How much does catering cost in London?
Most London caterers refuse to publish prices. We do. Below are Pearl Lemon Catering’s guide prices for event catering across London and the rest of the UK, with minimum guest numbers, minimum spend and staffing rates. All prices are per head, excluding VAT, unless stated otherwise. We are an event caterer, not a delivery service: every price includes menu planning, set-up and presentation.
Lead time: we can turn an event around in as little as 48 hours.
Price per head by service
| Service | From (per head, ex VAT) | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast catering | £18 | 10 guests |
| Working lunch / sandwich & salad | £22 | 10 guests |
| Afternoon tea | £28 | 10 guests |
| Finger buffet | £34 | 15 guests |
| Canapé reception (6 pieces) | £38 | 20 guests |
| Bowl food | £42 | 20 guests |
| Speciality cuisine menus (halal, Persian, Nigerian, Korean and more) | £42 | 20 guests |
| Fork buffet / hot service | £48 | 20 guests |
| Seated fine dining | £85 | 20 guests |
| Grazing & sharing platters | £95 per platter (serves 8–10) | 2 platters |
Minimum spend
- £450 for delivered and set-up catering.
- £1,200 for staffed events.
- Event staff are charged at £28 per hour, four-hour minimum.
What changes the price
- Guest numbers. Per-head costs fall as numbers rise; below the minimums we quote a flat event fee.
- Service style. Drop-off and set-up is the cheapest option; staffed canapé receptions and seated dining cost more because of chefs, waiting staff and equipment.
- Venue. Dry-hire venues with no kitchen need a mobile kitchen build, which adds cost. Approved-caterer venues can also carry a venue fee.
- Menu. Premium proteins, shellfish, speciality certification (halal, kosher) and bespoke dietary menus sit above the guide price.
- Timing. December, early-morning and late-night events carry a surcharge.
How our prices compare in London
Published 2026 London benchmarks put sandwich lunches around £20 per person, finger buffets at £30–40, fork buffets near £60 and fine dining from £85. Premium canapé houses quote up to £129 per person with 20-guest minimums. Our pricing sits deliberately in the upper-middle of that range: above the delivery platforms, below the fine-dining event houses, with the same chefs, service and dietary handling you would expect at the top of the market.
Get an exact quote
Tell us your date, venue, guest numbers and service style and we will send a fixed quote, usually the same working day. Call +44 207 183 3436 or request a quote.
