Nyama Catering

What Nyama Catering does

Nyama Catering is a privately held, founder-owned live-fire catering company headquartered in Ipsden, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Founded in 2002 in Stellenbosch, South Africa by Johannes Burger and George Zaayman, the business specialises in wood-fired, open-flame and charcoal-grilled catering for weddings, corporate events and private celebrations, with a secondary offering in field-to-fire hospitality for country estates and game shoots. The company scales from events of around 20 guests up to several thousand, serving Oxfordshire and surrounding counties including Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire and London, with willingness to travel further for larger bookings.

The core technical platform is a fully mobile, self-sufficient live-fire cooking setup — custom gazebos, BBQ rigs, spit-roasting equipment, wood-fired pizza ovens, mobile bar units and field kitchen capability — that allows Nyama to operate at almost any outdoor or marquee venue. Service breadth spans more than a dozen menu categories, from BBQ classics and world BBQ feasts (South African Braai, Argentine Asado, Brazilian Churrasco, American BBQ, South Asian halal BBQ) to street food stalls, wood-fired pizzas, plant-based BBQ, seafood, desserts and cheese-and-coffee pairings. The company runs individual tasting sessions at its Ipsden depot and hosts private events at Nyama HQ for groups of up to 15 guests.

Commercially, Nyama operates a direct, sales-led model with no e-commerce or marketplace presence. Customers initiate enquiries through the website quote form, receive personalised per-head quotations, and pay a 25% non-refundable deposit to secure dates with the balance due 24 hours before the event. The business sustains a network of 19 preferred venue partnerships across South East England that drive referral demand, and it is a member of the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS) with a Food Hygiene Rating of 5. It won Wedding Caterer of The Year 2023 from The Wedding Industry Awards. The company is independent, with no external funding rounds, no parent entity and no disclosed revenue, operating at a regional scale with an 11-50 employee headcount band.

Name

Nyama Catering

Legal name

Nyama Catering Ltd

Website

https://nyama-catering.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Nyama Catering is a founder-owned, live-fire BBQ catering company serving weddings, corporate events and private celebrations across South East England from its Ipsden, Oxfordshire headquarters. Founded in 2002, it operates mobile cooking setups, a 19-venue partner network and an award-winning regional brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Food Service Contractors (722310), Special Food Services (7223)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAHAKAE

Wedding & Social Event Catering

Travel & Hospitality/MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions)/Catering & Banqueting Services for Events

SECONDARYTHAFAIAB

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties)

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Catering & Banquet Foodservice

SECONDARYHSACAGAA

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise)

Home & Personal Services/Event & Personal Concierge Services/Catering Coordination & Food Service (Non-restaurant)

SECONDARYTHAFAIAC

Venue & Banquet Hall Catering

Travel & Hospitality/Foodservice & Beverage (Restaurants, Cafes, Bars)/Catering & Banquet Foodservice

Keywords

• Live-fire catering
• Wedding catering
• Corporate event catering
• BBQ catering services
• Private celebration catering

Headquarters

HQ city

Ipsden

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Live-Fire Catering Services: Primary revenue from on-site live-fire catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations. Includes a wide range of menus: BBQ classics, world BBQ feasts, big roasts, street food stalls, BBQ bowl food, wood-fired pizzas, seafood experiences, plant-based BBQ, desserts, and cheese & coffee. Catering is priced per head with menu add-ons; a 25% deposit secures the booking, with the balance due 24 hours before the event.
2. Mobile Bar Services: Fully staffed mobile bars, DIY drinks packages, cash bars, wet bars, and combination bars. Provided alongside food catering packages — not sold standalone. Revenue generated through bar service fees, drink supply markups, or per-head bar packages.
3. Events at Nyama HQ: Private dining, team-building, and celebration events hosted at Nyama HQ in Ipsden, Oxfordshire, for groups of up to 15 guests. Includes exclusive use of the private BBQ room, outdoor cooking spaces, and fully stocked bar options.
4. Tasting Sessions: Individual tasting sessions at the Nyama depot on Wednesdays and Fridays (excluding May–September). A complimentary drink is included. Tastings help convert prospective clients into bookings and are offered as part of the sales process.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nyama Catering provides on-site live-fire BBQ catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations, delivering complete event experiences built around open-flame cooking, spit-roasts, wood-fired pizzas, and global BBQ menus. The company supplies all cooking equipment, chefs, serving and bar staff, plates, cutlery, and cleanup, and travels throughout Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, London and surrounding counties with self-sufficient mobile setups.

