Tray Service
Food That Comes to Your Guests
Tray service — sometimes called butler service — means canapés, bowl food and drinks are carried through the room by our waiting staff and offered directly to guests. Nobody queues, nobody has to leave a conversation, and the host can be sure every guest is fed.
It is the classic service style for drinks receptions, launches, networking events and wedding receptions, and one of the most requested formats for catering in London venues where space is limited.
Canapés, Bowl Food or Both?
Canapés are one- or two-bite pieces, ideal for receptions of an hour or two before dinner. Bowl food is more substantial — small bowls of a complete dish eaten with a fork — and can replace a meal at a standing event.
Many events start with canapés and move to bowl food as the evening goes on. Our team paces service so the food arrives steadily and every corner of the room is covered.
Where Tray Service Works Best
Drinks Receptions
Canapés passed while guests mingle and talk.
Wedding Receptions
Guests are fed while photographs are taken.
Product Launches
Food flows without interrupting presentations.
Networking Events
Guests stay in conversation, not in a queue.
Gallery & Museum Events
Tidy service suited to sensitive spaces.
Rooftop & Terrace Parties
Compact service ideal for smaller footprints.
How Many Canapés Per Guest?
As a guide: four to six canapés per guest for a reception before dinner, eight to ten for a two-hour reception without a meal, and twelve or more — or a mix of canapés and bowl food — when the reception replaces dinner.
We will recommend quantities based on your timings and whether a meal follows.
We provide tray service across London — including the City of London, Westminster, Mayfair, Kensington & Chelsea, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch and Southwark — as well as throughout Greater London and the Home Counties. You may also like our canapé receptions, bowl food parties, canapés and bowl food and staffed catering, or request a proposal for your event.
How Many Servers Does Tray Service Need?
How It Works
From First Conversation to Final Clear-Down
A clear, simple process so you always know what happens next.
01 — Tell Us About Your Event
Share your date, venue, guest numbers, timings and the kind of atmosphere you want to create.
02 — Shape the Menu
We propose a menu built around your brief, budget and guest profile, then refine it with you.
03 — Confirm Dietary Requirements
Allergens, preferences and dietary needs are confirmed in writing well before the day.
04 — Plan the Service
Staffing, equipment, timings and venue access are planned so nothing is left to chance.
05 — Final Details
Final numbers, timings and any last changes are confirmed in the week before your event.
06 — Event Day
Our team arrives, sets up, serves and clears down, leaving the space as we found it.
Tray Service FAQs
It requires more staff, but often less food, so the difference is smaller than many expect. We will compare options in your proposal.
Yes. Welcome drinks and top-ups can be offered by our waiting staff.
Dietary items are passed on marked trays, and staff are briefed to look after specific guests.
Yes. It is often the best choice when there is no room for buffet tables.
Typically one to two hours, depending on whether a meal follows.
Planning a Reception?
- Tell us your timings and guest numbers and we will plan the right mix of canapés and bowl food.
