Read the Kitchen List Twice

Most self-catering cottages promise "a fully equipped kitchen", and most of them mean it — plates, mugs, a kettle, a toaster, a saucepan or two, a drawer of cutlery. What that phrase rarely tells you is whether the knives are sharp, whether the frying pan has a lid that fits, or whether there's a cafetiere hiding at the back of a cupboard. On a coastal break, when half your meals are built around whatever the harbour shop had that morning, those details matter more than you'd think.

Read the inventory line by line, then ask the owner two or three specific questions. Not "is the kitchen well equipped?" but "is there a roasting tin big enough for a chicken, a cafetiere, and a decent cook's knife?" Owners who self-cater themselves tend to answer honestly, and often add a useful tip about the local shops.

Knives, Pans and the Tools Cooks Actually Miss

Cottage knives are the most common complaint, and it's rarely anyone's fault — a good knife left in a rental kitchen doesn't stay good for long. Expect something small, serrated and tired. If you're cooking proper meals, bring your own cook's knife in a blade guard, plus a sharpener. Wrap it in a tea towel and tuck it in the boot.

• A small non-stick frying pan, if you care about eggs
• Scales and a measuring jug, if you plan to bake
• A wooden spoon and a peeler that isn't rusted
• Foil, cling film and resealable bags
• A corkscrew and bottle opener, in case both are missing

Check the hob type, too. Induction hobs are increasingly common in newer conversions and won't work with a pan brought from home unless it's magnetic — a fridge magnet is a quick test before you pack.

Coffee, Tea and the Little Rituals

Coffee is where otherwise well-stocked kitchens fall down. Check whether the cottage has a cafetiere, a filter machine, a pod machine or nothing at all, because each needs entirely different supplies. Filter papers are easy to forget, and cafetiere grind won't do for a moka pot. If your morning depends on a good cup, bring the kit and the coffee.

Tea is similar. A kettle will be there; decent mugs may not be, and the ones in the cupboard are often thimble-sized. If you're particular, pack two of your own. Cottages in hard water areas fur up kettles quickly, so a boil-through and a rinse before the first brew saves a scummy first cup.

Ovens, Hobs and the Roasting Tin Question

Cottage ovens are a law unto themselves: older models, unfamiliar dials, fan or no fan, and no way of knowing what "180" means in practice. An inexpensive oven thermometer takes up almost no space and rescues a Sunday roast. Bring baking parchment if you plan to bake, as trays are often scratched and past their best.

The roasting tin is the classic gap — many kitchens have a small one that fits two potatoes and nothing else. If you've promised the family a roast chicken, a whole fish or a tray of root vegetables, ask first. Oven gloves are frequently missing or scorched through, so take your own pair.

Quayside Kitchens: Cooking What You've Just Bought

Half the pleasure of a quayside break is buying fish straight off the boat, or crab and mussels from a harbour shop, and cooking them that evening. That kind of cooking needs a few things cottages don't always supply.

• A large lidded pot for mussels or crab
• A colander or big sieve for draining and rinsing
• A bowl for shells, plus a bag to bin them
• A lemon squeezer and a fine grater for zest
• A thin-bladed knife for preparing fish
• Kitchen roll, in quantity

Ask the owner where the nearest harbour shop or fishmonger is, and whether there's a barbecue and whether charcoal comes with it. Most are delighted you're buying local.

A Slim Kit of Your Own

You don't need to move your kitchen into the car. A small crate of specifics will do, and it doubles as storage once you've unpacked. Alongside the knife, the thermometer and the coffee kit, add:

• Tea towels — three more than you think you need
• Washing-up liquid, a sponge and a few dishwasher tablets
• Salt, pepper and a small bottle of oil
• Bin bags, kitchen roll and a surface spray
• Reusable shopping bags and lidded containers for beach picnics
• Matches or a lighter for the hob

Buy the fresh things when you arrive — coastal shops, farm stands and harbour counters are part of the holiday. The rest is cheap insurance. A little forward planning means the first evening isn't spent hunting for a bottle opener, and the last morning isn't a scramble for a clean tea towel.