Oyster & Raw Bar
Oyster & Raw Bar Catering in London
The Oyster & Raw Bar is one of the most elegant and impactful live station catering options available for events in London. A professional shucking team opens fresh oysters to order throughout the event, presented on ice alongside a selection of dressed seafood, ceviche, prawn cocktail and raw bar accompaniments. At Vlamber, we bring oyster and raw bar catering to corporate events, weddings, brand launches, private celebrations and cocktail receptions across London. It is a statement of quality, a visual centrepiece and one of the most memorable additions to any catering event in the city.
What Is The Oyster & Raw Bar?
The Oyster & Raw Bar is an upscale, mobile catering experience that brings an innovative and entertaining touch to events — a custom menu of fresh oysters, dressed seafood and raw bar selections, shucked and prepared to order in front of guests throughout the event. Sushi Handroll
At its core, the experience is simple: a styled ice bar is set up at your London catering event, stocked with the finest fresh oysters and raw seafood, and a skilled team shucks and prepares each portion to order as guests approach or as servers circulate through the room.
What makes it exceptional is the combination of freshness, presentation and theatre. A raw bar done properly — with great oysters, clean ice, elegant garnishes and a confident team — is one of the most impressive things you can put in a room at a London event.
It works because:
It is visually arresting
a full ice bar with oysters, dressed seafood and styled presentation stops guests in their tracks and draws them in
It communicates freshness and quality
nothing is pre-prepared or held; everything is opened, dressed and served at the moment of service
It creates theatre
watching an experienced shucker open oysters with speed and precision is genuinely compelling
It is a social catalyst
the oyster bar becomes a gathering point; guests who might not otherwise speak to each other find themselves side by side at the bar
It photographs and films beautifully
ice, shellfish, citrus, the action of shucking — all of it creates strong visual content at brand event catering and PR catering in London
It signals serious quality
the presence of a properly run oyster and raw bar at a London catering event tells guests something definitive about the standard of the host
The Oysters — What We Use And Why It Matters
The quality of the oysters is the foundation of the raw bar. At Vlamber, we source fresh, sustainably harvested oysters from trusted British and European suppliers — choosing varieties based on season, availability and the profile of the event.
British oysters we work with:
The most widely available British oyster — farmed along the coasts of Cornwall, Devon, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Plump, briny and with a clean finish. Reliable and impressive year-round.
The original British oyster — flatter, rounder and more complex in flavour than rock oysters. Available September to April (when there is an R in the month). More expensive, more delicate and significantly more impressive for high-end catering events in London.
From the clean, cold waters of Scotland — particularly Loch Fyne and the West Coast. Deeply briny, exceptionally clean finish, and among the finest oysters produced in the UK.
From the sheltered estuaries of Cornwall — sweeter and more mineral than their Scottish counterparts. A strong choice for London catering events where guests appreciate regional British produce.
From the Atlantic coast of Ireland — full-flavoured, deeply briny and robust. Particularly impressive raw.
(available on request) For clients who want the additional prestige of French fine de claire or spéciale oysters at their London catering event, we can source on request. Priced accordingly.
We select the variety based on season, the profile of the event and your preferences. At the proposal stage, we advise on the best available oyster for your event date.
The Full Raw Bar — What We Serve
The Oyster & Raw Bar at a Vlamber London catering event is more than oysters alone. Depending on the package, the bar includes a range of raw and dressed seafood that builds a complete raw bar experience.
