Catering a film or TV set

Catering a film or TV set is a different job to catering a party, and the difference is the clock. A production runs to a call sheet, so the food has to land exactly when the schedule allows, from the first coffee before sunrise to a hot meal at the wrap. We cater film and TV productions across Buckinghamshire, London and the home counties, and here is what that actually takes.

Feeding a set from call to wrap

A shoot day is long and the breaks are short. Breakfast needs to be ready before the first setup, lunch has to feed the whole unit inside a tight window, and there is often hot food again at the wrap. We plan the timings around the schedule so nobody waits and nothing holds up the shoot.

The food itself has to do a job. Cast and crew are on their feet for twelve hours or more, so it is hot, substantial and generous, not delicate plates that go cold on a monitor.

We bring the kitchen to location

Locations rarely come with a kitchen, so we bring ours. We set up a gazebo kitchen and cook on site, and our film and production catering travels in a catering van kitted out for exactly this. All we need is level ground, power, water and somewhere to park.

That self-sufficiency is the point. Whether it is a studio lot or a field in the middle of nowhere, we can serve a full hot service without a building.

Crews eat differently, and we plan for it

A unit is a big mixed group, and dietary needs at that scale are not an afterthought. We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and halal diets and label everything clearly, so anyone can eat well without hunting through a buffet.

We handle allergies carefully in the kitchen and on service, and we hold a five-star food hygiene rating with certified staff. On a production that runs for weeks, that consistency matters.

Studios and locations we cover

We work within a 60-mile radius of Leighton Buzzard, which covers the studios and locations across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and London. We have cooked for teams at Pinewood Studios and Netflix, alongside a client list that runs from FIFA to the National Trust.

If your shoot is in that range, on a lot or on location, we can feed it. Tell us the dates and where you are based.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. We bring our own cooking and serving equipment and a catering van, and we set up a gazebo kitchen wherever the shoot is, so a fitted kitchen is not needed. We need level ground, power, water and parking to load in. Tell us about the location and we will plan the setup around it.

Yes. Working to the schedule is the whole job. We plan breakfast, lunch and any wrap meal around your call sheet so the food lands in the breaks and never holds up the shoot. Give us the running order and we build the catering timings to fit it.

We cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free and halal diets and label everything clearly, so a large mixed crew can all eat well. We handle allergies carefully in the kitchen and on service. Share the requirements once and we keep them consistent for the length of the shoot.

What it takes to cater a film or TV set