Product overview

Nyama Catering operates as a live-fire catering company offering a unified service portfolio centered around fire-cooked food experiences. The core offering is live-fire catering for weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations, supported by a diverse menu range including BBQ Classics, World BBQ Feasts, Big Roasts and Mixed Grills, Street Food Stalls, BBQ Bowl Food, Wood-Fired Pizzas, Winter Warmers, Seafood Experiences, Plant-Based BBQ, and Canapés. Additional services include Drinks and Mobile Bars, Field-to-Fire Hospitality for game shoots, and Events at Nyama HQ for intimate private gatherings. The company provides complete event experiences combining food, fire, and hospitality with menu tastings as a booking incentive.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live-Fire Catering Core on-site live-fire BBQ catering service for events of 20 to several thousand guests, covering weddings, corporate and private celebrations, with full equipment, chef and serving staff, plates, cutlery, and cleanup included.
• Wedding Catering Dedicated wedding catering for couples, with live-fire feasts, roaming canapés, evening food, grazing platters and mobile bar service; quotes are tailored to guest count, menu, venue and add-ons.
• Corporate Events Catering Catering for UK corporate events including product launches, team-building days, summer and Christmas parties, networking events, client entertainment, and multi-day corporate events, with delivered lunch options for offices without outdoor cooking space.
• Private Events Catering Catering for birthdays, engagement parties, anniversaries, Christmas parties, family gatherings, and garden parties at private homes, gardens, farms, marquees, village halls, and event venues.
• Drinks and Mobile Bars Fully staffed mobile bars, DIY drinks packages, cash bars, wet bars, and combination bars provided alongside Nyama food catering, including reception drinks for weddings and corporate events.
• Field-to-Fire Hospitality Bespoke catering and hospitality for game shoots, country estates, and sporting events across the South of England, with field kitchen setups, breakfast baps, shoot lunches, and live-fire feasts including venison skewers, salmon flammlach, scallops, whole chateaubriand, tomahawk steaks and slow-roasted game dishes.
• Events at Nyama HQ Private dining, team-building and celebration events hosted at Nyama HQ in Ipsden, Oxfordshire, for groups of up to 15 guests, with exclusive use of the private BBQ room, outdoor cooking spaces, and fully stocked bar.
• Menu Tastings Individual tasting sessions at the Nyama depot on Wednesdays and Fridays (outside the May–September busy season) enabling prospective wedding and event clients to sample representative dishes and meet the team as part of the booking process.

Quantifiable outcome

• Food Hygiene Rating of 5 (Very Good) awarded by South Oxfordshire District Council on 30th March 2023

