occasion
Party catering
Party catering costs £10 to £20 per head for a delivered cold buffet and £18 to £30 for hot food with staff, for birthdays, christenings, anniversaries and garden parties. The same menu usually costs more per head for 30 guests than for 100, because delivery, set-up and disposables are fixed costs.
What this covers
What it costs. A delivered cold buffet for a party costs £10 to £20 per head. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- A delivered finger buffet for a 50th birthday at home
- Hot curry and rice buffet for 80 at a village hall
- An afternoon buffet after a christening at a church hall
- Garden party food with staff to serve and clear
- An anniversary dinner for 30 in a private room
What is involved
There are three ways to do it. A drop-off buffet is delivered, laid out and left for you to serve and clear. A staffed buffet adds people to serve, replenish and clear away. A food station brings a cook to the party, such as a hog roast, a barbecue, a pizza van or a curry served from chafing dishes. The drop-off is cheapest; the staffed options cost more but take the work off the host.
Birthdays are usually evening or weekend events at home, a hall or a function room, and milestone birthdays often move from a finger buffet to hot food. Christenings are usually lunchtime or afternoon, straight after a church service, with lighter food, tea and cake, and plenty of children to plan for. Both are often held in village or church halls, which have their own rules on outside caterers, kitchen use and finishing times.
The practical check is the venue. Tell the caterer what the hall or house has: fridge space, an oven, tables, and the time you have the room from and to. Ask what they need from you on the day. And tell them about any allergies when you order, because the business must be able to say which of the 14 allergens each dish contains. caterers.trade lists only caterers rated 3 or above, or Pass in Scotland.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask for a price for the whole party, not only per head, and what it includes: delivery, set-up, plates, napkins, staff and clearing away. Ask what time they will arrive and when they will collect their dishes. Ask what they need from the venue, and whether the hall allows outside caterers at all. Ask how they handle allergies and children's food. And ask for their minimum order, because some caterers will not travel for a small party on a Saturday.
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Common questions
How much does it cost to cater a party for 50 people?
A delivered cold buffet for 50 costs roughly £500 to £1,000. A hot buffet with staff to serve and clear is roughly £900 to £1,500. Drinks, crockery hire and a cake are usually extra.
How much food do I need per person for a party buffet?
Caterers usually plan on 8 to 12 finger items per head when the buffet is the main meal, and fewer when it follows a meal or is served late in the evening. A caterer sizes the order for you; tell them the time of day and whether guests will have eaten.
What food is good for a christening?
Christenings are usually lunchtime or afternoon events, so a finger buffet or afternoon tea with sandwiches, savouries and cake is common. Plan for children with plainer food and smaller portions, and ask the caterer to label what contains nuts.
Can I use my own caterer at a village hall?
Most village and church halls allow outside caterers, but check the hire agreement for kitchen use, finishing times and any rules about hot food or bottled gas. Some halls ask to see the caterer's public liability insurance and food hygiene registration.
How far in advance should I book party catering?
For a summer weekend, two to three months ahead is sensible, and longer in June. Smaller drop-off buffets can often be arranged with one or two weeks' notice outside peak dates.