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The Best Catering Services in London

A curated selection of the premier catering services in London, evaluated on sustainability, culinary innovation, dietary inclusivity, and operational excellence.

By Emily Smith, Hospitality and local culture writer

Updated |8 min read

The Best Catering Services in London

Sustainability & Social Impact: Caterers holding verified certifications who demonstrate transparent, zero-waste, and hyperlocal sourcing practices were prioritised. This ensures that event menus support regional British economies and minimise environmental impact.

Menu Inclusivity: The evaluation examined how seamlessly providers integrate specific dietary requirements, such as vegan or gluten-free options, into their standard menus, favouring teams that treat these diets as a core culinary focus.

Operational Reliability: The capacity of each catering firm to manage events of varying scales, from intimate private dinners to large corporate conferences, was assessed. Punctuality, professional service, and execution consistency were critical factors in the selection process.

Digital Integration: The overall ordering convenience, client portal functionality, and digital menu customisation options offered by each provider were reviewed, alongside the availability of tools to assist with portion forecasting.

Gastronomic Innovation: Modern culinary trends were analysed to highlight menus featuring global, flavour-forward cuisines and high-quality, wellness-focused ingredients. High-performing caterers must demonstrate creative execution and visually impressive plating.

The culinary experience is a central element of any successful event, leaving a lasting impression on guests whether hosting a corporate conference or a private celebration. Selecting a caterer that combines exceptional gastronomy with sustainable practices and professional service is essential.

To assist in navigating London's catering sector, the capital's premier catering services have been evaluated based on menu innovation, dietary inclusivity, sustainable sourcing, and operational reliability.

The following four catering companies represent the finest culinary talent in London, delivering outstanding, beautifully presented dishes with professional execution.

If you are planning a wedding, you may also be interested in our specialist guide on wedding venues in the area.

How Much Does Catering Cost in London?

Catering services in London typically range from £10 per person for casual street food up to well over £200 per head for premium, fully staffed multi-course dining.

Catering StyleEstimated Cost (Per Person)
Food Truck / Street Food£10 to £20
Canapés / Cocktails£10 to £40
Buffet-Style£15 to £70+
3-Course Sit-Down£25 to £200+

1. GURKIN Catering

Website: gurkincatering.com

Instagram: @Gurkinuk

Business details

Address

Unit X06, Acton Business Centre, School Road, London, NW10 6TD

Contact: 020 8961 1012 | 07961 892186

Hours: Daily: 6:30 am to 5 pm

GURKIN Catering provides a distinctive menu blending Middle Eastern and British culinary traditions, specialising in bespoke, hand-crafted finger food, platters, and deep-filled sandwiches. Operating under the direct supervision of the owner, the team provides highly responsive service. The company uses seasonal, locally sourced UK produce and includes recyclable presentation boxes, plates, and cutlery in its standard packages. While corporate day delegate packages require a minimum of 100 guests, other catering menus offer high flexibility.

Pros

  • +Uses seasonal, local UK produce to reduce environmental footprint
  • +Easily accommodates vegan and gluten-free diets upon request
  • +Standard packages cover delivery, setup, and staffing coordination
  • +Highly flexible menu personalization to suit various client budgets

Cons

  • !Minimum of 100 attendees required for the corporate day delegate package

Customer Reviews

Gurkin did the catering for my birthday party of 40 guests, and they were fantastic from start to finish. I opted for their finger food & salad menu, and Abed adapted it beautifully to make everything wheat-free: he suggested creative, tasty alternatives that matched my preferences. Communication was excellent, which made the planning stress-free. On the big day, the food arrived in good time in cooler boxes. Every dish was amazing - absolutely delicious - lots of praise from guests. I had a fantastic birthday & the food really helped make the party special.

Thank you Abed and the Gurkin Team for providing lunches for our London Meetings. We have been using Grukin Catering for years and they never disappoint . Deep filled sandwiches on a variety of breads with various additions, always with a lovely cut fruit platter. Really tasty and good value. Thank you!

