Providing seamless finger-buffet solutions for a busy pub with limited kitchen capacity

The Red Lion is a popular, family-friendly, food-led pub located in Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire. Known for serving high-quality traditional British food and drink, it also offers dedicated event spaces and a large beer garden—making it a well-loved venue for gatherings.

The Red Lion
Stanstead Abbotts

The job

We were brought in to provide a reliable solution for finger buffets and afternoon teas, helping to ease pressure on the kitchen and enabling the pub to host wakes and private events even on days when the kitchen is closed.

Goals & Requirements

The client required high-quality prepared sandwiches, desserts, and finger buffet items that could be served with minimal preparation. Pricing needed to allow the pub to maintain a strong margin while ensuring consistency and quality.

Our Solution

We created a menu featuring fully prepared, ready-to-serve products that require no additional kitchen skills, allowing staff to present them quickly upon delivery.

To keep costs competitive, items are delivered in bulk rather than in individual compostable containers.


We also coordinate closely with the pub to deliver as close to service time as possible, accommodating their limited onsite storage.

Key Highlights

High-quality, ready-to-eat products

Allows the pub to run events on busy days—and on days when the kitchen is closed—without additional skilled kitchen staff

Deliveries timed just before service to suit limited storage

Bulk delivery in gastro trays reduces costs and minimises waste

Ensures a healthy margin for the client

Results

We receive regular and consistent orders from The Red Lion, along with positive feedback on both product quality and delivery reliability. With our support, the pub can now accept more event bookings that would previously have been declined due to kitchen limitations.

What it Shows

Our partnership with The Red Lion demonstrates our ability to provide dependable, high-quality, ready-to-eat catering solutions for busy hospitality venues. By enabling the pub to serve events even when the kitchen is closed, we help maximise revenue opportunities while maintaining the venue’s reputation for quality.