I’m Phil, and food has always been central to my life
What started as a curiosity in the kitchen at a young age turned into a career that’s taken me through some of the UK’s most demanding and rewarding kitchens.
Over the past two decades, I’ve worked across fine dining restaurants, hotels, and large-scale events—learning not just how to cook, but how to create memorable experiences around food. Early in my career, I trained under a Michelin-starred chef, where I developed
a deep respect for seasonality, precision, and letting great ingredients speak for themselves.
Today, I’m based in Sussex, working independently to bring that same level of care and attention to more personal settings—whether that’s an intimate dinner at home, a wedding celebration, or a relaxed supper club. My approach is simple: thoughtful food, cooked well, and shared in good company.
I work across a range of events, each one designed to feel personal and effortless for you and your guests.
If you have something different in mind, I’m always open to ideas
Private Dining
Relaxed or formal, I’ll design and cook a menu tailored to your space—whether it’s a special occasion or simply a great night in with friends.
Weddings
From intimate gatherings to larger celebrations, I work closely with couples (and venues) to create food that feels generous, seasonal, and completely in tune with the day.
Supper Clubs & Events
I regularly collaborate with venues such as Lordington Park to host supper clubs and one-off events—bringing people together over thoughtful, seasonal menus.
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“Phil was absolutely fantastic to work with from the first planning stages through to the delivery of our wedding day! Having a great meal was one of our top priorities and Phil exceeded our expectations by a mile. The food was absolutely spectacular, all our guests loved it, clean plates all round – even from some of our historically pickier guests 😊. We really appreciated Phil’s creativity, and his genuine enthusiasm for cooking shone through the entire menu and approach. We would absolutely recommend Phil and the team for any special celebration”
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“We were absolutely thrilled with the catering provided by Philip Mesquitta for my husbands 80th Birthday celebration.
The food was simply outstanding – beautifully presented, absolutely delicious, and prepared to an exceptionally high standard. Philip’s attention to detail professionalism and care really shone through, and he helped make the whole occasion feel incredibly special.
Our guests were full of praise for the food and service, and there were so many lovely comments throughout the day. It was exactly what we had hoped for and more.
A huge thank you to Philip for helping to make such an important milestone birthday so memorable. We couldn’t recommend him highly enough – truly outstanding from start to finish.”
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“What can I say …… thank you so very much for catering our wedding at Lordington on Saturday. We had the most perfect day in every respect with the crowning glory being the amazing grazing table that you provided in the evening. It far surpassed our expectations. That said, the delicious canapés and main meal were all superb and lots of people were asking who had done the catering!! I know you put many many hours of work into the event; please know it was all very much appreciated.
Thank you and very best wishes for your future.” -
“Chef Phil: creative, innovative and meticulous attention to detail in the presentation of beautiful original from his hors d’oeuvres, main courses, sweets and delights in between. His especially wonderful tasting menu supper evenings, that I have attended when he does his residency tasting menus at Lordington park in the beautiful south downs national park are a wonderful indulgence of new tastes and dining experiences. A Michelin star in the making and a privilege to be experiencing his catering now before he reaches the heights of the appointment he deserves.
I loved the experiences of Chef Phils skills so much, I asked him to cater for my 60th birthday party of 60 family and friends. He provided a faultless birthday party menu, of which I gave full trust with only a theme request, and he was worth every penny for the accolade of praise for his food for my birthday, where friends and family still a year later state how fabulous the food was for my party. I would have no hesitation in recommending chef Phil for anyone’s dinner, birthday or private catering requirements.”
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“We couldn’t have asked for better catering. From start to finish, the service felt genuinely friendly and completely bespoke, with real attention paid to what we wanted. The food was of an exceptionally high standard, and the buffet offered a fantastic variety, thoughtfully including vegan, glute-free and dairy-free options so everyone felt catered for.
Everything looked stunning on display truly a feast for both the eyes and the appetite. The menu was packed with delicious, plentiful options, with highlights including homemade bites like pork, apple and sage lattice sausage rolls, delicate asparagus quiche and brioche strawberry sandwiches. The king prawn buns with dill and lemon fraiche were a standout, alongside a beautifully curate charcuterie selection, cheeses and artisan crackers.
Desserts were just as impressive, with indulgent chocolate marquise tart, mini exotic Eton mess, and mini buttermilk scones served with clotted cream and strawberry compote, each one beautifully made and full of flavour.
The presentation was elegant and inviting, and the team delivered everything with professionalism and discreet attentiveness, ensuring guests were looked after without ever feeling interrupted. It was an end-of-an-ear occasion for us and this catering truly made it feel as special and memorable as it deserved to be. the fact she was short didn’t even matter.”
If you’re planning an event, or just want to explore an idea, I’d love to hear from you.
Fill in the form with your name and email address as well as a short message with your date, location, number of guests etc, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.