A successful event is directly proportional to selecting the right food partner. Regardless of whether you plan on conducting a birthday bash, corporate dinner, wedding reception, or a charity fundraiser, having a seasoned caterer takes the stress off your shoulders. In Manchester, multiple top-tier restaurants upgrade their dining rooms to offer entire catering services, both off-site and in private-event spaces. Here are four of the best menus, with actual packages and contact information to make sure you can book with confidence.
Spice & Spirits
Spice & Spirits is an award‑winning Indian street‑style restaurant in Little Hulton, Manchester. It is largely recognised for its flavor, flexible pricing, and vast experience in catering to almost everything, ranging from small family functions to large corporate events. Their team is responsible for getting chefs on board, buffet accessories, biodegradable packaging, and sizzling hot dishes like Chicken Biryani, Lamb Curry, Onion Bhaji, and Achari Paneer Tikka straight to the venue of your choice across all Greater Manchester.
Catering Packages:
- Their Base package (£10 per head, 40–50 guests) is a wholesome meal of two starters, one main dish, rice or naan, salad, sauce, and sustainable packaging.
- The Starter package (£15 per head, 60–100 guests) adds a second main and a dessert to the Base inclusions.
- With the Gold package (£20 per head, 100–200 guests), you are offered three starters, two mains, one dessert, along with soft drinks, breads, salads, and sauces.
- The Premium package (£25 per head, 100–1000 guests) has three starters, three mains, dessert, drinks,an entire buffet setup, and one fully dedicated member from the staff.
Booking & contact: Call +44 161 790 7008 or email booking@spicenspirtis.co.uk. They list delivery hours and their catering page on their site.
Nando’s
Nando’s is now bringing its famous Portuguese‑inspired flame‑grilled Peri Peri chicken to all venues such as offices, sports days in schools, and casual parties all over Manchester, with a vast variety of vegetarian and vegan options, individually packaged lunches, shareable platters, and even equipment that ensures you can heat your meal to sizzle and sauce that stands to ensure a self‑serve feast.
Catering Packages:
- Boxed Lunches is a combination of a wrap or sandwich, chips, and a brownie per customer, perfect for on-the-go people or office events.
- Sharing Platters delivers wings, wraps, salads, and sides on large trays, with surplus bottles of Peri Peri sauce.
- Vegetarian/Vegan Bundles feature plant‑based peri peri “chicken,” sides, and desserts.
- Equipment Add‑Ons allows you to request food‑warmers and serving stands so guests feast on steamy, fresh chicken.
How to order: Nando’s has a dedicated catering page and offers online ordering for catering at selected locations, or contact your nearest Nando’s to place a catering order.
Chaophraya
Chaophraya is a contemporary Thai restaurant located at Chapel Walks, Manchester, offering an intimate dining room for up to 20 guests, live cooking stations, cocktail‑reception packages, themed décor, and full A/V support, making it suitable for almost all corporate events, weddings, or intimate social get-togethers.
Catering & Event Packages:
- Thai Buffet Stations feature live stir‑fry and curry counters with limitless portions of classics like Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Tom Yum.
- Plated Menus allows you to choose three‑course Thai‑inspired meals designed by their head chef.
- Family‑Style Share Platters offer a variety of starters and mains for communal dining.
- Cocktail Reception consists of a selection of Thai‑style canapés and signature cocktails.
Booking & contact: Chaophraya Manchester lists private-dining and events contact details on the site but you can also contact at 0161 832 8342.
Hawksmoor Manchester
Hawksmoor’s Manchester steakhouse in Spinningfields offers an elegantly restored, intimate dining room for up to 14 guests, a devoted service team, high-end British steaks and seafood, curated wine pairings, and bespoke décor ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, or corporate dinners.
Private‑Dining Packages:
- Steak Feast Menu serves sharing cuts of dry‑aged British beef coupled with seasonal sides and sauces.
- Seafood Platter Option consists of lobster tails, oysters, and sustainably caught fish for a marine twist.
- Sharing Menu Trio combines your choice of steak, fish, and dessert into one fixed price per head.
- Cocktail Reception Add‑On offers canapés and a selection of Hawksmoor’s signature cocktails as guests arrive.
Booking & contact: Email manchester@thehawksmoor.com or call 0161 836 6980 for catering enquiries in Manchester.
Bundobust
Bundobust is a popular Indian street-food and beer spot with two venues in Manchester, Piccadilly and a brewery location on Oxford Road. They accept groups and larger table bookings and even have an events/private-hire contact for larger parties and functions.
Catering & Event Packages:
While Bundobust doesn’t list dedicated event packages, they do offer group-friendly combos, especially around festive periods:
- Combos for Sharing:
- Combo for 4 is just for £65, covering a whole lot of street-food dishes which can be a good idea for groups.
- Bundo Combo in £125 serves nearly the entire menu to 6–8 people.
You can use multiple of these combos for bigger groups.
- Festive Party Package: During the Christmas season (18 Nov–31 Dec), Bundobust offers party packages for groups of six or more (details available via booking enquiries).