Oysters — shucked to order:
- Selection of British rock oysters (standard)
- Native or Scottish oysters (premium options)
- Served with: mignonette dressing, lemon wedges, Tabasco, shallot vinegar
Dressed oysters (available from Option 2 upwards):
- Oyster with cucumber and elderflower mignonette
- Oyster with bloody mary dressing and celery salt
- Oyster with yuzu and micro herb
- Oyster with Oscietra caviar and crème fraîche (premium — Option 4)
Prawn cocktail:
- Classic British prawn cocktail — cold water prawns with Marie Rose sauce, baby gem and smoked paprika, served in individual glasses or on the bar
- King prawn and avocado cocktail with lime and chilli (premium option)
Ceviche:
- Sea bass ceviche with lime, coriander, red onion and chilli (the classic)
- Salmon ceviche with yuzu, cucumber and sesame
- Tuna ceviche with avocado, jalapeño and citrus (Nikkei influence)
Dressed crab:
- Cornish dressed crab on ice with lemon and artisan bread (seasonal — premium option)
Smoked salmon:
- Scottish smoked salmon on ice with capers, cream cheese, dill and rye toasts
Sashimi-grade raw fish (available from Option 3):
- Tuna and salmon sashimi with ponzu and micro herbs
- Yellowtail carpaccio with citrus and olive oil
Raw bar accompaniments throughout:
- Artisan rye bread and crackers
- Lemon wedges, shallot vinegar, Tabasco
- Mignonette dressing (classic and seasonal alternatives)
- Pickled cucumber and dill
- Micro herbs and edible flowers for presentation
The Shucking Team — Skill And Performance At The Bar
Oyster shucking is a skill that takes time to develop properly. Speed, technique, cleanliness and consistency — opening hundreds of oysters across a three-hour catering event in London without losing any of those qualities requires genuine expertise.
At Vlamber, the team working the raw bar at your London catering event are experienced shuckers — not general catering staff handed a knife. They work cleanly, confidently and at pace, and they are comfortable engaging with guests throughout service.
What the shucking team manages:
- Full station setup — ice display, bar styling, seafood arrangement
- Continuous shucking to order throughout the event
- Managing the pace of the bar relative to guest flow and event timing
- Dressing oysters with accompaniments to order
- Engaging with guests — explaining the varieties available, the origin of the oysters and making recommendations
- Maintaining the visual standard of the bar throughout service — replenishing ice, refreshing the display and keeping the station clean
- Managing any remaining shellfish at close of service
Station Setup & Presentation
The Oyster & Raw Bar at a Vlamber London catering event is a fully styled station — one that contributes to the visual impression of the event as well as the food experience.
Standard station setup includes:
- Full ice bar — crushed ice display across the station surface
- Oyster shells arranged on ice
- Styled raw bar display — prawns, ceviche, smoked salmon, accompaniments
- Lemon halves, fresh herbs and edible flowers as garnish
- Mignonette, shallot vinegar, Tabasco and condiments in proper vessels
- Small plates, cocktail forks and napkins for guests
- Artisan rye bread and crackers alongside the bar
Premium station additions (available from Option 3):
- Caviar service alongside the oyster bar
- Champagne or Chablis pairing recommendation card
- Branded or styled station board (on request)
- Linen or natural fibre station covering
What Events Is The Oyster & Raw Bar Ideal For In London?
The oyster and raw bar is one of the strongest additions to cocktail reception catering in London. It gives guests a destination at the bar, elevates the overall food offer and works beautifully alongside tray-served canapés.
A raw bar during the wedding drinks reception is one of the most impressive and memorable catering additions available in London. Guests remember the oysters — the freshness, the shucking, the theatre of the station — long after the evening ends. Works equally well as an evening food station.
At client hospitality evenings, networking receptions and company celebrations in London, the oyster and raw bar signals a level of quality that most corporate catering does not reach. It gives guests something to talk about and creates a genuinely distinctive event food experience.
The raw bar photographs exceptionally well — ice, shellfish, citrus and the action of shucking create strong visual content. At product launches, press events and influencer catering events in London, the oyster bar is one of the most effective visual stations available.
For home receptions, private celebrations and intimate gatherings in London, a raw bar adds an element of elegance and hospitality that immediately elevates the occasion. Even a small station — twelve dozen oysters for thirty guests — transforms the feel of a home reception.
