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Buffet catering
A delivered cold finger buffet costs £8 to £15 per head in the UK and a hot fork buffet £15 to £30, while canapés cost about £7 for three per guest and £18 for ten. Most caterers deliver and lay out a buffet for 20 or more people, and charge extra for staff to serve and clear.
What this covers
What it costs. A cold finger buffet costs £8 to £15 per head delivered and laid out. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- A delivered finger buffet for 40 at an office leaving do
- A hot fork buffet of curry, lasagne and salads for 70
- Canapés handed round at a drinks reception for 100
- A cold buffet laid out at a church hall after a service
- Bowl food and canapés as the whole meal at an evening party
What is involved
A finger buffet is food eaten standing up without a knife: sandwiches and wraps, sausage rolls, quiche, samosas, skewers, dips, fruit and small cakes. It is delivered on platters, laid out and usually left, which makes it the simplest and cheapest way to feed a group. A fork buffet adds hot dishes such as curry, chilli or lasagne kept warm in chafing dishes, with rice, potatoes and salads, eaten from a plate with a fork, and usually needs staff.
Canapés are the other end of the scale: small, one-bite pieces handed round on trays by staff at a drinks reception. Before a meal, three to five per guest is usual; as the whole meal at an evening event, caterers plan on eight to twelve and add bowl food, which is a small portion of a hot dish served in a bowl with a fork. Canapés cost more per head than a buffet because the work is in the making and the handing round.
The practical check is allergens and timing. An open buffet is not covered by Natasha's Law, which applies to food prepacked for direct sale, but the caterer must still be able to tell you which of the 14 allergens each dish contains, and a good one labels the table. Cold food can stand out of the fridge for a single period of up to four hours, so agree a delivery time close to when people will eat. caterers.trade lists only caterers rated 3 or above, or Pass in Scotland.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask how many items per head the menu includes, and whether the caterer thinks it is enough for your timing. Ask what arrives with it: platters, napkins, plates, chafing dishes, serving staff. Ask what time they deliver and when they collect. Ask how dishes are labelled for allergens and what they do for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free guests. For canapés, ask how many staff they bring to hand them round.
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Common questions
How much is a buffet per head?
£8 to £15 per head for a delivered cold finger buffet and £15 to £30 for a hot fork buffet. Staff to serve and clear usually add £2 to £6 per head.
How many finger buffet items per person?
When the buffet is the main meal, caterers usually plan on 8 to 12 items per head. After a meal or late in the evening, five or six is typical. Tell the caterer the time of day so they can size it.
How many canapés per person?
Three to five per guest for a drinks reception before a meal, and eight to twelve, often with bowl food, when canapés are the whole meal. Allow more for a long reception.
What is the difference between a finger buffet and a fork buffet?
A finger buffet is eaten standing, by hand, and is usually cold. A fork buffet includes hot dishes and salads eaten from a plate with a fork, and usually needs seating and staff.
How long can a buffet be left out?
Food safety rules allow cold food out of the fridge for a single period of up to four hours, after which it should be thrown away. Hot food should be kept at 63°C or above, or served within two hours if it drops below that.