The short answer
For a small, casual gathering, doing it yourself can work well. Once you're feeding 30 or more people, or you want hot food, a caterer usually costs less than you'd think and gives you your day back.
At a glance
| Hire a caterer | Do it yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Your time | A phone call and a few decisions | Days of shopping, cooking and clearing |
| Cost | A clear price per head | Ingredients, plus hidden extras |
| Equipment | We bring it | Buy, borrow or hire it |
| Food safety | Handled by trained staff | Your responsibility |
| On the day | You enjoy the event | You're in the kitchen |
The hidden costs of DIY
Ingredients are only part of it. Add serving dishes, chafing dishes for hot food, plates and cutlery, and the cost of food you over-buy. Then add your time: shopping, prep, cooking, serving and washing up.
Food safety
Keeping food at the right temperature for hours is hard at home, especially hot food and anything with meat, fish or dairy. A caterer does this every day.
When DIY makes sense
For a small, casual gathering of family and close friends, cooking yourself can be part of the fun. Keep it simple and mostly cold.
A middle way
If budget is the worry, choose a simple option. Our Essentials Lunch starts at £9.00 per person plus VAT. Or have us do the main food while you add a few dishes of your own. If you only need equipment, our sister company Event Equip hires crockery, glassware and chafing dishes.
