Suzanne James Caterers

Suzanne James Caterers Award-winning caterers & event specialists in South East London.

Seasonal, sustainable menus & warm hospitality for weddings, celebrations & events that feel unforgettable.

We thought it was probably time for a little reminder that Suzanne James still very much retains her title as the Canapé...
28/09/2026

We thought it was probably time for a little reminder that Suzanne James still very much retains her title as the Canapé Queen.

A title earned over many, many years of creating tiny mouthfuls that manage to pack in an enormous amount of flavour.

These were served at a recent event at the beautiful Mall Galleries, and are exactly why we will always have a soft spot for a good canapé.

They welcome your guests, accompany that first drink, keep everyone happy while conversations get going and give people their first little taste of what is still to come.

And when you notice guests casually positioning themselves in the path of the next tray, you know you’ve done your job properly.

The crown remains firmly in place.

An indoor BBQ spread of dreams, created in collaboration with Fabulous Fifty Seven. Sometimes you know exactly what you ...
26/09/2026

An indoor BBQ spread of dreams, created in collaboration with Fabulous Fifty Seven.

Sometimes you know exactly what you want your event to feel like. You have the people, the food ideas, the styling and all the little details planned out, but there is one important piece missing: the right venue.

And that can make all the difference.

Fabulous Fifty Seven gives you the space and flexibility to bring those ideas together, creating somewhere that feels like part of the event rather than simply somewhere to hold it.

For this celebration, we took the BBQ indoors and created a generous spread for guests to gather around, enjoy and graze on throughout the event.

This is what we love about working together. The venue, the catering and the atmosphere can all be considered as one, making the whole process of planning a celebration feel easier and far more exciting.

If you are planning a party and want somewhere that can help bring the whole vision together, Fabulous Fifty Seven might just be the missing piece.

That face when the canapés come round.We have all seen it at an event. The moment guests spot the tray making its way ac...
23/09/2026

That face when the canapés come round.

We have all seen it at an event. The moment guests spot the tray making its way across the room and suddenly everyone becomes very interested in what is being served.

And while it makes us smile, it also says something important about corporate catering.

Canapés are often the first food guests experience at an event. They help create that initial sense of hospitality, give people something to enjoy while they network and can set the tone for everything that follows.

For us, they need to do more than look good on a tray.

They need to be delicious, easy to eat, thoughtfully timed and right for the event and the people attending it.

Because when the canapé comes round and you get *that face*, you know you have got it right.

Some of the best wedding meals are the ones where everyone is reaching across the table.Sharing platters are perfect for...
21/09/2026

Some of the best wedding meals are the ones where everyone is reaching across the table.

Sharing platters are perfect for bringing family and friends together at such a special occasion. There is something wonderfully natural about passing dishes around, discovering what is on the table and encouraging everyone to join in.

And while the food is at the heart of it, we believe every detail around it matters too. Plateware is tailored to each wedding, chosen to work with the menu, the venue and the atmosphere the couple wants to create.

It is those considered details that turn a meal into an experience.

We love creating wedding menus that feel generous, personal and made for bringing people together.

A gin bar at the Household Cavalry Museum featuring their very own Horse Guards Gin? It felt like the perfect fit.For th...
19/09/2026

A gin bar at the Household Cavalry Museum featuring their very own Horse Guards Gin? It felt like the perfect fit.

For this event, we created a dedicated gin bar that brought the venue and its own product into the experience, rather than simply adding another drinks station to the room.

It is exactly the kind of detail we love creating.

When a venue has a story, a product, a heritage or something that makes it unique, why not build on it?

The best events are often the ones where the details feel connected. Where the food, drinks, styling and setting all make sense together and give guests something to remember.

For us, catering is about more than what is on the plate. It is about looking at the whole event and asking, what could we do to take this up another level?

Sometimes, that starts with a gin bar.

A cheese bar at a corporate event? Absolutely.Corporate catering has a bit of a reputation for being predictable.But whe...
15/09/2026

A cheese bar at a corporate event? Absolutely.

Corporate catering has a bit of a reputation for being predictable.

But when you're bringing people together for a conference, networking event, client evening or company celebration, we think the food should be something people actually want to talk about.

This cheese bar was created for a corporate event and gave guests something to gather around, explore and enjoy while still keeping the atmosphere relaxed and sociable.

Because that's one of the things we consider when we're planning corporate catering: not just 'what are we serving?', but 'what does the food need to do?'.

Does it need to keep people moving and networking? Give them something substantial between sessions? Create a focal point? Encourage people to sit down and spend time together?

The answer is different for every event.

That's why we don't believe corporate catering should come from a standard formula. We create menus around the venue, the occasion, the people attending and the experience our client wants to create.

