As the cost of dining out continues to soar, many Brits are seeking ways to enjoy restaurant-quality meals without leaving their homes.

Enter Charlie Bigham, the British food entrepreneur, who has just launched a premium range of ready meals designed to recreate the experience of a brasserie in your own kitchen.

The new “Brasserie” collection is now available in 70 Waitrose stores, offering five gourmet dishes with prices ranging from £16.95 to £29.95.

At the top end, a luxurious beef wellington promises to deliver a fine-dining experience for just under £30.

Aiming to Replicate Restaurant Experiences

Charlie Bigham explained that rising costs in the hospitality industry were the main motivation for the launch.

“Dining out has become expensive,” he said. “We love restaurants, but the bills are getting higher.

People still want that dining-out feeling, but more are happy to recreate it at home.”

The meals are designed to replicate the kind of experience typically reserved for a restaurant table, complete with intricate recipes, hand-prepared components, and attention to detail.

Gourmet Dishes with a Luxurious Touch

Each dish in the Brasserie range is made with high-quality ingredients and carefully crafted recipes:

Beef Wellington (£29.95): Prime beef fillet wrapped in a mushroom duxelles with Pedro Ximénez and chicken liver, dressed with Dijon mustard and thyme, then encased in golden puff pastry.
Venison Bourguignon (£16.95): Wild-caught Scottish venison shoulder, marinated, seared, and slow-cooked in red wine. Served with roasted Borettane onions, Chantenay carrots, chestnut mushrooms, and parmesan-topped mashed potatoes.
Coq au Vin (£16.95): French-trimmed chicken legs braised in red wine and served atop roasted mushrooms, carrots, onions, and bacon with a potato and celeriac dauphinoise.
Salmon Wellington (£19.95): Sushi-grade salmon layered with spinach, capers, and leeks in a white wine velouté, wrapped in mushroom duxelles and puff pastry.
Duck Confit (£16.95): Confit Gressingham duck legs slow-cooked with garlic, thyme, and rosemary, served with lentils, red wine, smoked bacon, caramelised onions, and garlic-parmesan potatoes.

Maintaining Quality Over Cost

Despite the premium pricing, Bigham emphasized that the meals are not for a niche market.

“You don’t have to be in London or wealthy to enjoy this,” he said.

“It’s an accessible way to enjoy restaurant-quality food at home, especially when a meal out might cost twice as much.”

He also stressed that the company has avoided “shrinkflation” or using cheaper ingredients, keeping portion sizes and recipes consistent to maintain quality.

The Perfect Option for Special Occasions

The Brasserie meals are intended not just for everyday indulgence but also for special occasions.

With Christmas and romantic dinners in mind, Bigham hopes shoppers will see them as an elegant alternative to eating out.

Research commissioned by the company found that 86% of couples agree that food is central to a romantic evening, with nearly half preferring to enjoy it at home.

Comparing Premium Ready Meals

For context, a traditional Charlie Bigham beef bourguignon for two costs £10.95, while supermarket competitors offer similar-sized portions ranging from £3.75 at Iceland to £10 at M&S.

This new Brasserie range, however, takes things to a gourmet level, emphasizing show-stopping quality and complex recipes.

Small-Batch Preparation and Expert Endorsements

Every dish is prepared in small batches at Charlie Bigham’s London kitchen.

Miriam Tellis, Waitrose’s head of trading for meal solutions and bakery, said: “We’re thrilled to launch the new Brasserie range.

These restaurant-inspired dishes bring the quality of high-end dining into the comfort of our customers’ homes.”

Charlie Bigham’s Growth Story

Since launching in 1996, Charlie Bigham has expanded to over 60 meals sold exclusively in the UK.

The company employs roughly 700 people and reported a pre-tax profit of £7.7 million last year, with sales up 9% to £144 million.

Bigham also recently released his first cookbook, Supper with Charlie Bigham, further cementing his status as a household name in premium ready meals.

Responding to Changing Consumer Habits

As restaurant and grocery costs rise, more companies are looking for creative ways to bring dining experiences home.

Deliveroo, for instance, has begun offering family-style meals in collaboration with popular UK restaurants, signaling a broader shift toward home dining.

Charlie Bigham’s Brasserie range fits neatly into this trend, giving consumers the choice of a high-quality, indulgent experience without stepping outside their front door.