The Cheflife Podcast

About The Cheflife Podcast

Topic led discussions about life in the kitchen. Featuring chefs and industry champions discussing issues and topics that affect our Cheflife Real talk from the pass. The Cheflife Podcast is an honest, no-nonsense look at life in professional kitchens, hosted by Lee Cooper, Executive Chef at Hintlesham Hall in Suffolk. Behind every plate is a story: the early starts, the long services, the mentors who shaped us, the mistakes that taught us, and the relentless drive to get better. The Cheflife Podcast brings those stories to the front of house. Lee sits down with some of the most respected chefs in the country to talk about how they got where they are, what drives them, and what it really takes to build a career in this industry. Past guests include Carl Newey, Mark Poynton, Adam Simmonds, Deepak Mallya, John Carey and Greig Young of The Bildeston Crown. Alongside the guest conversations, Lee records short, sharp solo episodes on the issues hospitality is facing right now, from rising costs, VAT and the tourist levy to staffing, training and the future of fine dining in the UK. Whether you're a young cook working out your next move, a head chef fighting for your margins, or someone who loves great food and wants to know what goes on behind the kitchen door, this is the podcast for you. Keep grafting. Keep cooking. chefleecooper.com Categories: Arts > Food, and Business > Entrepreneurship Author name: Lee Cooper Website: https://chefleecooper.com (https://chefleecooper.com)

Publisher

Lee Cooper

Category

arts · business

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

3 Dec 2023

Latest episode

24 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Sept 2026

   Stars dont pay the bills

   Stars Don't Pay the Bills Nine Michelin stars, and Simon Rogan says opening more restaurants in Britain doesn't add up. So what hope is there for the rest of us? In this solo episode, Lee Cooper takes on the conversation every kitchen is having right now: rising costs, shrinking margins and the growing pressure on UK hospitality. From National Insurance and energy bills to the proposed tourist levy and the push for a VAT cut, Lee breaks down what's really happening behind the pass. He looks at how the industry's biggest names are adapting, from stadium catering and at-home boxes to restaurants cutting prices to fill seats, and shares his three rules for surviving the squeeze: diversify without diluting, make provenance your argument, and look after your people. Is fine dining in the UK still sustainable, or are we all quietly becoming event caterers to keep the lights on? Have your say: message Lee on Instagram or leave a comment on this episode. 🎙️ The Cheflife Podcast with Lee Cooper 🌐 chefleecooper.com The Teaser!!! Nine Michelin stars, and even Simon Rogan says UK expansion isn't viable. On this week's Cheflife Podcast, I get into rising costs, the tourist tax, and my three rules for keeping great food on the plate when every line on the P&L is pushing back. Bubala - Covent garden (https://thenudge.com/bubala-covent-garden/) Simon Rogan (https://www.mca-insight.com/legislation/simon-rogan-uk-expansion-not-a-viable-proposition/723772.article) VATS the Problem (https://www.vatstheproblem.co.uk/)

2. 

   7 Dec 2025

   Season 2 Episode 3 - Deepak Mallya

   Chef Deepak Mallya recounts his unconventional path into the culinary arts, emphasizing structure and teamwork in professional kitchens, in an interview with host Lee Cooper.

3. 

   10 Nov 2025

   Season 2 Episode 2 - Andrew Turvil

   Author Andrew Turvil discusses his book, *Blood Sweat and Asparagus Spears*, with host Lee Cooper, exploring the transformative UK restaurant scene of the 1990s and its lasting impact on modern culinary practices in this interview.

4. 

   14 Sept 2025

   Season 2 Episode 1 Mark Haywood (Mr Dingley Dell)

   Mark Haywood of Dingley Dell Pork discusses with host Lee Cooper the establishment of a sustainable pork brand, emphasizing taste, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility in this interview.

5. 

   14 Jul 2025

   A little minisode to keep you going

   Host Lee Cooper examines the UK's hospitality sector, noting pub closures and the necessity for sustainability, technology, and adaptation to meet new trends, which allows chefs to reinvent themselves.

6. 

   28 May 2025

   Episode 5 - Mark Poynton

   Chef Mark Poynton recounts his culinary journey from Chester to establishing acclaimed restaurants like Alimentum and Restaurant MJP in an interview with host Lee, revealing the pressures and triumphs of the industry.

7. 

   19 May 2025

   Episode 4 Carl Newey

   New Beginnings with Carl Newey | The Story We All Tell In this episode of The Cheflife Podcast, I’m joined for the first time by Carl Newey — and it won’t be the last. Carl steps in not just as a guest, but as the new co-presenter of the show. We dive into his culinary journey, the highs and lows of life in the kitchen, and his important ambassadorial role with The Burnt Chef Project. Carl opens up about the story so many chefs carry — the unspoken struggles behind the pass — and why it’s time we keep talking about it. This one marks the beginning of a new chapter for the podcast, and you won’t want to miss it.

8. 

   30 Apr 2025

   The Kitchen hierachy

   In this solo episode of Cheflife, host Lee Cooper takes a deep dive into the origins and evolution of kitchen hierarchy—from the rigid structure of Escoffier’s brigade system to the boundary-breaking kitchens of Ferran Adrià, Noma, and Asma Khan. With over two decades in the industry, Lee brings personal stories and hard-earned insight to explore how leadership, structure, and culture have changed in the modern kitchen. Whether you’re a line cook, head chef, or industry vet, this episode challenges you to rethink how your kitchen operates—and who it serves.

9. 

   19 Apr 2025

   Episode 2 The lingo

   Kitchen lingo, What is it? Secret code for chefs

10. 

    10 Jun 2024

    Episode 1 - Jon Fell

    Episode 1 - Jon Fell Cumbrian chef et al, mad on seafood and an allround top guy. We discuss jon and what he is upto now, the top 100 restaurants list, college ( culinary school), Jons 3 must haves in the kitchen and the story that is always told. For details on Cumbria vacancies https://ospreyinns.co.uk/ for any enquires on cheflife podcast cheflifepodcast@icloud.com

11. 

    10 May 2024

    So I’ve finally picked up the microphone

    Up and running and trying to establish what it is I’m doing.

12. 

    3 Dec 2023

    Let’s start doing something

    I really want to start sharing my journey along with colleagues and friends

Who has been a guest on The Cheflife Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Deepak Mallya
• Andrew Turvil
• Mark Haywood
• Mark Poynton

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

18

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

Contact The Cheflife Podcast

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about The Cheflife Podcast