Sometimes that's beautifully presented canapés, sometimes it's bowl food, sometimes it's a sit-down dinner and sometimes, it's a very good reason to gather around a cheese bar.

Planning a corporate event this autumn? Talk to us about creating something your guests will actually remember.

Some venue relationships are built over years and ours with the Horniman Museum and Gardens is one them.We've been worki...
11/09/2026

Some venue relationships are built over years and ours with the Horniman Museum and Gardens is one them.

We've been working with the Horniman Museum and Gardens for many, many years and are proud to be one of their recommended catering suppliers.

There's a real advantage to working regularly with a venue.

Over time, you get to know the spaces, the practicalities, the people and the way events work there. You understand what needs to happen behind the scenes so that everything guests experience feels effortless.

It's particularly valuable when you're catering an event somewhere with its own character and complexities.

We're not arriving for the first time on the morning of an event and trying to work everything out. We already understand the venue and have an established relationship with the team, which means we can focus on what we do best: looking after the food, the service and the people.

After almost 40 years in the industry, we've built relationships with venues and suppliers across London and beyond. They're an important part of what allows us to deliver the level of hospitality we expect from ourselves.

Great events aren't created in isolation, they're created when experienced teams know how to work together, communicate properly and quietly solve whatever needs solving along the way.

We're very proud that the Horniman is one of those long-standing relationships.
Planning a wedding, corporate event or private celebration at the Horniman? Talk to us about the catering and hospitality.

A beautifully set table is an invitation to stay awhile.This was the setting for a private dinner at Waterman’s Hall, re...
08/09/2026

A beautifully set table is an invitation to stay awhile.

This was the setting for a private dinner at Waterman’s Hall, ready for an evening of good food, good company and, hopefully, very little reason to look at the clock.

Private dining gives us the opportunity to create something that feels a little more personal.

The setting can influence the menu. The occasion can influence the style of service. The people around the table can influence everything from the flavours to the pace of the evening and that's what we love about it.

We're not trying to make every private dinner look or feel the same. We'd much rather understand what you're celebrating, who you're bringing together and what you want the evening to feel like — then create the food and hospitality around that.
Because sometimes the best events aren't the biggest ones.

They're the ones where everyone settles around the table, the conversation gets going and nobody is in any particular hurry to leave.

Planning a private dinner or celebration? Talk to us about creating an evening that feels entirely yours.

What makes corporate catering actually memorable?For us, it starts with understanding the event rather than simply choos...
02/09/2026

What makes corporate catering actually memorable?
For us, it starts with understanding the event rather than simply choosing a catering format.
One of the reasons we love bowl food for corporate events is that it offers a really useful middle ground. Guests can enjoy something substantial and beautifully presented without having to stop the event for a formal sit-down meal.
It works particularly well when people are networking, moving around a venue or heading between presentations and conversations. They can eat comfortably while still engaging with the people around them.
And importantly, bowl food doesn't mean compromising on the food itself.
We can create menus with interesting flavours, textures and a variety of dishes, tailoring them to the event, the season and the people attending. It can feel generous, considered and genuinely enjoyable rather than simply being something to keep everyone fed.
The right catering format can make a real difference to how a corporate event feels.
If you want guests to mingle, bowl food can keep the conversation moving. If you have a packed schedule, it can work around your timings. If you want something more relaxed than a formal dinner, it can give you the best of both worlds.
Ultimately, memorable corporate catering isn't about choosing the trendiest option.
It's about understanding what your event needs the food to do — and getting it right.
Planning a corporate event? Talk to us about your plans and whether bowl food could be the right fit.

We know. It’s September. We’re talking about Christmas....Nobody is more surprised than us.But if you’re the person who ...
30/08/2026

We know. It’s September. We’re talking about Christmas....
Nobody is more surprised than us.

But if you’re the person who has somehow been handed responsibility for organising this year’s corporate Christmas party, we have some news: “We’ll sort it nearer the time” is probably not going to end well.

The good news is that corporate Christmas catering doesn't have to mean choosing a standard festive package and calling it a day.

Your event might be an elegant drinks reception with beautifully presented canapés, a relaxed evening with sharing food, a lively party where guests are moving around throughout the evening or a proper sit-down Christmas dinner.

Whatever you have in mind, we can create the food and hospitality around your venue, your guests and the kind of celebration you actually want to give them.
Because a Christmas party should feel like a thank you to your team, not another item on someone's to-do list.

So yes, we appreciate that September is probably too early to hear the words 'Christmas party', but if you're organising one, September is actually a very sensible time to start.

Talk to us about your corporate Christmas celebration before the dates, venues and good caterers disappear.

Address

11B Barry Road
London
SE220HX

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

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