect of managing the business. He also has the support of Camille Allcroft who handles his PR and marketing; a crucial aspect to any business start-up. In the future he would like to expand the Mcleod 9 brand, adding more elements to the business portfolio and he aims to achieve industry accolades for the food served in a future restaurant that he plans to establish.

Even when life returns to ‘normal’, Joe is confident that the various strands of his business will continue: the cookery lessons and fine dining cooked in the home will sit nicely with the Mcleod 9 At Home meals and the takeaway offering.

There will always be an appetite for fine food and Joe is a talented chef who has shown he can create a business tailored to a specific demand in the midst of a pandemic, and will continue to evolve to meet demand in the coming months and years as we adapt to living in the so-called ‘new normal.’

For more information, please visit the website: https://www.mcleod9.co.uk/