PRICE GUIDE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · 2026–2027
Caterer cost in the UK
£15–£100 per head. Typically £40.
Event catering in the UK runs from about £15 a head for a cold buffet to £100 a head for a premium multi-course meal, with £40 a head typical for a three-course dinner. Menu style, guest numbers, staffing and the venue's kitchen set the price.
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HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does a caterer cost in the UK?
| Low end | £15 | a cold buffet for a large group |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £40 | what most people pay |
| High end | £100 | a plated multi-course meal with full service |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the event suppliers near you.
What moves the price
- Menu style — a cold buffet costs a caterer far less to produce than a plated three- or five-course meal
- Guest numbers — catering for a small party carries fixed costs that larger events spread across more heads
- Service staff — waiting staff, chefs on site and a catering manager are often charged by the day on top of the food
- Kitchen at the venue — a field or marquee with no kitchen means the caterer brings ovens, power and water
- Dietary needs — vegan, gluten-free, halal or kosher menus can need separate preparation and cost more
- Crockery and linen hire — china, glassware and tablecloths are a separate line on many catering quotes
WHAT YOU GET
What a caterer booking includes
Takes: Most caterers arrive one to three hours before service and stay until the food has been cleared. Not included: Drinks, waiting staff beyond the agreed number, crockery and linen hire, a marquee kitchen and the venue's corkage or catering fees are often extra.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common caterer jobs
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Caterer near you, with prices shown
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How to pay less
- Choose a buffet or sharing platters instead of a plated meal served by the caterer
- Give the caterer a firm guest number early, so food is not over-ordered
- Hire a venue with a working kitchen so the caterer does not need to bring cooking equipment
Before you book
- Check the caterer is registered with the local council as a food business and ask for the food hygiene rating
- Collect guests' allergies and dietary needs and send them to the caterer in writing
- Ask whether the venue charges a fee for outside caterers or insists on its own
- Confirm what the catering quote includes, from staff and crockery to service charge and VAT
Caterer cost: questions people ask
Usually £15–£100 a head in the UK, with about £40 typical for a three-course meal. Cold buffets sit at the bottom of the range, and premium multi-course dinners with full service sit at the top.
Typically from one to three hours before food is served until everything is cleared. Larger weddings and dinners with plated service take longer.
Yes. Food businesses in the UK must register with their local council, and they are inspected for hygiene. Ask for the food hygiene rating, which councils publish under the Food Standards Agency scheme.
Many caterers can supply drinks and bar staff. If alcohol is sold, the venue or caterer needs the right licence, such as a premises licence or a Temporary Event Notice in England and Wales.
Drinks, extra waiting staff, crockery and linen hire, and venue fees for outside caterers are often listed separately.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, based on published UK catering price guides. They give the national range per head rather than a quote for your event.
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