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The average rating for Bark Caterers is 4.86, based on 377,086 reviews
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based on 377,086 reviews
What should you expect to pay for catering? From buffet costs to five-course chef-inspired menus, our catering price guide has all the answers.
Food is at the heart of all outstanding events. You simply can’t have a top-quality time without it – the succulent dishes, the tasty puddings, and the drink that top it all off. This is the service that the best caterers provide. So, if you’re looking to get this sorted at an upcoming event, you’ll need to start budgeting. Catering can include the following:
Food preparation
Setup of tables
Staffing during the meal
Options for those with dietary requirements
Clean-up at the end
Beautiful cutlery
Putting an extraordinary catering package together is an art – and when it’s done well, you won’t forget it. It can complement a huge range of events, for people of all backgrounds and tastes.
On this page, we’ve given an in-depth price guide for catering costs in the UK. This includes all the options available, as well as how it varies according to your location in the country. Don’t forget that these prices are just a guide. If you want a personalised quotation, speak to a professional caterer near you.
From basic finger food to the finest oysters, the cost of catering very much depends on the type of cuisine you’re looking to serve and to how many guests. What also will affect the cost is if it’s a basic spread or whether your guests need to be fed for the entire day.
A cold buffet is one of the simplest types of catering. It allows people to help themselves, without the worry for the organiser of the food needing to be cooked. Unsurprisingly, this is the least expensive, at around £15 per person. A hot buffet pushes this price up slightly, to £20 per person.
If you’re hosting a business event and looking to provide a ‘breakfast’ (e.g. at a networking event) then it costs around £8 per person. This tends to have a narrower selection of food on offer, in smaller quantities, hence the lower price.
A 3-course meal is on the higher end of the price range. You can expect to pay around £40 per head for this. And once it goes up to a 5-course meal, expect a minimum price of £60 per person. Last but not least, an evening grill sits right in the middle of this range, at roughly £30 per person.
| Type of meal | Average price per person |
| Cold buffet | £15 |
| Hot buffet | £20 |
| Business breakfast | £8 |
| 3-course meal | £40 |
| 5-course meal | £60 |
| Evening grill | £30 |
To derive at a precise estimate, it’s important to consider the multitude of factors that influence catering costs. The venue's kitchen facilities, for instance, can affect the complexity of meal preparation and, subsequently, the final bill. You can see some of the main influences below.
Scroll upwards slightly to see our summary of this subject. Some meals are far more complicated and expensive than others. For example, a small cold buffet will keep your price at the lower end. But if you’re looking for a 5-course meal, with everything heated up, you’d better get your cheque book ready!
If your venue does not have its own kitchen, catering costs could soar as an off-site setup with remote kitchens and equipment rentals can quickly deplete a budget. You should also consider manoeuvrability for the waiters, and ventilation throughout the room. These small details can be very noticeable in a large dining atmosphere.
Each course increases both the time and expense of catering. Hors d’oeuvres and canapes are a lovely touch, but these mini meals add up. The main course, complemented by sides and accoutrements, threads through the budget much like they will the palate of your guests.
From prime-cut steaks to farm-fresh vegetables, the quality of ingredients is palpable on the plate and in your price sheet. If you're opting for organic, locally sourced produce, expect to dig a little deeper. You can sometimes go for an inexpensive option from a cheaper supermarket – but many people think that this contradicts the very point of a catering experience. It’s your decision!
As you would expect, this is one of the most significant factors. When there’s only 10 people being served, your price per head may go up, but the total cost will undoubtedly be lower. Whereas for an event with 200 people, it’s the opposite. Larger events also need more staff, larger ovens, and more experienced chefs. This pushes your price up too.
An industry veteran with a five-star pedigree will command a higher fee than an up-and-coming sous-chef. Expertise is priced accordingly, and for good reason — experience often means less waste, better service, and, most importantly, unforgettable food.
London’s culinary stage may be crowded, but it’s also significantly pricier. On average, catering costs in London can be nearly double that outside the capital. Regional specialties and local providers, however, can balance out the budget if you’re not set on a metropolitan menu.
Some of the less expensive major cities will include Glasgow, Swansea, Doncaster or Blackpool. All these places will see the price per person drop to around £30 (a considerable discount, compared to the national average).
It’s worth considering how far the catering company and their staff must travel to reach your venue. If it’s on their doorstep, your price will hopefully be kept lower.
