Quick answer
In London, Lebanese and Middle Eastern catering typically costs £25–£45 per person for a buffet or grazing spread, and £45–£80+ per person for premium live-station experiences (shawarma, BBQ, whole roast lamb). Delivered mezze platters start lower; staffed weddings sit at the top of the range. At Awafi Foods our buffets begin at £30 per person (minimum 30 guests), and delivery is charged separately by distance.
Ahlan wa sahlan — welcome. If you are planning a wedding, a corporate lunch or a family celebration, the first question is almost always the same: how much will the food cost per head? It is a fair question, and one that deserves a straight answer rather than a vague “it depends.” After more than 20 years catering Lebanese food across London, we have quoted thousands of events, and the numbers follow clear patterns. This guide breaks down realistic 2026 prices, what actually moves them up or down, and how to get the most generous spread for your budget.
Lebanese catering prices per person in London (2026)
Here is a realistic guide to what you can expect to pay, by service style. These are per-person food prices before delivery, staffing and VAT, and they assume a reasonable group size — the per-head figure almost always falls as guest numbers rise.
| Service style | Typical price / person | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Delivered mezze & canapé platters | £8–£15 per platter (feeds several) | Small gatherings, office lunches |
| Standard buffet | £25–£35 | Parties, receptions, corporate |
| Premium buffet with dessert | £35–£45 | Weddings, milestone events |
| Live BBQ & shawarma stations | £45–£55 | Chef-attended celebrations |
| Whole roast lamb & grand feasts | £55–£80+ | Showpiece weddings |
For a fuller picture of what each style involves, our guide to live shawarma, BBQ and whole roast lamb stations walks through the chef-attended options, and you can browse dishes on the catering menu.
What a Lebanese buffet actually includes
Value is not just the number — it is what lands on the table. A typical Awafi buffet at £30–£35 per person is built to feel abundant, not portioned to the gram. A standard spread usually includes a selection of cold mezze (hummus, moutabal, muhammara, tabbouleh, fattoush), warm pastries (spinach fatayer, cheese sambousek), hot mains such as chicken tawook and lamb kofta, a rice dish, warm Arabic bread, and dips and pickles. Dessert, live cooking and premium proteins move you up the range.
What makes the price go up or down?
Six things move the number more than anything else:
- Guest count. Bigger events lower the per-head cost because kitchens and staff scale efficiently. A 30-guest party and a 250-guest wedding are different economies.
- Service style. Delivered vs. staffed buffet vs. live cooking is the single biggest lever — a chef carving shawarma in front of guests costs more than trays dropped to a table.
- Menu choices. Meat and seafood cost more than vegetarian mezze; a whole roast lamb is a premium centrepiece.
- Day and season. Peak summer Saturdays command more than a midweek date in the quieter months.
- Staffing. Waiters, chefs and carvers add cost but transform the experience for formal events.
- Extras. Cutlery, crockery, linen, equipment hire and delivery distance all sit on top of the food price.
Sample budgets: what different price points buy
£25–£30 per person — a generous cold-and-hot mezze buffet with one main and rice; ideal for relaxed parties and office celebrations. £35–£45 per person — a premium buffet with two mains, a wider mezze selection and dessert; the sweet spot for weddings and milestone birthdays. £50+ per person — chef-attended live stations or a whole roast lamb, where the food becomes the entertainment.
Is Lebanese catering good value compared with other cuisines?
Generally, yes. Because mezze and sharing platters scale so well, the per-head cost tends to fall as numbers rise, and a single Lebanese order naturally covers halal, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free guests without separate menus or suppliers. That inclusivity — explored further in our guide to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free Lebanese catering — often makes it more cost-effective than a plated three-course meal for a mixed crowd.
How to get the best value
Choose a mezze-led buffet (naturally generous and largely vegetarian), keep one showpiece dish rather than three, book midweek if you can, and confirm final numbers early so nothing is over-ordered. A good caterer will build the menu around your budget rather than the other way round — that is exactly how we quote at Awafi. If you would like to see how we work, our story explains the two decades behind the kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
Most caterers set a minimum order or minimum guest count. Ours is a £150 minimum order, and buffet packages start at 30 guests.
Delivery is usually charged separately based on distance from our kitchen, and live-station events include a setup fee for the chef and equipment. We itemise everything clearly in your quote.
As a guide, a standard buffet for 50 guests at £30 per person is around £1,500 before delivery and any staffing; a premium or live-station menu would be higher.
Yes — mezze and sharing platters scale beautifully, so the per-head cost tends to fall as guest numbers rise, making it one of the most cost-effective cuisines for weddings and big parties.
All our food is halal as standard, and vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options are built into the same menu, so a mixed-diet group is covered from one order.
Planning an event? Tell us your date, guest count and budget and we will send a tailored quote.