A long shoot day asks a lot of everyone on set. Call times can be early, schedules can shift, and there may be little time to step away between takes. In that environment, good catering is about more than putting lunch on a table. It means giving the crew satisfying food at the right points in the day, with enough choice to suit different tastes and dietary needs.
A thoughtful menu can help make a demanding day feel better organised—and give everyone something to look forward to between scenes.
Start well before lunch.
When the crew arrives early, breakfast can set the tone for the hours ahead. A mix of lighter and more substantial options gives people flexibility, especially when not everyone is ready for the same thing at the same time.
A shoot menu might pair yoghurt pots with seasonal fruit and oat crunch with warm dishes such as shakshuka and fresh bread. Bagels, avocado on seeded bread, tea and coffee can add familiar options for a varied crew. Shoots & Leaves’ sample menus include these kinds of breakfast choices, alongside cinnamon buns and cold-pressed juice.
The aim is to make breakfast easy to enjoy without slowing down the start of the day.
Make lunch satisfying and practical.
Lunch needs to refuel the crew while fitting around the production schedule. The best format depends on the location, available space and how much time people have to eat. Individual boxes can be useful when a staggered break is more practical; shared dishes may suit a crew eating together.
Shoots & Leaves’ sample full-day menu, for example, pairs boxed lunch with focaccia and salad. Its dishes include beef shin ragout and aubergine stuffed with peppers and tomato, with roasted Jersey Royals, grilled courgettes and salsa verde. A different sample shoot menu offers sharing salads such as roast squash with chickpeas and harissa, quinoa with avocado and beans, and pumpkin with feta and watercress.
These examples show how a menu can feel generous and varied while remaining workable on location. Discuss the set-up with the caterer in advance so the food can be served in a way that suits the day.
Plan for the hours after lunch.
The afternoon can be a long stretch, especially when filming runs behind schedule. Snacks and cake give crew members something to enjoy between takes without turning every pause into a full meal.
Options such as lemon tart or orange polenta cake appear in Shoots & Leaves’ sample menu. For other shoot days, the team’s brochure also shows menus with seasonal fruit, cakes and different savoury dishes.
Plan these breaks as carefully as breakfast and lunch. Consider when the crew is likely to have a moment to eat, where food will be placed, and whether it needs to be individually portioned or easy to share.
Keep the menu inclusive.
A crew may include people with a range of dietary requirements. Asking about these early gives the caterer time to plan a menu that feels considered, rather than relying on last-minute alternatives.
Shoots & Leaves bespoke shoot menus use seasonal British produce and can be tailored for dietary requirements. When discussing a booking, production teams can share requirements, crew numbers, timings and location details so the food can be planned around the real shape of the day.
Catering that works with the production
Every shoot is different. A compact studio day, a multi-day production and a remote outdoor location will each bring their own practical considerations. Before the shoot, share the schedule, access details, meal times, and facilities with your caterer. That gives them a clearer picture of what the crew needs and how service can fit around filming.
For productions looking for film shoot catering in London, Shoots & Leaves offers breakfasts, lunches and snacks for crews, with bespoke menus created around the shoot. Get in touch to discuss your plans and request a sample menu.