The True Cost of Office Catering in London: A 2026 Guide | arch

Office catering in London typically costs between £10 and £30 per head depending on the service type. Delivered working lunches start at around £10–15 per person. Staffed team meals with hot food range from £18–28 per head. Fully serviced corporate events with canapés and drinks can reach £40–60 per head.

'How much does office catering cost?' is one of the most-searched questions in the corporate catering space — and understandably so. The answer is almost always 'it depends', which is not particularly helpful if you're trying to build a budget.

So here is a clearer breakdown, based on the London market in 2026. We'll cover the main service types, what drives the price up or down, and the hidden costs that often catch people out.

The main service types and their costs

1. Delivered working lunches — £10–16 per head

This is the most common format for regular office catering: food prepared off-site, packaged, and delivered to your office at a set time. Typically sandwiches, salads, wraps, and sweet treats on platters or in individual portions.

At this price point you're paying for freshly made food, reliable delivery, and compostable packaging. The difference between a good and a mediocre caterer at this tier is almost entirely in the quality of the food and the reliability of the delivery.

What affects the price: portion size, ingredient quality, number of dishes, and whether dietary alternatives are included as standard or charged as extras.

2. Staffed team lunches — £18–35 per head

A step up: hot and cold dishes, often buffet-style, with a member of the catering team to set up, serve, and clear away. This is typically used for regular team meals or more significant internal occasions.

The additional cost covers labour, equipment hire (serving dishes, heat lamps, tablecloths), and more complex food preparation. It removes all the organisational burden from the in-house team.

3. Meeting room catering — £8–20 per head

Finger food, sandwiches, pastries, and refreshments for meetings, board sessions, and client visits. The range is wide because the scope varies enormously, from a basic biscuits-and-coffee setup to an elegant spread of seasonal canapés and hot dishes.

For a professional client-facing meeting, budget at the higher end. For an internal working session, the lower end is usually more than adequate.

4. Corporate event catering — £25–60+ per head

Product launches, client receptions, company celebrations, and Christmas parties. This category includes canapé receptions, bowl food, three-course seated dinners, grazing tables, and fully staffed bar and food service.

At this level, you're also paying for event coordination, specialist equipment, and a higher ratio of staff to guests. The price reflects the complexity and the impression you're making on clients and senior stakeholders.

What drives the price up

• Staffed vs delivered: adding a catering team member adds roughly £8–12 per head to the base cost

• Hot food: requires equipment and more complex logistics than cold platters

• Premium ingredients: free-range meat, sustainably caught fish, specialist artisan products

• Short lead times: last-minute orders often carry a premium

• Small order sizes: many caterers have minimum orders and going below them can trigger additional charges

• Equipment hire: if your office doesn't have serving equipment, this will be added to the quote

What drives the price down

• Regular programmes: caterers often offer better rates for weekly or daily clients than for one-off orders

• Longer lead times: booking in advance gives caterers more flexibility to source and plan efficiently

• Larger groups: economies of scale apply: catering for 50 people is usually cheaper per head than catering for 15

• Simpler formats: delivered cold food will always be cheaper than staffed hot service

The hidden costs to watch for

A catering quote can look reasonable until you read the small print. Always check:

• Delivery charges: some caterers include delivery in the per-head price; others add £20-60 depending on location

• Packaging and cutlery: compostable plates, cutlery, and napkins are not usually included as standard. If they are required, factor in approximately £1–2 per head

• Staffing: setup and clearance may be billed separately, particularly for event formats

• Dietary supplements: a small number of caterers charge a premium for vegan or gluten-free alternatives. This is not industry standard, and you should push back on it

• Minimum spends: many caterers require a minimum order value (often £250+) regardless of headcount

• Last-minute fees: same-day or short-notice ordering windows often carry a surcharge

Is office catering worth the cost?

The business case for providing catering is stronger than it has ever been. Research consistently shows that food is one of the most effective levers for encouraging office attendance, with studies suggesting that the majority of workers in the UK say they'd come into the office more often if food was provided.

For a team of 20 in London, a weekly delivered lunch at £15 per head costs roughly £15,000 per year — less than the cost of one month's desk space in a serviced office in the City. Against the value of the culture, collaboration, and attendance that reliable team catering creates, it is rarely difficult to justify.

Getting a quote from arch

At arch, we provide transparent pricing for all our London corporate catering services: delivered lunches, meeting room catering, team meals, and events. No hidden delivery fees, no premium charges for dietary alternatives, and no long-term lock-in contracts.

We're happy to put together a bespoke quote for your team based on headcount, frequency, and format.

Email info@archfood.uk or visit archfood.uk/corporate to get a quote.