Dietary Requirements at Events: Why They Matter More Than Ever

If you are planning a meeting, conference or event, you’ll have likely noticed a major trend – more guests than ever now come with specific dietary requirements.

As a leading hospitality and events provider across the UK, we have seen this shift first-hand. What once involved the occasional vegetarian request has now grown into a long list of allergies, intolerances, lifestyle diets and faith based requirements that need to be managed at nearly every event, meeting, or conference we host.

How common are dietary requirements at events?

In our Birmingham venue, for example, our chefs often prepare food for more than 400 guests in a single day. We already include vegan and gluten-free options as part of our standard two-course buffet to ensure a wide appeal. However, we still frequently receive over 100 additional individual dietary requests.

These range from nut allergies, dairy-free needs, and coeliac requirements, to more niche preferences like fruitarian diets or sensitivities to ingredients such as onions, garlic, and tomatoes.

This trend is not limited to Birmingham. We are seeing similar patterns in our Manchester, Leeds, and Glasgow venues. It has become clear that accommodating a range of diets is no longer optional. It is a central part of successful event planning.

Our Allergen Management Plan: Safety comes first

At all of our venues, we take food safety and allergen control extremely seriously. In collaboration with Environmental Health teams, especially in Birmingham, we developed a strong Allergen Management Plan.

A key part of this plan is a system we created we called N.E.A.D., used for labelling individual boxed meals. This helps prevent cross-contamination and ensures accuracy for each guest’s needs. Here is how it works:

N – Name: Who the meal is for
E – Event: Which event they are attending
A – Allergen: What must be avoided
D – Dish: What the dish is and confirmation that it excludes the allergen

This process is standard across our kitchens in Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow, and Birmingham, ensuring consistent food safety wherever you book.

We are also proud to maintain 5-star food hygiene ratings across all our venues, offering additional peace of mind to organisers and guests alike.

How Event Organisers Can Support Dietary Needs

Whether you are organising a corporate lunch, networking event, training day, or conference, helping us prepare in advance makes all the difference. It allows us to serve every guest safely and confidently.

Here are the key steps you can take:

P – Pre-order special diets when possible to ensure availability
L – Label guests clearly with any special dietary requirements
A – Ask attendees early about dietary needs and preferences
T – Tell your coordinator well in advance about any special requests
E – Encourage questions from guests about ingredients or preparation
S – Specify if needs are allergies, intolerances, or preferences

Why It Matters for Your Event’s Success

Failing to accommodate dietary requirements can affect your guests’ experience and your event’s overall success. When guests feel considered and cared for, it reflects positively on your organisation and your event planning.

The hospitality industry has changed, and so have guest expectations. Dietary flexibility is now a standard requirement for successful events. We are proud to lead with inclusive, safe, and adaptable catering across all our venues.

Planning an Event with Dietary Needs in Mind? We Can Help.

From business meetings to full-scale conferences, our experienced team is here to support your event planning. We make catering for dietary needs straightforward and stress-free.

Get in touch with our events team to find out more.