Oysters are one of the great British Christmas foods. A raw bar at a Christmas party catering event in London feels genuinely seasonal, genuinely celebratory and genuinely impressive. The combination of fresh oysters with Champagne is one of the simplest and most effective food and drink pairings at any festive event.
Cold, fresh seafood in the summer heat — few things work better at an outdoor London catering event. The raw bar suits garden parties, rooftop receptions and summer celebrations across the city.
Champagne & Wine Pairing
The oyster and raw bar is one of the few catering stations where the drink is as important as the food. At Vlamber, we can coordinate a drinks pairing alongside the raw bar as part of the overall event catering plan in London.
Classic pairings:
Champagne (brut non-vintage — the definitive pairing for oyster catering in London)
Chablis Premier Cru (mineral, austere, perfectly matched to native oysters)
Muscadet sur Lie (the Loire Valley classic — fresh, clean and precise)
Picpoul de Pinet (the French oyster farmer's choice — light and citrus-led)
Guinness (the unexpected classic — bitter, roasted and surprisingly complementary)
For the wider raw bar:
Albariño (works well with prawn cocktail, ceviche and smoked salmon)
English sparkling wine (increasingly impressive alongside British shellfish)
Premium non-alcoholic alternatives (sparkling elderflower, citrus-led cold pressings)
Drinks packages are quoted separately and can be bundled with any raw bar catering option for London events.
Packages & Pricing
All prices exclude VAT (20%). Travel, setup, ice and equipment fees may apply depending on location. Minimum guest numbers apply. Oyster prices are subject to seasonal variation — confirmed at the proposal stage.
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OPTION 1 — "Classic Oyster Bar" From £18 pp | Min. 25 guests | 2 hours | Oysters only
A clean, well-presented oyster bar for London catering events where simplicity and quality are the priority. Fresh oysters shucked to order, properly presented on ice with classic accompaniments.
Includes:
- Selection of fresh British rock oysters (approximately 3–4 per person)
- Professional shucker for 2 hours
- Mignonette dressing, shallot vinegar, lemon, Tabasco
Crushed ice display
- Small plates and cocktail forks
- Station setup and clear-down
✅ Shellfish allergen clearly communicated at the station -
OPTION 2 — "Oyster & Prawn Bar" From £26 pp | Min. 30 guests | 2–3 hours | Oysters + prawn cocktail + smoked salmon
A broader raw bar that combines fresh oysters with classic British seafood — prawn cocktail and Scottish smoked salmon — for a more complete raw bar catering experience at London events.
Includes:
- Selection of fresh British rock oysters (approximately 3 per person)
- Classic prawn cocktail in individual glasses with Marie Rose sauce, baby gem and smoked paprika
- Scottish smoked salmon on ice with capers, cream cheese, dill and rye toasts
- Professional shucker and bar team for - up to 3 hours
- Mignonette, lemon, Tabasco, shallot vinegar
Artisan rye bread and crackers
- Styled ice bar presentation
- Station setup and clear-down
✅ Allergens clearly communicated | ✅ Non-shellfish options at the bar -
OPTION 3 — "Vlamber Signature Raw Bar" From £38 pp | Min. 40 guests | 3 hours | Full raw bar experience
The most complete raw bar catering station for London events under our standard range. Fresh oysters, dressed options, ceviche, prawn cocktail, smoked salmon and sashimi — a genuinely impressive display that operates as a premium centrepiece at any reception.
Includes:
- Selection of British oysters (rock and native mix — approximately 4 per person)
- 1 dressed oyster option per person (e.g. cucumber elderflower mignonette or bloody mary)
- Classic prawn cocktail in individual glasses - King prawn and avocado cocktail with lime and chilli (1 per person)
- Sea bass ceviche with lime, coriander and chilli (in spoons or glasses)
- Scottish smoked salmon with capers, cream cheese, dill and rye
- Tuna and salmon sashimi with ponzu and micro herbs
- Cornish dressed crab (seasonal — confirmed at proposal stage)
- Full styled ice bar with garnishes, edible flowers and presentation herbs
- Artisan rye bread, crackers, condiments
- Professional shucking team for 3 hours
- Station setup and clear-down
✅ All allergens managed and communicated | ✅ Full styled presentation -
OPTION 4 — "Grand Raw Bar" From £55 pp | Min. 50 guests | Up to 4 hours | Premium full raw bar + caviar corner
The most prestigious raw bar and oyster catering experience available at Vlamber for London events. Premium British and native oysters, a caviar service alongside the bar, the full raw bar selection and a styled presentation that operates as the visual centrepiece of the reception.
