Passionate About Food. Committed to You.

Passionate About Food. Committed to You.

Redefining event catering through bespoke menus, meticulous management, and a truly personal touch.

Saffron Caterers & Events is the brainchild of Gareth Thomas. After training at Leiths and working in some of the UKs most prestigious kitchens, Gareth opened the award-winning Rose & Crown in Highgate. He saw a gap in the market for bespoke, high-quality event cateringand Saffron was born.

Today, Gareth leads the kitchen while Dawn Thomas manages the marketing and client experience. Together with our experienced event managers, we ensure every event runs like clockwork. We aren't a faceless corporation; we are a family business that treats your event as if it were our own.

Our Story

Our Story

2002–2004

Gareth trained at Leiths Cookery School

2002–2004

Gareth trained at Leiths Cookery School

2004–2005

Gareth secured an enviable position at Auberge de Lac at Brocket Hall, working under Michelin star Chef Jean Christophe Novelli.

2004–2005

Gareth secured an enviable position at Auberge de Lac at Brocket Hall, working under Michelin star Chef Jean Christophe Novelli.

2006

Gareth travelled to South Africa where he was born and gained more experience at Le Quartier Francais, an exclusive boutique hotel and restaurant located at the foot of the stunning Franschhoek mountains  which was at the time ranked 46th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

World's top 50 best restaurants: see the full list | News | theguardian.com

2006

Gareth travelled to South Africa where he was born and gained more experience at Le Quartier Francais, an exclusive boutique hotel and restaurant located at the foot of the stunning Franschhoek mountains  which was at the time ranked 46th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.

World's top 50 best restaurants: see the full list | News | theguardian.com

Rhodes 24 | London City

2007

Gareth returned to the UK and secured the enviable role of working with and training under renowned Chef Gary Rhodes at Rhodes 24 in the heart of London city.

Rhodes 24 | London City

2007

Gareth returned to the UK and secured the enviable role of working with and training under renowned Chef Gary Rhodes at Rhodes 24 in the heart of London city.

The Rose & Crown | Highgate

2008

In 2008 he opened his first restaurant The Rose & Crown in Highgate transforming a former public house into one of the most popular culinary destinations in North London. 2009 saw Gareth celebrate success at the Archant Awards, winning Best British Restaurant 2009 and The Rose & Crown was featured in the Michelin Guide in 2011.

The Rose & Crown | Highgate

2008

In 2008 he opened his first restaurant The Rose & Crown in Highgate transforming a former public house into one of the most popular culinary destinations in North London. 2009 saw Gareth celebrate success at the Archant Awards, winning Best British Restaurant 2009 and The Rose & Crown was featured in the Michelin Guide in 2011.

Saffron Caterers

2013

Having seen a gap in the market for private events catering, Saffron Caterers & Events was born in 2013. Named after Gareth’s daughter Saffron who was two at the time, the ‘Saffron Caterers’ seemed like the perfect choice for this new venture.

Saffron Caterers

2013

Having seen a gap in the market for private events catering, Saffron Caterers & Events was born in 2013. Named after Gareth’s daughter Saffron who was two at the time, the ‘Saffron Caterers’ seemed like the perfect choice for this new venture.

2019

Wife Dawn Thomas who had a successful marketing career behind her with a strong focus on event management joined the business to manage all aspects of the event planning. After planning her (elaborate!) wedding to Gareth in 2013, Dawn also had a lot of experience in working with multiple suppliers and creating a wonderfully personal wedding with amazing food at the heart of it so has been able to bring these skills to her new role.


2019

Wife Dawn Thomas who had a successful marketing career behind her with a strong focus on event management joined the business to manage all aspects of the event planning. After planning her (elaborate!) wedding to Gareth in 2013, Dawn also had a lot of experience in working with multiple suppliers and creating a wonderfully personal wedding with amazing food at the heart of it so has been able to bring these skills to her new role.

2020

Covid had a significant impact on the hospitality business and in particular private catering companies with weddings and events being cancelled and postponed for many months. Saffron’s dedication to its clients and strong reputation enabled us to remain going when many other businesses didn’t survive.

2020

Covid had a significant impact on the hospitality business and in particular private catering companies with weddings and events being cancelled and postponed for many months. Saffron’s dedication to its clients and strong reputation enabled us to remain going when many other businesses didn’t survive.


2020

Covid had a significant impact on the hospitality business and in particular private catering companies with weddings and events being cancelled and postponed for many months. Saffron’s dedication to its clients and strong reputation enabled us to remain going when many other businesses didn’t survive.

2026

Proud to be a preferred partner at many prestigious venues across London and beyond, Saffron continues to go from strength to strength building its client base and delivering memorable catering for events all year round.


2026

Proud to be a preferred partner at many prestigious venues across London and beyond, Saffron continues to go from strength to strength building its client base and delivering memorable catering for events all year round.

Why Saffron Caterers

Why Saffron Caterers

Michelin-Trained Chef

Benefit from Gareth’s 15+ years of experience working with culinary legends Gary Rhodes and Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Family-Run

Personal service from Gareth and Dawn, from first call to final bite.

Bespoke By Design

No set packages. We build a menu that reflects your taste and budget.

Full Event Management

We work closely with you throughout the planning process, coordinating with your venue and suppliers to ensure a flawless flow.

Contact Us

Tell Us More About Your Event

Tell Us More About Your Event

Tell Us More About Your Event