How Much Does a Caterer in London Cost Per Person for a Corporate Event? (2026)

Corporate event catering in London typically costs £20 to £180 per person in 2026, excluding drinks and VAT. A buffet or canapé reception runs about £20–£45 per head, bowl food £25–£65, a seated dinner £50–£120 and a fine-dining or gala dinner £70–£180. Service charges and extras can add 20–40%.

Last updated: October 2026 · Photo: The Hammersmith Vault, available to hire on Woolly Mammoth.

Good food shapes how guests remember your event. We compared the prices published by London caterers and event guides. Here's what to budget, what drives the price, and how to keep it under control.

How much does corporate catering cost per person in London?

What this means for you: for 40 guests, bowl food costs roughly £1,000–£2,600 before drinks and extras, and a seated dinner £2,000–£4,800. Pick the service style first: it moves the budget more than the menu does.

How much does catering cost by type of corporate event?

Another way to budget is by the kind of event. These per-head ranges from venues.london's 2026 guide include what each format usually needs:

Source: venues.london, Event catering costs London 2026 (February 2026). These ranges include drinks where noted.

Which catering style should you choose?

Each service style suits a different kind of event. Here's what to expect from the four most common ones.

Buffet (£18–£35 per person)

• What to expect: hot or cold dishes on a shared table; guests serve themselves.
• Works best for: workshops, training days and informal team events.
• The trade-off: the cheapest option with real food, but queues form if the table is too small for the group.
• What to ask: how many serving points will there be for your numbers?

Canapé reception (£18–£45 per person)

• What to expect: small bites served on trays while guests stand and mingle.
• Works best for: launches, networking evenings and drinks after a conference.
• Staffing: about one server for every 25–30 guests (venues.london).
• The trade-off: great for conversation, but not a meal: plan more pieces per person if the event runs over dinner time.
• What to ask: how many pieces per person does the price include?

Bowl food or fork buffet (£25–£65 per person)

• What to expect: small hot dishes, such as risottos, curries or slow-cooked meats, served in bowls that guests eat standing.
• Works best for: offsites, client events and standing dinners.
• Staffing: about one server for every 20–25 guests (venues.london).
• The trade-off: more filling than canapés, but it needs more staff and tableware.
• What to ask: how many bowls per guest, and is crockery included?

Seated dinner (£50–£120 per person)

• What to expect: two or three courses served at the table.
• Works best for: client dinners, leadership events and company celebrations.
• Staffing: about one waiter for every 12–13 guests (Catersoft).
• The trade-off: the most memorable format, but it needs a room with enough tables and a longer evening.
• What to ask: are table linen, plates and glassware included in the price?

What affects the cost of catering in London?

• Service style: it moves the price more than the ingredients. Canapés, bowl food and plated dinners need more staff than a buffet or a drop-off.
• Menu: seafood and premium cuts cost more than seasonal, vegetable-led dishes.
• Guest numbers: the price per head usually falls as numbers rise. One London guide gives the example of £75 per head for 50 guests and £65 for 150.
• Dietary needs: vegan, gluten-free, halal or allergy-safe dishes may need separate preparation.
• Location and date: central London venues and peak dates such as December cost more.
• Staffing: plan for around one server per 12–13 guests for a plated dinner, one per 20–25 for bowl food and one per 25–30 for canapés. Servers cost £15–£30 an hour, or £200–£500 for a full day.

What hidden costs should you budget for?

Service charges (often 10–15%), equipment hire, glassware and corkage can add 20–40% to the headline price per head. Here's how a £50 menu becomes the final bill:

Before comparing quotes, check whether each one includes:

• Staff, service and clean-up (staffing can be 25–40% of a quote)
• Tables, linen, cutlery and glassware
• VAT (20%) and any service charge
• Corkage, if you bring your own drinks (often £10–£20 per bottle of wine)
• Delivery and set-up time

Catering is only part of the event budget. Venue hire, AV, transport and insurance come on top: see what a meeting room costs in London.

How much does catering for 50 guests cost? A worked example

Here's a budget for bowl food at an evening event for 50 guests:

You'd need two or three servers. The range is wide because the menu matters: a vegetarian, seasonal menu sits at the bottom, premium meat and fish at the top.

How do you choose a corporate caterer in London?

• Look for a track record with corporate events, not just weddings
• Ask for sample menus or a tasting
• Confirm they can handle every dietary requirement on your guest list
• Check reviews, food hygiene rating, licences and insurance
• Ask whether they already know your venue (access, kitchen, power)

A venue with its own kitchen makes a caterer's job easier.

What should you ask a caterer before booking?

Menu and dietary needs

• Can we have a tasting, and is it charged?
• How do you label allergens and keep allergy-safe dishes separate?
• What's the deadline for final numbers and dietary requirements?

Pricing

• Does the price per person include staff, equipment, delivery and VAT?
• Is there a service charge, and how much?
• What happens if numbers go up or down?

Logistics

• How long do you need to set up and clear away?
• Do you need a kitchen, or do you bring everything?
• Have you worked at this venue before?

How can you reduce catering costs?

• Choose seasonal produce
• Pick a buffet or sharing-style service to need fewer staff
• Cut a course and focus on quality
• Offer one or two signature drinks instead of an open bar
• Ask for a package price, and for off-peak or repeat-booking discounts

Frequently asked questions

How early should I book a caterer in London?

As soon as your date and guest numbers are fixed. Summer and December are the busiest periods, so plan further ahead for those.

Can I bring my own alcohol?

Many venues allow it but may charge corkage, often £10–£20 per bottle of wine. Always confirm in advance.

Can caterers accommodate specific dietary needs?

Professional caterers can provide vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal and allergy-safe meals. Share numbers early.

Can I use my own caterer at a Woolly Mammoth venue?

It depends on the venue. When you send your enquiry, tick "I want my own catering" or "I require catering" and our booking team will confirm what's possible.

Find a venue for your event

Browse unique venues for hire in London, with prices shown on every venue page.

Sources

• Salters Events, Corporate catering cost London (2026), April 2026: prices including VAT and food only, converted here to excluding VAT
• Humdingers, London corporate catering costs in 2026, July 2026
• venues.london, Event catering costs London 2026, February 2026: prices, extras, staffing ratios and rates
• Heycater, Office catering costs in London: office lunch delivery
• Catersoft, Staffing plans for events: sample plan with one waiter per 12–13 guests for a three-course dinner