Booking & contact: For Manchester enquiries, email at manchester@bundobust.com and call at 0161 359 6757.
El Gato Negro
El Gato Negro is a well-established tapas restaurant on King Street. Their top floor (roof terrace) and private dining rooms are available for hire with an individual events team. They have been in the restaurant business since 2016, so you don’t have to worry about your event!
Catering & Event Packages:
- The rooftop/top-floor is available for exclusive private hire, accommodating up to 45 seated or 100 standing. It includes a private bar and retractable roof in case of bad weather.
- They offer you exactly what you want. You can choose group sharing menus or canapé-style service, alongside award-winning food, cocktails, and even live entertainment.
Booking & Contact:
Contact the reservations/events team via phone 0161 694 8585 or email events@mhdl.co.uk to discuss everything in detail.
The Lowry Hotel & The Lowry
The Lowry Hotel and its in-house restaurants have full meetings, private-dining and banqueting areas.They can take upto 10–24 guests for smaller event and 300-400 guests for a bigger event in their grand ballrooms. They offer menus, event managers, AV support along with on-site catering.
Catering & Event Packages:
- Wedding Packages
- Perfect Match: £8,100 based on 70 guests (day & evening), includes reception drinks + 4 canapes, upgraded three-course meal, tea & coffee, half bottle of wine each, Prosecco toast, and evening buffet items.
- Tie the Knot: £6,200 for 70, similar inclusions but with one drink and three-course meal, plus evening buffet.
- Conference / Banqueting Packages
- Delegate Packages from £45 per person for meeting rooms.
- Venue Hire Options:
- Grand Ballroom (up to 400 seated / 600 standing): hire fees from £7,000; in-house catering, AV, flexible layouts.
- Smaller Ballrooms & Meeting Rooms: Ballroom 1 & 2 vary from £500 to £3,500 as the private dining suits up to 22 guests. They also have Meeting Rooms from £600 to £1,800, depending on size.
- In-house Catering: Full service available, plus bars, pre-function areas, and customised menus.
Booking & contact: Contact events team at conferences@thelowry.com or 0161 876 2040 for proposals.
Why Choosing the Right Caterer Matters
Choosing the right caterer is more than taste; it affects logistics, guest experience, and the event’s overall smoothness. A good caterer:
- understands venue restrictions and timing (deliveries, set-ups, hot-holding),
- offers clear policies for deposits, cancellations, and dietary needs,
- provides equipment and staffing or coordinates with venue staff, and
Get quotes from 2–3 vendors, ask for sample menus, request allergen and vegan options in writing, and arrange a tasting if possible to make things smoother for your big day.
Quick comparison
- Spice & Spirits: Purely Indian catering with flexibility of packages starting from £10 to £25 per person (Base, Starter, Gold, Premium), including buffet, biodegradable packaging, and even BBQ or live cooking options.
- Nando’s: Casual catering with box-style meals and options like vegetarian food. They are great for fuss-free and reliable delivery, being a big chain.
- Chaophraya: Thai live-cooking style mixed with catering service along with demo stations and private room options, ideal for interactive, sit-down or relaxed events
- Hawksmoor: Upscale steak and seafood menus with wine options. More reasonable for a polished and refined gathering.
- Bundobust: Informal Indian street-food with sharing trays and group combos; quite casual and suits students or office get-togethers
- El Gato Negro: On King Street, with panoramic views from the rooftop. They have private floors too that accommodate up to 45 seated, 100 standing with tapas, cocktails, but have a minimum spend of £3,000.
- The Lowry: More on the higher end for a proper gathering like a wedding. Requires a higher budget than others.
FAQs
How early should I book catering?
Ideally, 6–12 weeks ahead for more complex venues (Lowry, Hawksmoor) or 2–4 weeks for services like Nando’s or Spice & Spirits.
Can I get vegetarian or allergy-friendly menus?
Yes, nearly all options (Spice & Spirits, Nando’s, Chaophraya) are flexible with dietary needs.
Will equipment or staff arrive with the food?
Full-service venues (Spice & Spirits, Hawksmoor) include staff/setup. Nando’s and Bundobust require minimal setup, just reheating. Always ask.
Do venues allow off-site catering?
Spice & Spirits, Nando’s, and Bundobust do off-site delivery. Lowry and Hawksmoor typically cater to on-site private events or rooms.
Final Tips for Smooth Catering
- Book early. Popular dates fill up fast, especially on weekends.
- Confirmation of deposits and cancellation policies when enquired.
- Discuss dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, gluten‑free) prior to the event.
- Visit the venue or request a taste check before confirming your menu.
- Ask about delivery/setup times to make sure your event runs as per schedule.
With these Manchester restaurants, you’ll have the perfect catering experience. No matter if you need off-site delivery, intimate dining rooms, or full event-production assistance. Contact each directly to talk over your date, head count, and menu preferences, and you’ll be well on your way to a mouth-watering, hassle-free event.
We also provide dedicated local catering options you can explore here:
