Who We Are
Our Story
Where It All Began
I’m Jo Teague. I founded The Merry Kitchen, a family run business, eight years ago after a career in the events industry. I have exchanged organising galas at the Savoy Hotel and celeb laden parties at the Ministry of Sound for life in the countryside and running my own rural catering business. I’m proud of the result – a professional but informal style, and a pride in seeing our clients celebrate the best of days. The Merry Kitchen began in 2013, catering for small local events and selling deli produce at local artisan markets. But my love of events soon led me to grow the business to one that caters for a huge range of events that have one thing in common – feasting and food to celebrate. We are a family business. My partner Dougal is Head of Bars and all of our 5 children now in their teens and twenties work for us when they can. We work hard and play hard together – as a family.
That is very much our ethos!.
Behind the scenes
Our Kitchen
The Merry Kitchen is run from a commercial kitchen at our home in the village of Chieveley, Berkshire. Our large family kitchen with a timber frame dining area is where we hold our tastings and chat over menus and plans with our clients.
We have a family kitchen garden, and whilst we cannot produce all of the supplies needed for our events, we use our own herbs and edible flowers grown in the raised beds.
We generally do the majority of our prep and cooking in our own kitchens and then bring to site on the day. We just as experienced in working in busy family kitchens whilst prepping for your party, or in a catering tent in the middle of field, getting ready for your wedding.
Easy Entertaining
Let us take care of everything
Bar and drinks service
Our sister company The Merry Bar can supply and run your bar and drinks service from start to finish. If you would like to supply your own drinks then we are happy to serve these for you.
Venue suggestions
we are very happy to serve your feast in your own home or garden, but if you would like to celebrate elsewhere, we have a list of fabulous local venues, from stately homes to rustic barns.
Trusted party suppliers
We work with some of the best in the business – from marquee suppliers, to party planners, to florists and photographers
Equipment hire
We can hire in all the necessary equipment for your party – we will arrange for it to be delivered to site and collected again after the event.
Washing and clearing up
Check!!! All of that sorted!! It’s the last thing you want to think about!
Dietary Requirements
We can cater for all dietary requirements and allergens. We need to be informed of all in advance and can tailor make as necessary.
Canape Feasts
The perfect start to every event; chatting with friends over a glass of fizz and our staff circulating with platters full of fabulous and colourful canapes. Every canape is a flavour explosion and a mouthful of deliciousness.
Celebration Feasts
Designed to feast, share and celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, christenings and everything in-between with friends and family. Huge rustic wooden boards full of slow cooked meats and relishes, served with bowls of hearty veges or fresh salads, all finished off with a generous sprinkle of garden herbs and flowers. Our double stacked berry meringue torte is the perfect celebration feast finale.
Wedding Feasts
Our wedding feasts are designed to celebrate your day and reflect your favourite flavours. Jo personally creates your menu and style of service; whether that be tapas sharing platters for guests to graze on, fabulous feasting boards of slow cooked meats with bowls of salads full of colour and flavour, a hearty Summer tasty barbeque, or a beautiful dessert grazing table. With The Merry Kitchen Wedding feast your guests come together to celebrate and to share the food and the joy.
Feasts at home
The Feast at home menu is perfect for your cosy kitchen supper, relaxed dinner with friends or a long Sunday family lunch. All the dishes are cooked in our kitchen and delivered to yours with full reheating instructions. All you have to do is pour a glass and serve.
Grazing Feasts
Our fabulous grazing boards are a Merry Kitchen favourite. Either available as mini (compostable) boards to share on a picnic, or set up for your celebration on long tables filled with a cracking selection of home cooked sausage rolls, scotch eggs, cured meats, local cheeses, bowls of anti pasti and homemade relishes and topped with a bountiful selection of fruits and veges.
Afternoon Tea Feasts
We keep our fabulous afternoon tea feasts classic with a Merry Kitchen twist. Tasty finger sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls, scones, jam and cream alongside gin and tonic jellies, pannacotta and pomegranate shots and margarita cheesecake bites. We can arrange for your afternoon tea to be served with a full vintage tea set, a beautiful finish to a fabulous tea. We serve our Afternoon teas at any occasion, be it a Summer wedding, a special anniversary or a birthday celebration.
Reviews
What People are Saying
“Amazing.”
“The food was absolutely amazing, we were inundated with compliments about it – and as well as being delicious. It was extremely impressive.”
“Excellent”
“Everything is done with minimum fuss and maximum good humour and the food is unfailingly excellent. She understands the brief and delivers a spot-on result.”
“Outstanding.”
“All the canapes went down an absolute storm. Your products and service are outstanding, we had so many compliments on the food today.”
“Delicious”
“Thank you so much to all of your team, and to you especially, for making our wedding day so incredibly special. We couldn’t have been happier“
Covid – 19 Policy
The Merry Kitchen will work with the event host and venue to ensure all requirements regarding hygiene, food service and social distancing are met.
All staff will take lateral flow tests the day before the event and will only be allowed to work if a negative test is shown.
Staff will be asked if they show any symptoms the day of the event and will be asked not to work if they do.
Staff will wear masks were necessary, dependent upon style/situation of service.
Staff will wash hands regularly and will use anti bac hand sanitiser.
How to contact us
Don’t be shy. Let us know if you have any questions!
Joanna Nicholls – Director
07979696094
The Merry Kitchen
Marymead House
High Street
Chieveley
RG20 8UX