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Acorn BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA dry-hire Oxfordshire wedding barn in Stadhampton offering indoor and outdoor ceremony options with flexibility for couples to bring in their own caterers and bar. Nyama works with Acorn Barn as a preferred catering partner for events held at this venue.
• Braziers ParkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA historic country house and rural Oxfordshire estate near Ipsden, with characterful spaces, gardens, woodland and accommodation for retreats, gatherings and celebrations. Braziers Park is in close proximity to Nyama HQ and is a preferred venue partner.
• Cold Harbour BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA rustic Oxfordshire barn venue at Ginge offering exclusive-use barn and outdoor spaces in a secluded countryside setting. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for events at this venue.
• Combe Manor BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAn exclusive-use dry-hire wedding and events venue in Combe, Berkshire, set in a picturesque valley with historic barns and countryside surroundings. Nyama works with Combe Manor Barn as a preferred venue partner.
• Fison BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA restored 19th-century barn at Earth Trust in Little Wittenham offering dry-hire wedding space with indoor and outdoor areas beneath the Wittenham Clumps. Nyama is listed as a preferred catering partner on the venue's own materials.
• Garden HousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA woodland and garden venue in Steventon, Oxfordshire with lawns, function rooms and bar space for weddings, parties and events. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for Garden House events.
• Hadsham FarmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA family-run lakeside tipi wedding venue near Horley, Banbury offering exclusive-use celebrations in the Oxfordshire countryside. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for Hadsham Farm events.
• Hampden HousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA historic private country estate in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire offering weddings and events in a stately house setting with surrounding parkland. Nyama is listed as a preferred venue partner.
• High Billinghurst FarmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAn exclusive-use barn wedding venue in Surrey set within 65 acres of countryside between Dunsfold and Hascombe. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for High Billinghurst Farm events.
• Mapledurham HousecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA historic Thames-side estate near Reading offering weddings and events, including tipi celebrations with views of the house, watermill and surrounding grounds. Nyama is a preferred catering partner.
• Medley Walled GardencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA countryside wedding and events venue in Binsey close to Oxford city centre with landscaped gardens, historic walls and outdoor event space. Nyama is listed as a preferred venue partner.
• Monks BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Grade II* listed medieval barn in Hurley, Berkshire used for wedding receptions, civil ceremonies and private celebrations. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for Monks Barn events.
• Oaken Grove VineyardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA family-run boutique vineyard in the Chiltern Hills near Henley-on-Thames offering private events, weddings and English wines. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for Oaken Grove Vineyard events.
• Park Farm WeddingscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA countryside wedding venue at Upper Shuckburgh, Northamptonshire offering exclusive-use celebrations with accommodation and space for camping or glamping. Nyama is listed as a preferred catering partner.
• Sheepdrove FarmcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAn organic farm wedding venue near Lambourn set within extensive Berkshire countryside with gardens, natural grounds and sustainability-focused event spaces. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for Sheepdrove Farm.
• The Coaching BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA flexible hire space at Littlestoke Manor Farm near Wallingford used for creative workshops, private parties, filming and events. Nyama is listed as a preferred venue partner.
• The Walled Garden (Wasing Estate)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA secluded garden event space within Wasing Estate in Berkshire, part of a wider rural estate used for weddings, events and retreats. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for events at The Walled Garden.
• Winters Tale BarncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA Buckinghamshire countryside wedding barn near Steeple Claydon licensed for indoor and outdoor ceremonies with gardens, marquee space and on-site accommodation. Nyama is listed as a preferred venue partner.
• Worton HallcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorA contemporary wedding venue on Worton Park near Cassington converted from a former grain store and used for ceremonies, wedding breakfasts and receptions. Nyama is a preferred catering partner for Worton Hall events.
• Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS)coreOthersNyama Catering is a member of the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS), a trade body for the catering industry. NCASS membership provides accreditation, insurance guidance, and industry representation for caterers operating in the UK.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Big Roast: UK-based hog roast and BBQ catering company serving weddings, private parties, and corporate events across England. Closest direct competitor to Nyama in the mobile BBQ/spit-roast wedding catering space, with a comparable service model and on-site delivery.
• Absolute Catering: UK event caterer providing bespoke catering for weddings, corporate events, and private parties. Comparable service scope, customer segments, and bespoke menu positioning in the UK event catering market.
• Spit Roast Catering Company: UK-based spit roast and BBQ catering company providing mobile cooking for weddings and events. Closely comparable in spit-roast and outdoor BBQ cooking service, target customers, and on-site delivery model.
• Hogg Norton Events: UK BBQ and hog roast catering operator serving weddings and private events. Directly comparable mobile BBQ service offering with on-site cooking and similar event-catering customer base.
• Easy Gourmet: UK event and wedding caterer offering tailored menus and full-service catering for private and corporate events. Directly comparable in target customers, full-service catering model, and menu customisation.
• The Little Brown Bread Co. UK wedding and event caterer focused on relaxed, food-led celebrations with bespoke menus. Comparable in target customer (wedding couples) and event-catering positioning, though differentiated by street-food and casual formats versus Nyama's live-fire.
• Kalm Kitchen: UK wedding and private event caterer offering tailored menus for marquee and venue weddings across the South of England. Directly comparable in customer base (wedding couples, marquee/venue events) and bespoke catering service model.

Broad incumbents

• Heritage Portfolio: Larger UK luxury event caterer with broader portfolio across weddings, corporate, and sporting hospitality. Comparable customer base and premium positioning, but operates at greater scale and across more event formats than Nyama.

Emerging players

• Field & Fire Catering: UK countryside and field-kitchen caterer for game shoots, country estates, and outdoor events. Overlaps with Nyama's field-to-fire hospitality service line, with comparable target customers (shoots, estates) and outdoor cooking format.
• Roaming Kitchen: UK mobile catering company serving weddings, festivals, and corporate events with diverse food formats. Comparable mobile, event-based catering model and on-site delivery, though with a more street-food-led positioning than Nyama's live-fire focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nyamacatering
• Facebookfacebook.com/NyamaCatering
• Instagraminstagram.com/nyamacatering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nyama-catering-ltd

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nyama Catering