Christmas Day falls on a Friday this year, which squeezes the party season into a shorter run of working days. Most office celebrations will land somewhere between 10 and 23 December, and the caterers worth booking are already holding dates. If the food is your job this year, here is the order to think in.
Sort the date and format before the menu
The format decides everything else. A drop-in style lunch buffet is perfect for teams who want to celebrate without giving up an evening. An evening spread suits a bigger budget and a later finish. And a cooking workshop can be both the activity and the meal. Once you have picked the format, the menu questions get much easier.
Grazing cups, salads and appetisers for the office party.
Plan dietary needs into the menu, not around it
December is when dietary planning quietly makes or breaks a party. Build the spread so the vegan, halal and gluten-free dishes are just as good as everything else, rather than separate alternatives on the side. It feels like generosity, not management, and nobody spends the party negotiating their plate.
Guests helping themselves at a buffet of dishes from around the world.
Numbers and budget: earlier than feels necessary
Your final numbers do not need to be perfect in November, but a realistic range really helps. Good caterers price from headcount, format and service style, so an honest range now means a clearer quote and a better menu later. Expect to confirm final numbers one to two weeks before the day.
Food being served at an office celebration.
One small thing for January
Worth doing while everyone is feeling festive: book a January team lunch. The post-holiday slump is real, and a date in the diary gives everyone something warm to come back to.
We cater office Christmas parties across London, from lunch buffets to full evening spreads, cooked by chefs from more than 60 nationalities. Your team’s dietary needs are built into the menu from the very start.