Includes:
- Premium British native oysters and Scottish rock oysters (mix — approximately 5 per person)
- Dressed oyster selection (3 varieties — classic mignonette, yuzu and micro herb, Oscietra caviar and crème fraîche)
- Oscietra caviar service alongside the bar — blinis, crème fraîche, dill (2 per person)
- Classic prawn cocktail in individual glasses
- King prawn and avocado cocktail with lime and chilli
- Sea bass ceviche with lime, coriander, red onion and chilli
- Salmon ceviche with yuzu, cucumber and sesame
- Tuna tartare with avocado and jalapeño in individual spoons
- Scottish smoked salmon with capers, cream cheese and dill
- Cornish dressed crab with lemon and artisan bread (seasonal)
- Tuna and yellowtail sashimi with ponzu and micro herbs
- Full premium styled ice bar — crushed ice, edible flowers, citrus, herbs -Champagne pairing coordination (Champagne quoted separately)
- Professional shucking team and raw bar team for up to 4 hours
- Station setup and clear-down
✅ Full dietary and allergen management | ✅ Premium sourcing | ✅ Complete event coordination
Package Summary — Quick Reference
Option | Price | Guests | Duration | Includes | Best for |
1 — Classic Oyster Bar | £18 pp | 25+ | 2 hours | Oysters only | Receptions, corporate events |
2 — Oyster & Prawn Bar | £26 pp | 30+ | 2–3 hours | Oysters + prawns + salmon | Weddings, client hospitality |
3 — Vlamber Signature Raw Bar | £38 pp | 40+ | 3 hours | Full raw bar | Premium events, brand launches |
4 — Grand Raw Bar | £55 pp | 50+ | Up to 4 hours | Full raw bar + caviar | VIP events, prestige weddings |
All prices exclude VAT (20%). Seasonal price variation applies to oysters and premium seafood. Minimum guest numbers are indicative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. It works as a standalone live station alongside any other caterer's service, or as part of a Vlamber catering package for London events.
We source oysters delivered on the day of the event wherever possible — or the morning of, with correct cold-chain storage. Freshness is non-negotiable for raw bar catering.
Any remaining live oysters can be kept by the client with proper storage guidance, or disposed of responsibly by our team.
Yes. Our team is experienced at introducing guests to oysters — explaining the varieties, the flavour profiles and the best way to eat them. Many guests try their first oyster at a raw bar catering event in London and go back for more.
A standard raw bar requires approximately 2–3 metres of working surface plus guest access space. We advise on exact space requirements at the venue assessment stage.
Yes — with appropriate temperature management for the seafood. We assess outdoor setups individually and ensure cold chain is maintained throughout.
Yes. The smoked salmon, ceviche and sashimi elements of the wider raw bar provide options for guests who do not eat oysters or shellfish. We brief our team on dietary considerations and ensure all guests are catered for.
Yes. The raw bar combines particularly well with the Jamón Ibérico Carving Experience, the Caviar & Champagne Corner and the Sushi & Sashimi Bar to create a full multi-station live catering setup at London events.
Add The Oyster & Raw Bar To Your London Event
The Oyster & Raw Bar is available as a standalone live catering station for London events or as part of a wider Vlamber catering package. It is one of the most elegantly presented, freshest and most memorable live stations we offer.
Tell us your event date, location in London, guest numbers, event format and any dietary requirements and we will confirm availability, advise on the best oyster variety for your event date and send a proposal.