FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Everything you need to know before we fire things up.

Guest Numbers, Children & Planning
When do you need my final guest count?
We need your final numbers 10 days before your event. After this point, you can still add guests if needed — but you can’t reduce the number.

What happens if my guest count changes last-minute?
Additions are fine (as long as we have time to prep), but reductions after the 10-day mark aren’t possible.

How much do children pay?
Kids under 10 eat for half price, and toddlers under 4 eat for free.

Do you have a minimum number?
There’s no strict minimum — we cater everything from small family gatherings to large corporate events.
However, some peak-season dates do carry a minimum spend, simply to make the event viable for us. We’ll confirm this once we know your date, menu and location.

Food, Cooking & Service Style
Do you cook everything from raw on-site?
Most of our menus are cooked fresh on site over live fire — the proper Nyama way.
Some menus can also be cooked beforehand and transported safely in commercial hot-holding containers that keep everything piping hot and food-safe. We'll advise based on your chosen menu.

How long does the cooking take?
Whole Hog (up to 55kg): 5–6 hours
Whole Lamb (up to 20kg): 2–3 hours (gas) / 4–5 hours (wood fire)
BBQ menus: around 4 hours from lighting the fire to serving

How is the food served?
Standard service is Buffet Style — guests help themselves to sides and salads, and our chefs carve and serve the meats.
You can also upgrade to Family-Style / Table-Top Sharing, which is very popular at weddings. This requires extra staff and equipment, so an additional charge applies.

Do you cater for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes — all buffet menus include proper vegetarian and vegan alternatives, at no extra charge.

Do you cater for allergies?
We can accommodate most of the common, straightforward allergies with advance notice.
However, due to open-fire cooking and outdoor setups, we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment — and some complex allergies may not be possible to cater for.
We’ll always advise honestly based on your menu and your guests’ needs.

What about leftovers?
We always bring leftover boxes. If there’s food left (and let’s face it, there usually is), we’re more than happy to leave it with you. Perfect for next-day breakfast.

Do you bring tables for the buffet?
Yes — we bring one wooden trestle table per 50 guests, dressed with our rustic hessian cloths.
For larger menus, we’ll bring additional tables so everything looks great and flows smoothly.

Do you need electricity?
Most menus need access to a standard 220V household socket.
Because requirements vary per menu, we’ll confirm your exact power needs once we’ve planned your event.
If power is limited, just let us know — we’ll do our best to make a plan.

What if it rains?
No stress — we bring our own commercial gazebos:

Up to 100 guests: 3m × 3m
Larger events: 6m × 3m
We’re fully weather-ready.

Do you cook outdoors but serve indoors?
Yes — all cooking happens outdoors, but serving indoors (buffet or family-sharing) is absolutely fine.

Do you need directions?
A postcode and street number usually covers it.
If your venue is tucked away or famously tricky to find, please give us a heads-up.

🚚 Travel, Site Visits & Logistics
Do you offer site visits?
For most events, a site visit isn’t necessary — our setup works almost anywhere.
For very large events or venues with awkward access, we can arrange a site visit for an additional fee.

How far do you travel?
We’re based near Wallingford (OX10 6AS), but we regularly travel all over the UK — Devon, Cornwall, Kent, Wales, Yorkshire… you name it.
Travel costs are calculated based on distance, numbers and menu.

What time do you arrive?
Generally 3–6 hours before service, depending on your menu and setup.

How long do you serve for?
We serve until everyone’s had more than enough — typically around 1 hour.

🍽️ Crockery, Clearing & Equipment
Do you clear plates?
If we’re supplying the plates, then yes — our chefs will clear them as part of the service.
If you’re supplying your own crockery, you’ll need your own clearing team (or you’re welcome to hire additional Nyama staff to handle it for you).
It just keeps things smooth, organised and avoids a mountain of dishes no one wants to tackle.

Do you provide crockery or table linen?
We supply hessian cloths for our buffet tables.
For guest table linen, we can recommend suppliers we trust.

What about tight access?
If access is less than 80cm, please let us know — we’ll bring our collapsible BBQ units.

💳 Payment, Deposits & Booking
How does payment work?
A 25% deposit secures your booking.
The balance is due 24 hours before the event via card or bank transfer.
We don’t accept cheques.

What is the booking process?
Once you choose your menu and confirm your date, we’ll send a booking form and invoice.
Your date is locked in as soon as the deposit is paid.

🍾 Bars, Drinks & Extras
Do you provide bar services?
Yes — we offer:

Cash / Dry Bars
Wet Bars (all-paid-for)
DIY Drinks Packages
Fully staffed mobile bar setups
We’ll help you choose the best option for your timings, budget and overall vibe.

🎉 Anything else?
If you’re unsure about anything at all, just give us a shout — we’re always happy to help.