Celebrating 27 years of business in Peterborough

Recently we have been reflecting, grateful for journey from a home garage - where we are today in Peterborough. Chef de la Maison began trading in 1998 when Nathan Higgins aka Chef de la Maison would cook luxury dinner parties in people’s homes. The idea worked well as a part time business but it didn’t afford a full time opportunity. Nathan would freelance in kitchens, pubs and restaurants to make end meet. Later that year Nathan was asked to cater for a wedding in Eye, Peterborough. It was the opportunity which. This changed everything for Chef de la Maison. Nathan’s mum Diane and other friends and family helped serve the event.

After the wedding it was time to make the business a full time occupation. Nathan asked his friend Charis Wedgwood to join forces, Charis was an estate agent and luckily she took a leap of faith and joined Chef de la Maison.

The business moved from Thorpe Road (Nathan’s mums house) to our first commercial kitchen and premises at 11 Winslow Road Netherton Peterborough. This shop became the happiest of homes for Chef de la Maison for a long time!

The location was perfect, nearby Thorpe and Jack Hunt School (Nathan’s schools) and nearby his mums home where he was living at the time. If anyone can remember, Johnson’s Butchers (Richard Johnson) and Johnson’s Country Larder Catering (Gina Johnson). This was the premises they owned and rented to Chef de la Maison.

Even today we drive to our Venue The Grange at Netherton Football Club and it’s a one mile loop from mums house - Winslow Road and to The Grange! We are a Netherton core business at heart and it’s something we are rooted with and its core to our heritage.

We opened various kitchens and a pub in Cambridge (which closed down unfortunately). We have had lots of highs and some challenges too, many many challenges.

Fast forward up to today and Chef de la Maison is a thriving Peterborough company. We have our venue and cafe in Netherton and our commercial kitchens in Fengate Peterborough. Charis said goodbye to Chef de la Maison in May 2024. Charis became a foster parent which we are very proud of her for and also happy to see her so happy after dedicating many years to Chef de la Maison.

Today June 2025 and Chef de la Maison is proudly partnered with The Peterborough Job centre and we have created 4 new full time jobs in the last 12 months and a new work experience program in partnership with them too and also the Peterborough Regional College PARCS restaurant (where Nathan trained as a chef graduated 1997)

The business is Mananged by Emma as Kitchen Manager and Sanjay Operations Manager. With a fantastic team of highly skilled bakers, caterers and hospitality professionals.

When we look back, all we see is happy memories, pride and absolute love for Peterborough, our customers, our team past and present. The opportunities fill us with gratitude and it’s amazing to be creeping up to 30 years established as a Peterborough Company.

Finally, Nathan’s daughter Maija is 18 years old and the next generation of Chef de la Maison has began. Maija managed her first wedding 31st May 2025 at Bedford Hall, the same age Nathan managed his first wedding in Eye. It’s an incredible feeling and this is what makes Chef de la Maison so special. It’s the love of our craft, the love for Peterborough and the absolute love and care for our Team which serves our wonderful loyal customers. It’s a complete full circle of recognition

More to come on this subject, we have some fun Peterborough history stories coming out soon, celebrating some fantastic people and local business in Peterborough

Nathan x