The 4 different types of Catering you need to know about Catering
Where do you need Caterers?
You can find the best Caterers on Bark. Start your search and get free quotes now!
First time looking for a Caterer and not sure where to start? Tell us about your project and we’ll send you a list of Caterers to review. There’s no pressure to hire, so you can compare profiles, read previous reviews and ask for more information before you make your decision.
Best of all - it’s completely free!
Are you organising an event and need a reliable private catering service? Perhaps you’re planning your wedding reception? Tell us what event you’re hosting, plus what food you need and the number of waiting staff required. We’ll find the best catering service near you.
Once we know exactly what catering you’re looking for, we’ll collect quotes from the most relevant catering services that meet your needs. You can then review all quotes by logging into your Bark account, or receive notifications for each new quote that arrives.
We provide you with all necessary information about each service to ensure you make the right decision. This includes customer reviews, seller profiles, and the ability to contact caterers directly. We’ll ensure you find the perfect caterer for your event.
Pinch of Tuscany Ltd, private dining and event
Caviar & Chips
The Cluster Kitchen
Chefs Specials
Peninsula Catering
Kingsmen Street Food
Wisdom's Prep Kitchen
Event Caterer Group Ltd
Chef Karl Tyler Catering and Events
Desire Special Occasions Ltd
The Bo-Ho Catering Co.
Hopper, Coffee House, Bar & Kitchen Sheffield
Dine-at-Home
The Gourmet Sandwich Kitchen
Magic Wand Catering
BigD Catering
Murrays catering services
Cater by Barry Bryson
Punjab Catering
Authentic Chefs ltd
Milnes Gaskell Catering
Fine Dine In
Pregos Street Food
A & J Buffets and Bars
J.T.Fast Cleaning Ltd
Williams&Williams Bespoke Catering
Bedouin Nights & Catering
Simply 2 Delicious
Carters Bakery
Piquant Cuisine
Kilty&Co
Vintage Thyme Catering
Lilybetts Catering Limited
SWAAD PUNJAB DA
Ma Petite Cocotte
The Home cooked catering company
Lenny’s Caribbean
RT Cater, Caterer for Private Events
Yum Junkie
Shoot The Bull Limited
Annikas Apron
The Pickled Fig
Little Vegan
High Class Catering
Choice Cake Creations
That Fish Guy
CAMEO CATERERS
Sugarloaf Catering
The Lunchery
Llwyn Hall Country House
Bluebell Coffee & Kitchen
ISSA
Eat Art Venues
D'vine catering services
Legenddeli ltd
A&J Caterers
Eatstreet Catering
Sheryl Does
Rowditch Kitchens Catering
OceanView Catering
Dine by White
Pro roasts event catering
Munchies Sandwiches
Francescas Catering & Cakes
Mumma G Cookhouse
Todmorden Foods
East Midlands
East of England
North East England
North West England
Northern Ireland
Scotland
Aberdeen City
Aberdeenshire
Angus
Argyll and Bute
Clackmannanshire
Dumfries and Galloway
Dundee City
East Ayrshire
East Dunbartonshire
East Lothian
East Renfrewshire
Edinburgh
Falkirk
Fife
Glasgow City
Highland
Inverclyde
Midlothian
Moray
Na h-Eileanan Siar
North Ayrshire
North Lanarkshire
Orkney Islands
Perth and Kinross
Renfrewshire
Scottish Borders
Shetland Islands
South Ayrshire
South Lanarkshire
Stirling
West Dunbartonshire
West Lothian
South East England
South West England
Wales
Blaenau Gwent
Bridgend County
Caerphilly County
Cardiff
Carmarthenshire
Ceredigion
City and County of Swansea
Conwy County Borough
Denbighshire
Flintshire
Gwynedd
Isle of Anglesey
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough
Monmouthshire
Neath Port Talbot
Newport
Pembrokeshire
Powys
Rhondda Cynon Taf
Torfaen
Vale of Glamorgan
Wrexham
West Midlands
Yorkshire and the Humber
Whether you’re planning a wedding, party, corporate event or special celebration, Bark helps you find talented caterers near you who can deliver delicious food and exceptional service. Share your event details, guest numbers and cuisine preferences, and we’ll match you with professional local catering services across the UK so you can compare profiles, menus, reviews and catering quotes before booking.
