Cost of buffet

[Allfurcoatandnoknickers]

Is £1,500 a lot for a served buffet for 30 people? My SIL has asked for a contribution - Oop North we wouldn't (well I wouldn't pay) that much for a 90th birthday party - or maybe I'm just a tight arse....
We did my mum's in the local pub and paid about £300 - lol

I do buffets as a side line - mostly funeral teas and birthday/anniversary parties for older people. I charge £8 a head for my basic buffet and £12 for the deluxe (with warmed food eg sausage rolls) the cake would be extra as would drinks which I don't supply due to licensing but I do arrange majestic to deliver sale or return at cost including the glass rental at around £8-10 a bottle of wine.

So even at a bottle of wine each, a lovely custom cake (£80) I'm struggling to get it past £700

At £50 a head I would be booking afternoon tea at a hotel!

If it’s fully staffed, with crockery/table/glass hire that’s not particularly bad tbh.

Sometimes it is worth the extra to have someone to wash everything up at the end and pack away! Especially if she’s recently out of hospital.

£50 a head for a buffet is extortionate, obviously. Especially as there would be no corkage or anything for the wine / whatever.

I can see if she is bringing in marquees / staff / hiring chairs, tables, / getting balloons / a fancy cake etc etc, then it would push the price up a lot........ but would you need to do that in someone's home ??

A caterer (£10, £12 a head) would set it all up for you, including plates, and serve if it were a hot buffet.

The caterers I use for work charges £30 per server

Jesus Christ - north west here and paying £6 a head in a pub for 30 people so £180. Sandwiches and sausage rolls/crisps though so not upmarket

@gogohm

The caterers I use for work charges £30 per server

Per hour?

That is about right. £15 pay, vat, pension, employers NI and small profit

@gogohm

I do buffets as a side line - mostly funeral teas and birthday/anniversary parties for older people. I charge £8 a head for my basic buffet and £12 for the deluxe (with warmed food eg sausage rolls) the cake would be extra as would drinks which I don't supply due to licensing but I do arrange majestic to deliver sale or return at cost including the glass rental at around £8-10 a bottle of wine.

So even at a bottle of wine each, a lovely custom cake (£80) I'm struggling to get it past £700

That’s a good baseline to work from. Do you use staff and charge for crockery, cutlery etc.

My wedding is catered at 75 per head for a 3 course meal, 1/2 bottle wine, champagne for reception and toasting as well as canapés.

It also covers £4 towards buffet food. Im having an evening buffet of traditional Nigerian food priced at £23 (minus the £4).

Just trying to say that’s not far off what I’m paying for a served 3 course meal

Expensive unless it is a private chef coming to your home and cooking and serving it for you. That really does cost £££.

Depends how much alcohol. Food I’d imagine £500 but any booze will add a big chunk!

That’s far to expensive, I’d expect a good buffet to be around £19 per head, I’d just buy your own wine if it’s in your MILs home, that’ll cut the cost considerably.

@Wizzbangfizz

Jesus Christ - north west here and paying £6 a head in a pub for 30 people so £180. Sandwiches and sausage rolls/crisps though so not upmarket

Me too :)

2 people max to set up, serve and clear up - roughy 5hrs? £100 tops for staff then.

Our wedding venue are doing a three course meal (with three options per course) plus three drinks each for that price. £50 a head for a buffet is extortionate!

A caterer local to me does a really nice buffet for £15 a head, more if you want them to set it all up and provide china plates.

No booze though.