Daily rates typically include set-up, service, and clean-up, often priced between £200 to £500 per day, per staff member. For chefs or culinary experts, this can increase to around £300 to £600 daily, depending on their experience and the culinary adventures they’re leading.
| Location | Average expected price per person |
| London | £55 |
| South-East England | £50 |
| South-West England | £50 |
| East of England | £40 |
| West Midlands | £40 |
| North-West England | £30 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | £30 |
| Scotland | £30 |
| Wales | £30 |
| Northern Ireland | £25 |
| North-East England | £25 |
Hosting a corporate event is more than just reserving the conference room. It’s about strategizing the spread that nourishes both business relationships and palates. While costs can vary significantly based on company size, the type of corporate event, and location, a ballpark figure for a per-person spend could be £10 to £60 for a day meeting or a networking lunch. Service styles - be it a laid-back buffet or sophisticated plated courses - also play a key role in pricing, with the latter often hovering at the upper end of the scale.
A simple finger-food layout might start at £10 per head, but if you're looking for finer cuisine, expect to allocate upwards of £30. For the main event - think a gala dinner - you could find yourself budgeting between £50 to £150 per person.
When in doubt, a basic spread that has plenty of options for those with any dietary issues is always a safe bet. If you want specialist foods served (such as oysters, lobsters etc.) then this will increase the price of your catering bill.
A wedding is a momentous occasion, and the memory of the meal shared amongst family and friends is one that you're likely to cherish
forever. Couples getting married in 2024 can expect to invest a significant portion of their budget into catering, often the biggest line item after the venue. On average, the happy couple can expect to pay around £2,000 for catering on their big day. (Looking for wedding catering quotes? We'll get you connected.)
For a traditional three-course meal served to your guests at any event, you’ll likely be budgeting £40 to £100+ per head. The ever-popular dinner buffet is a more economical choice, ranging from £15 to £50 per person. Exciting food trends like interactive food stations or themed bars come at an additional cost, usually adding a few pounds to the per-head rate.
The price will also depend on whether you want to serve hot or cold food. A cold buffet is the cheapest option to go for averaging at £10 per head. It will have things such as sandwiches, quiche and salad. A hot buffet requires the catering crew to stay on-site which is more expensive, averaging at £15 per head. It may include dishes such as carved meats, pizza, pasta, curry or roasted vegetables.
Whether it’s a birthday bash or an anniversary celebration, parties are as diverse as the people they celebrate. The cost of catering for a party varies widely, from intimate gatherings to large-scale festivities.
A package deal for all-day catering can streamline your planning and is typically priced at £100 to £225 per person. This includes everything from welcome drinks to a late-night snack, taking the guesswork out of menu planning and providing a per-person cost that’s inclusive of all the bells and whistles.
Smaller parties might see higher per-head rates - as much as £15-20 for a quality spread - while larger guest lists can afford economies of scale, bringing the cost down to around £10 per person for bulk quantities of party favourites. You might also be interested in finding a personal chef instead of a caterer for smaller, more frequent events.
In the UK, you’ll be looking at around £15 to £30 per hour for each staff member, based on the complexity and formality of the event. High-stakes galas with extensive wine pouring and formal service will see greater hourly rates compared to a casual mixer that only requires minimal staffing.
| All-day party catering average price | Number of people |
| £1,500 | 10 |
| £3,000 | 20 |
| £7,500 | 50 |
| £15,000 | 100 |
| £30,000 | 200 |
Balancing the scales of budget and flavour is no easy feat. But a judicious approach and a dash of savvy can whet the appetite without emptying the coffers. Here are some cost-cutting measures:
Jumpstart your planning to benefit from early-bird discounts. Caterers often appreciate the foresight and are more open to negotiating prices well in advance.
Buffets require less labor and are often less expensive than plated meals. It’s a more casual approach that can jive with a laid-back vibe or a stretch-allocation budget.
Beverages can pack a punch in the catering cost. Consider a ‘bring your own bottle’ model or a signature cocktail that’s cost-effective and adds a personal touch.
Even when you’re trying to cut down costs, you shouldn’t go for a low-quality experience. This will leave a bad memory in the mind of all who attend! You get what you pay for – so it’s often best to save up a bit longer, and spend more, if you can.
The average rating for Bark Caterers is 4.86, based on 377,086 reviews
5/5
based on 377,086 reviews
