Corporate Catering London: A Case Study in Delivering a Beer and Canape Office Event for Centiva
A beer and canapé office reception for Centiva. Our team served canapés by hand and managed beer, soft drinks and the client’s own wine. It was also the first live outing for our revised canapé menu, and several details changed close to the event.
- Client: Centiva
- Format: Office reception with passed canapés and managed drinks service
- Drinks: Beer and soft drinks supplied by us; wine supplied by the client
- Menu: Revised canapé menu: meat, vegetarian, vegan and seafood options, sweet and savoury
- Notable issues: Late insurance paperwork, wrong glassware, unplanned wine service, corrected address and traffic
What an office drinks reception has to get right
Food and drinks had to work as one service: canapés passed to guests, beer and soft drinks poured, the right glasses for each drink, and the client’s own wine handled on the night. Small gaps in confirmation could easily disrupt the evening.
Drinks Service Adds Pressure Fast
Beer, wine, soft drinks, glassware, and food pairing all need to work together. If one part is missed, the whole experience feels disjointed. For Centiva, we treated drinks and food as one coordinated service environment.
Small Confirmation Gaps Create Big Problems
Corporate events often break on overlooked details, not major failures. Wrong glassware, incomplete beverage confirmation, or unclear venue details can disrupt the entire service flow. We had to adapt fast and keep control under pressure.
Guest Experience Depends on Active Service
Canapés and drinks service only work when guests feel looked after throughout the event. That means movement, attentiveness, and visible service standards from the first pour to the final tray pass.
Centiva: A Corporate Office Event with High Service Expectations
Centiva wanted to improve its office event with a more polished hospitality experience built around premium canapés, beer service, soft drinks, and client-supplied wine. To support that, the event required controlled planning, accurate costing, service staff, and on-site adaptability.
Full Drinks and Canape Service
We curated a canapé and beer menu, served food directly to guests, managed beverage service, and kept guest care active throughout the event.
This created a live hospitality experience rather than a static catering setup.
The result was a more polished office event environment.
Revised Menu Test Run
This event also served as the first live test of our newly revised canapé menu.
That included meat, vegan, vegetarian, and premium seafood-led options across sweet and savoury selections.
The event gave us a real service environment in which to test guest response to the updated menu.
Detailed Cost and Service Planning
The quote had to cover food, beer, soft drinks, and beverage-specific glassware rental.
The team built the costing quickly, and the proposal was then reviewed internally before being sent to the client.
This ensured the pricing stayed accurate and the service scope stayed clear.
Client Communication and Event Coordination
Planning included menu confirmation, contract exchange, food safety documentation, follow-up communication, and final event checks.
Our events team kept communication tight across every stage of the process.
This helped keep the event structured even when problems appeared close to service.
How We Delivered a Controlled Office Hospitality Experience
Delivering a corporate office event with active drinks service and passed canapés requires control across menu planning, documentation, staffing, and on-site response. Here is how we executed from setup through live service.
Outcome
The team served canapés around the room and managed beer, wine and soft drinks throughout. Several details went wrong close to the event, including insurance paperwork arriving just in time, the wrong glassware, unplanned wine service, a corrected address and heavy traffic, and the team adapted to each. The client was happy with the evening.
- Canapés passed, not just laid out Guests were served by the team throughout the event.
- Mixed drinks handled Beer, soft drinks and the client’s wine were managed in one service.
- Revised menu tested live The new canapé menu was used at a real client event for the first time.
Takeaways for buyers planning something similar
By focusing on control and responsiveness, we kept the event stable even when key details shifted close to service time.
- Service Ownership One team handled food, drinks, and guest service rather than splitting responsibility across providers.
- Fast Response Unexpected issues with wine, flutes, insurance timing, and location details were handled without letting the event fall apart.
- Process Improvement The event highlighted where tighter confirmation steps were needed, giving the team stronger systems for future delivery.
What happened in practice
By treating the event as a live service environment rather than a simple catering drop, we kept the operation moving under changing conditions.
- Insurance Documentation Recovered in Time A delayed renewal process created risk before the event, but persistent follow-up secured the required proof just before service.
- Glassware and Wine Gaps Solved Fast When incorrect glassware and an unplanned wine requirement appeared on arrival, the team moved quickly to fill the gap.
- Address and Traffic Issues Managed A corrected street number and heavier-than-expected traffic created additional pressure, but the team still adapted and delivered.
- Learning Applied to Future Process The event reinforced the need for tighter client confirmation and stronger verification of service details before event day.
Checkout Our Other Case Studies
See how we execute conference catering services, brand activations, corporate dining, beverage concepts, and multi-day event delivery across London and international locations.
Planning an Office Event with Drinks and Canapes?
Hosting a client evening or office drinks reception? Send us the date, venue, guest numbers and what drinks you are supplying, or contact our events team.
See our canapé catering in London and corporate event catering.
- Speak with our events team
- Define your food and drinks service requirements
- Put the right structure in place before event day
FAQs
What did our role at the Centiva event cover?
Catering only: a canapé menu, passed canapé service, beer and soft drinks, glassware hire and serving the client’s own wine. The quote covered food, beer, soft drinks and glassware for each drink. Venue, guest list and other parts of the event were outside our remit.
Can you serve wine or other drinks we supply ourselves?
Usually, yes, if it is agreed in advance. Tell us what you are supplying, how much, and whether it needs chilling or specific glasses. At Centiva, wine service was needed unexpectedly on arrival, and the team adapted, but planning it in advance is better.
What went wrong, and what changed afterwards?
Insurance paperwork came through just before service, the glassware was wrong, wine service was unplanned, and a corrected street number plus traffic caused delays. Since then, we confirm drinks, glassware, address and paperwork in writing before the event day.
Which dietary options were on the canapé menu?
The revised menu included meat, vegetarian, vegan and seafood-led canapés, in both sweet and savoury selections. Tell us your guests’ allergies and dietary needs when you enquire so that we can balance the selection and label it clearly.
What paperwork might an office building ask a caterer for?
Many buildings ask for insurance certificates, risk assessments or food safety documents before allowing a caterer in. Ask your building manager early and let us know, so documents can be sent in good time rather than chased on the day.
