Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1

How far in advance should I book?

Accepted Answer

Popular dates, particularly summer weekends and the Christmas season, can book up many months in advance. We always recommend getting in touch as early as possible, but if your event is fast approaching, do still contact us as we may have availability.

Question 2

How do I secure a booking?

Accepted Answer

A booking is secured once we have received a 25% deposit. Until then, all quotations and dates remain provisional.

Question 3

When do you need final numbers?

Accepted Answer

Final guest numbers, menu selections and event details must be confirmed at least 10 days before your event.

Question 4

What if my guest numbers change?

Accepted Answer

Final guest numbers must be confirmed 10 days before your event. After this point, we're often able to accommodate additional guests, but unfortunately, we cannot reduce numbers once final confirmation has been received.

Question 5

What types of events do you cater for?

Accepted Answer

We cater for weddings, private celebrations, corporate events, Christmas parties, office lunches, game shoots, charity events and much more.

Question 6

What areas do you cover?

Accepted Answer

We are based in Ipsden, Oxfordshire and cater throughout Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, London and the surrounding counties. We are also happy to travel further afield for larger events.

Question 7

Do you cater at private homes?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. We regularly cater at private homes, gardens, farms, marquees, village halls and venues of all shapes and sizes.

Question 8

Do you have a venue we can use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We host private and corporate events at Nyama HQ in Ipsden for groups of up to 15 guests. We can also recommend a number of trusted venues throughout the region for larger events.

Question 9

Do you cater for large events?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Whether you're catering for 20 guests or several thousand, we have the equipment, experience and team to scale our service accordingly.

Question 10

Do you cater all year round?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. While live-fire cooking is often associated with summer, many of our most popular events take place during the autumn and winter months. We offer a variety of seasonal menus suited to every time of year.

Question 11

How is the food served?

Accepted Answer

Most of our menus are served buffet-style, with guests helping themselves to sides and salads while our chefs serve the freshly cooked meats. We also offer family-style service, where platters and bowls are placed on the tables for guests to share and enjoy together.

Question 12

Do you cater for vegetarians, vegans and dietary requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All of our menus can accommodate vegetarian and vegan guests, and we can cater for most allergies and dietary requirements when advised in advance.

Question 13

Do you provide plates, cutlery and serving staff?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can provide everything from disposable serving ware to china plates, stainless cutlery, waiting staff, chefs and bar staff as part of our catering and drinks packages. Please note that we do not hire out staff on a standalone basis – all staffing is supplied alongside one of our food menus or drinks packages.

Question 14

Do you provide tastings?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We host individual tastings at our depot in Ipsden on selected Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year. Tastings are a great opportunity to sample our food, meet the team and discuss your event in more detail.

Question 15

Do you offer children's pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Children under 10 are generally charged at half price on our food menus, while children under 4 eat free of charge. Some specialist menus may vary, but we'll always confirm this when preparing your quotation.

Question 16

Can I keep any leftover food?

Accepted Answer

While we can't always guarantee there will be leftovers, more often than not there are. At the end of the event, we'll happily dish everything up into takeaway containers for you to enjoy the next day.

Question 17

Can you provide drinks and bar services?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer a range of options including reception drinks packages, DIY drinks packages, cash bars, wet bars and combination bars.

Question 18

Can I supply my own drinks?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely. Our popular DIY drinks packages allow you to supply your own drinks while we provide the staff, glassware, equipment and service.

Question 19

Do you require any indoor space?

Accepted Answer

For most of our buffet-style menus, our outdoor cooking setup and gazebo cover are all we require.

However, if you've chosen one of our family-sharing menus, we will need access to an indoor preparation area, such as a venue kitchen, catering area or separate catering tent alongside your marquee or tipi. This allows our team to assemble and garnish the sharing platters before they are served to your guests.

We will always provide our own outdoor cooking cover for the BBQ and cooking equipment.

Question 20

What happens if it rains?

Accepted Answer

We come prepared for the British weather and provide our own commercial-grade gazebo cover for the cooking area. We've catered hundreds of events in all kinds of conditions and will work with you and your venue to ensure everything runs smoothly, whatever the forecast.

Question 21

Are you able to cater indoors?

Accepted Answer

Yes. While live-fire cooking is at the heart of what we do, many of our menus can be adapted to suit indoor venues and spaces where outdoor cooking isn't practical. We regularly cater in offices, village halls, marquees, barns and other indoor venues throughout the year.

Question 22

Do you need access to electricity?

Accepted Answer

Some of our services, such as mobile bars, pizza ovens, coffee stations and ice cream bars, require access to a standard household power supply. We'll advise on any specific requirements when planning your event.

Question 23

What space do you require?

Accepted Answer

We typically require a minimum space of 3m x 3m for our cooking area and gazebo. Larger events may require additional space depending on guest numbers and the menu selected. If access is restricted or there are any logistical challenges, simply let us know and we'll advise on the best solution.

Question 24

Do you do site visits?

Accepted Answer

For the vast majority of events, a site visit isn't necessary. However, for particularly large, complex or unusual venues we're always happy to arrange one if required.

Question 25

Do you provide public liability insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Nyama Catering carries full public liability insurance and can provide documentation upon request.

Booking & Planning

Events & Locations

Food & Service

Drinks & Extras

Logistics & Setup