2. Eden Caterers

Business details

Address

199 Hercules Road, London, SE1 7LD

Contact

020 7803 1212

Hours

Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 5 pm

Eden Caterers holds a 3 Star Food Made Good Rating from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA), reflecting high environmental standards. The kitchen operates on renewable biogas, maintaining a zero-waste-to-landfill policy and using electric delivery vans. The company specialises in plant-based, vegetarian, and vegan event catering. To facilitate local ingredient sourcing and minimise food waste, all orders must be finalised by midday on the preceding working day.

Pros

  • +Extensive menu selection focusing primarily on plant-based options
  • +Organic food waste processed to generate renewable biogas
  • +Prioritizes local suppliers to minimize delivery emissions
  • +Uses biodegradable wrapping instead of single-use plastics

Cons

  • !Requires orders to be finalized by midday on the preceding working day
  • !Policy limits liability for unverified automated order confirmations

Customer Reviews

This is simply a very good company to work with if you want efficient service and tasty, healthy, food to serve to your guests. We only gave them a couple of days notice and Eden was able to cater for 150 people with delicious salads and sandwiches, including gluten free bread. I generally don’t do sandwiches at my events, but these were legit. Really happy with how the event catering for lunch on day two turned out.

Thank you for the order yesterday. It was recommended by our other centre that we use Eden Catering for our event, which we did. Our clients liked the food and were happy - which was the whole purpose of the event. Dervla was very helpful when it came to answering my queries and sorted everything with ease!

3. Humdingers

Business details

Address

234-236 Hoxton St, London, N1 5LX

Contact

0207 729 6644

Hours

Daily: 9 am to 7 pm

Humdingers provides custom event catering services across London, preparing all dishes from scratch. Operating as a social enterprise, the company directs its profits to fund the Humdingers Soup Kitchen, which assists the Hoxton community. The team handles events ranging from private parties to corporate launches, providing detailed allergen sheets and dedicated vegan menus. A minimum order of 20 portions per item is required for light bites, and additional delivery fees apply to early morning or late evening bookings.

Pros

  • +Dedicated vegan catering division led by specialist chefs
  • +Highly transparent and flexible pricing to accommodate client budgets
  • +Focuses on providing generous, well-seasoned portion sizes
  • +Efficient delivery coverage across Central London and the M25 boundary

Cons

  • !Minimum order requirement of 20 portions per item for light bites
  • !Additional charges applied for early morning or late evening delivery slots

Customer Reviews

I used Humdingers Catering for a corporate breakfast. The delivery was prompt, beautifully presented and allergen information clearly stated on the packaging. We had very good feedback from the guests on the quality and taste of the food. Thank you!

Great business with a social conscious which is a nice change. I have not tried the catering but the bakery is really great with lovely breads and other products. The staff are really friendly. They also run a soup kitchen 4 nights a week that helps locals. A business that should be supported for this ethos.

4. CANABABES FOOD CO

Business details

Address

Unit 8 Hamlet Industrial Estate, 96 White Post Lane, London, E9 5EN

Contact

07596 864473

Hours

Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5 pm

CANABABES FOOD CO is a Hackney-based boutique catering company delivering vibrant, ethically driven menus. Hired chefs design and prepare dishes using high-quality ingredients sourced from vetted local producers. The team specialises in bespoke menus tailored to individual client preferences and dietary requirements, utilising biodegradable tableware to reduce environmental impact. Travel fees apply for locations outside London, and preliminary menu tastings are subject to charge.

Pros

  • +Meticulously tailors event menus to individual client preferences
  • +Environmentally conscious delivery using biodegradable plate-ware
  • +Seamlessly accommodates complex guest dietary and allergen requests
  • +Can establish mobile pop-up kitchens for remote venues

Cons

  • !Preliminary menu tasting sessions are subject to additional fees
  • !Additional travel surcharges apply for events held outside of London

Customer Reviews

We were really pleased with the catering for our event. The team delivered a fully vegan and gluten-free menu and were very accommodating and flexible throughout the planning process. Communication in the lead-up to the event was clear and responsive, and the pricing was very reasonable for the quality and service provided. We received great feedback from our guests and would happily recommend them.

Canababe’s ran our bar and provided all the catering for a private corporate event last week and surpassed my (already high) expectations. The canapés and bowl food were delicious, the drinks offerings perfect and the serving staff a dream. I didn’t have to worry about any element and Katie was a pleasure to work with every step of the way. Very much looking forward to working with them again!

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