How Much Does Catering Cost in London? A 2026 Guide to Catering Prices
You probably want a useful number rather than “it depends”. Fair enough. But before comparing prices, check what each one includes.
Lunch delivered to your office is a different order from food, equipment, a styled setup and staff staying throughout the event. The guest count might be the same, but you’re asking the caterer to do additional or different jobs. Here’s a starting point, followed by how I’d work out what you actually need.
Catering prices: A quick guide
Published catering guides put simple breakfast around £8–£15 per person, straightforward office catering around £10–£20, and staffed team lunches around £18–£35. These are guide ranges, not fixed prices or like-for-like packages.
| Type of catering | Indicative guide price | Eat Up menu pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Simple breakfast | £8-£15 per person | £5.75-£8.25 per person (platters, pots, and sweets) |
| Delivered lunch / sharing platters | £10-£20 per person | £5.75-£10 per person (platters, hot food, lunchboxes, and selections -- most shared food generously serves 12 persons) |
| Individual lunch boxes | Depends on the meal and inclusions | £69-£89 for five boxes (equivalent to £13.80-£17.80 per meal before delivery or extras) |
| Hot food / staffed team lunch | £18-£35 per person for staffed team lunches | Hot mains £109-£219 per dish, serving around 12. These are food prices, not staffed-service packages. |
| Larger corporate events | £25-£60+ per person; more involved formats can be higher | Priced according to the menu and support required. |
Eat Up prices do not include delivery or any additional service charges (these should be included when working out your total). Browse our menu to know more.
View the Menu & Prices
Start with whether you need delivery or more support
For an office lunch or a relaxed gathering at home, you may be happy to receive the food, put it out and let everyone help themselves. I wouldn’t add more service just because you’re calling it an event. But perhaps you’ll be welcoming clients, giving a presentation or hosting a celebration. In that case, having someone set up or serve may be genuinely useful.
At Eat Up, we offer drop-off and styled setups, with staff available at an additional cost. Serving equipment is supplied for styled setups and collected afterwards.
So ask yourself: what would I otherwise be doing myself? This helps you decide whether the extra service is worth paying for.
But if you need a bit more help deciding, read our guide here: Drop-Off vs Full-Service Catering in London: How Much Support Does Your Event Actually Need?
Then work out what makes up the meal
This is where I would start with the menu. If everyone is coming for lunch, decide what will make up their lunch first. Then add the salads, sides, drinks or something sweet.
It’s easy to keep adding dishes because they look lovely. I’d rather help you choose a few things that work well together, with enough for everyone, than fill the basket without a clear idea of the meal.
A short gathering with light refreshments needs a different order from a team lunch replacing everyone’s main meal. Decide which you’re providing before setting a budget per person.
For help choosing the format, read our guide: Which Catering Style Is Right for Your Corporate Event: Flat Grazing Tables, Sharing Platters, Buffets or Canapés?
How to work out your Eat Up order
With sharing platters, use the serving guidance on each product to build a spread around your guest count. Most of our platters serve around 12, so you can combine the dishes that suit your group.
For lunch boxes, the calculation is more straightforward. Our roasted chicken and greens boxes cost £79 for five. For example, four sets would give you 20 lunches for £316 before delivery or extras. That’s a food subtotal, not a complete event quote.
With either option, work out the complete order first, then divide the total by your guest count. That gives you a more useful per-person figure than comparing individual dishes.
Remember delivery and anything else you need
When comparing caterers, check whether the price also includes serving equipment, setup, staff and collection. For a larger event, ask about VAT and any service charges too.
Think about: What else would I need to pay for to have this ready for my event? You can then compare complete costs rather than headline prices.
Do you need to ask for a quote?
For a straightforward menu order, you can browse our dishes, check prices and quantities, and order online. For something bespoke, or when you need help combining food, setup and staffing, send me your date, venue, guest count and what you need us to handle. Most standard orders require at least 24-48 hours’ notice, subject to availability. Larger or more involved events are worth discussing earlier.
FAQs
How much should I budget for a delivered office lunch?
Around £10–£20 per person is an indicative guide range. Your actual total depends on the menu, quantities, delivery and extras.
Is drop-off cheaper than a staffed event?
For a comparable menu, adding setup, equipment and staff increases the scope and cost. The question is whether that support removes work you would otherwise need to manage.
Can I see Eat Up’s prices without requesting a quote?
Yes. Our online collections show product prices and serving information, so you can begin building your order straight away.
Ready to work out your order?
Browse the menu and choose what suits your group. Or send me the details you have, and I’ll help you work out the food and support you actually need.
Browse our Menu and order online
Make an Enquiry for a customised order or a bespoke event