Professional catering services can cover a variety of event food requirements, including:
Experienced caterers handle food preparation, delivery and service so you can focus on enjoying your event.
You may want to hire a caterer if you are:
Whether it’s an intimate gathering or a large celebration, the right caterer helps make your event memorable.
When comparing caterers, consider sample menus, experience with similar events and any special dietary requirements. Ask what is included in the service, such as staff, equipment and setup, and clarify total costs.
With Bark you can request multiple catering quotes so you can find the perfect match for your event and budget.
According to data collected by Bark, catering in the UK typically ranges from around £10 to £50+ per head, depending on guest numbers, menu choice and level of service. Bespoke menus or full-service packages usually cost more. Requesting catering quotes UK providers offer will help you compare pricing and options that suit your event.
Yes. Many professional caterers in the UK offer menus tailored to specific dietary needs such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal or allergy-friendly options. Always specify your requirements when requesting quotes.
A full catering service typically includes menu planning, food preparation, delivery, serving staff, table setup and cleanup. Some caterers also provide equipment, linens and tableware. Check with each provider when comparing quotes.
Find out about the 4 most common types of Catering, guaranteed to tantalise the taste buds!
We started as a two person operation mostly catering for our friends and families. These events were mainly birthday parties, engagement parties, christenings and other smaller occasions. It wasn’t long before we began to take on bigger jobs, and hired more staff. After several months, we were catering for events such as weddings, funerals and even formal corporate functions. Today, we’re an experienced team of 12 people, including gourmet chefs, professional waiting staff, and even a mixologist.
One of the biggest challenges is calculating the right amount of food and drink for an event. Food waste can be a problem in the catering industry so it’s crucial that caterers prepare properly to ensure everyone is fed while also minimising waste. This is normally easier to do for sit-down meals with structured courses, but can be a little trickier with party style food such as with buffets and canapés. However, with experience and the right preparation, you can achieve both full bellies and virtually empty bins. Especially if the food is delicious like ours always is!
For us, most of the hard work is done before the day of the event. From ordering only the best quality produce to ensuring all equipment is spotlessly clean, we put the hours in early. As the old adage goes, ‘if you fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. This includes ensuring that any guests with special dietary requirements are prepared for, all staff members are aware of the time schedule, and all food that can be prepared before the event is ready to go. Once that’s all taken care of, we can focus on providing delicious food and a professional service with a smile throughout the duration of the event.
4.87/5.00
based on 400,322 reviews
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Delicious food, friendly staff, Everything we ordered tasted amazing and arrived on time Highly recommend!
23 Feb 2026
Totally professional service and excellent, thoughtful catering that appealed to a discerning and often critical crowd. They also went the extra mile in tidying up after the event. Very highly recommended even amongst some other good operators in the space. Will never use anyone else again.
22 Feb 2026
We had fantastic service from Chef at Home. The team were very flexible and helpful with selecting the menu and agreeing timings for our event. On the night everything went extremely smoothly. Our guests were very happy with the food and it helped to make our event successful. Thank you!
20 Feb 2026
How much does a Caterer cost?
Your expert caterer will be able to advise you on the most suitable menus and service.
What should I look for when choosing a Caterer?
It is important to know the following before deciding on a catering company:
Event Specialists - Many caterers handle certain types of events on a regular basis, such as weddings and corporate events.
Different cuisines - Caterers might specialise in different kinds of cuisine. Some caterers may provide a fine dining experience while others excel at barbecues that suit company picnics.
Special requirements - If you have special requirements for the food or a specific menu in mind make sure your caterer is happy to meet those requirements.
Venue - Your gathering might be taking place at someone’s home, a venue or outdoors. It can be helpful if your caterer has worked at the venue before.
Tastings - Ask for a tasting to make sure the food is of a high standard. Most caterers will prepare one for you at no charge, allowing you to assess the quality of their cooking before you hire them.
How do I check a Catering Company’s credentials?
You could look for caterers with a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree in Professional Cookery and Culinary Arts.
Before you choose a caterer, you could read testimonials and see pictures of their food on their website.
You could also look at their profile page on Bark and read reviews from past customers, too.
