Catering for 50, 100 or 200 Guests in Cornwall | What You Need to Know

Catering for Large Groups in Cornwall — What Works at Each Scale

The catering that works for 30 people doesn't necessarily work for 150. The logistics change, the food choices shift, and the way you serve it matters more the bigger you go. Here's how we approach it at Salt Wind Catering, and what you'll want to know before booking.

Up to 50 Guests — Delivered Buffets

Delivered buffet platters are the sweet spot at this scale. Our sandwich platters, savoury platters and hot buffet platters arrive plated, covered and labelled, ready to set out on the table. No staff needed, no cooking equipment at the venue, no fuss.

The delivered minimum is 20 portions, so anywhere from 20 to 50 guests sits comfortably in this format. Add a sharing platter centrepiece and a sweet platter or two for dessert. Works for a birthday party, a wake, a village hall event or a small corporate lunch. Allow six to seven savoury items per person plus dessert as a rough portion guide.

50 to 100 Guests — On-Site Cooking Starts to Make Sense

This is where on-site catering earns its keep. Our hog roast minimum is 50 guests, and 50+ is also the sweet spot for our charcoal BBQ catering. We arrive, set up our 3m by 6m cook gazebo, cook from raw, serve, and pack down. You don't need a kitchen, running water or mains power — we bring everything we need.

Hog roast feeds around 100 from a single pig depending on what else is on the spread. BBQ scales linearly — plan around 300 to 350g of meat per person with sides. Works brilliantly for garden parties, wedding receptions and corporate events at outdoor venues.

100 to 200+ Guests — Two Stations and a Team

At this scale, you need a team that knows what it's doing. Our giant pan paella handles 100+ portions from a single cook, so combining a giant pan with a hog roast gives you two stations running simultaneously and comfortable feeding for 200 guests. For festivals and outdoor events we've catered crowds well beyond 200.

The big things to plan for at 100+ are flow (where guests queue, where they sit, where the cooks set up), timing (when food is ready vs when speeches happen), and dietary spread (a vegan main alongside the meat options rather than a bolt-on). We design the cook plan around your event timing, not the other way round.

Pricing Tiers by Guest Count

Delivered buffets start from around eight pounds per head. On-site BBQ runs from around eighteen pounds per head. Hog roast lands around twelve to fourteen pounds per head once you're at the 50-guest minimum. Giant pan paella sits around twelve pounds per head. Combination cooks (hog roast plus giant pan, for example) work out best value per head at scale because you're getting two cooks for one set-up fee. Check our pricing guide for a full breakdown.

Logistics — What We Bring vs What You Provide

We bring grills, gas, charcoal, pans, prep tables, serving boards, gazebo, fire extinguisher, hand-wash station and all the food and packaging. From the venue we need a flat outdoor patch big enough for our cook gazebo, ideally a 13-amp socket if available (we have our own extension leads and they're under 12 months old), and a parking spot close enough to unload.

We don't supply waiting staff. The food goes out as a buffet or station service. Plates, cutlery and napkins are included unless your venue is providing crockery.

Large Group Catering FAQ

What's the maximum number of guests you can cater?

Over 200 with the right notice and a combined cook plan. Festival jobs have run higher.

Do you need a kitchen on-site?

No. Everything happens outside in our cook gazebo. No power or water needed for the cook itself.

Can you do dietary requirements at scale?

Yes. Vegan, vegetarian and low-gluten options are built into every menu, not bolted on. Tell us numbers and we'll plan portions.

How far ahead should we book?

Eight to twelve weeks for summer Saturdays at the 100+ scale. Shorter notice often works mid-week or out of peak.

Do you offer set-up and pack-down?

Yes — that's the whole point of on-site catering. We're done and gone before the evening starts.

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Get a Quote for Your Large Event

Call us on 01209 206255 or request a free quote. Email [email protected]. We'll give you an honest recommendation based on guest count, venue and budget.