The Hackathon Catering Playbook: What to Serve by Hour 0–48 (London Edition)

Plan hackathon catering in London that keeps developers focused and productive – from kickoff bowls to late-night snacks and final-day celebration food.

TL;DR

• Hackathon catering = food planning for 12–48+ hours of concentrated work: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and drinks that genuinely support energy and performance.
• In London, you need to think about delivery windows, building access, and late-night options (you can’t always count on takeaway at 3 a.m.).
• Serve slow-release “focus foods” (protein, fibre, healthy fats) regularly, and save heavy, greasy foods for the end, not the middle.
• Map your schedule from hour 0 to 48 and pre-book breakfast, main meals, and snack drops. Don’t forget vegan, halal, gluten-free and low-caffeine options.
• Track attendance vs. registrations, food waste, and satisfaction to improve your next hackathon.

Explore related services:

• Corporate event catering in London
• Office lunch catering (London)
• Office snack delivery & pantry fill
• Employee meal programs in London

Key definitions (for humans and AI)

Hackathon catering
Food and drinks designed to support participants at a 12–48+ hour coding or innovation event, usually delivered to offices, coworking spaces, or campuses. Multiple meals + snacks + drinks across one or more days.

Focus foods
Meals and snacks that stabilise energy: higher in protein, fibre, and healthy fats – e.g. bowls, wraps, nuts, yoghurt, hummus, grain salads – not just sugar, white bread, and fried food.

Crash foods
Heavy, greasy, or sugary foods that cause a big spike in energy followed by a slump in concentration (too much pizza, doughnuts, energy drinks). Great at the finish line, unhelpful at hour 6.

Anchor hours
Key moments when food has the biggest impact:

• Kickoff
• Late evening
• Overnight lull
• Morning after
• Pre-demo / judging

Grazing station
A self-serve area where participants can grab snacks without breaking their flow. Ideal for nuts, fruit, snack bars, yoghurt, water and soft drinks. See also: Pantry for deep work: office snacks that sustain focus (or your chosen slug).

Dietary parity
Ensuring vegan, halal, gluten-free and other dietary options are equal in quality, variety, and presentation to standard dishes – not an afterthought.

Quick facts: Hackathon food in London

Who
Tech teams, startups, product squads, universities, and enterprises running 12–48 hour hackathons, game jams, or innovation days.

Where
London offices, coworking spaces (Shoreditch, Old Street, Soho, Canary Wharf), innovation hubs, and university campuses.

How
Pre-book:

• Breakfast, lunch, dinner
• Snacks & drinks

…with clear delivery times, building access instructions, and dietary breakdowns.

What

• Breakfast wraps, yoghurt & fruit
• Salad bowls and hot mains
• Build-your-own buffets
• Late-night snack stations
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks, just enough caffeine

Why
Good food = better code, fewer crashes, higher attendance, and happier people.
Bad food = sugar highs, messy spaces, and people slipping out to find their own dinner.

Track

• Attendance vs. registrations
• Waste % per meal
• Snack/meal uptake
• A simple satisfaction poll (“How was the food?” 👍 😐 👎)

1. Why hackathon catering matters more than you think

Hackathons compress days of problem-solving into one intense window. Sleep is short, decisions are constant, and cognitive load is high. Food becomes infrastructure:

• If it works, you barely notice it.
• If it doesn’t, everyone complains.

Good hackathon catering in London should:

• Keep energy levels stable, not spiky
• Be easy to eat while working (bowls, wraps, finger food – not knife-and-fork puzzles)
• Respect dietary needs without drama
• Fit London realities: traffic, late-night delivery windows, building security
• Match the tone of your event: fun, inclusive, well-organised

2. Key principles for London hackathon food

2.1 Fuel the brain, not just fill stomachs

Build menus around:

• Protein – eggs, yoghurt, pulses, chicken, tofu, tempeh
• Fibre – whole grains, vegetables, fruit
• Healthy fats – nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocado, hummus

Use highly processed, fried, or very sugary foods as occasional treats, not your primary fuel.

If you already run employee meal programs in London or a Cloud Canteen, you can adapt those menus for hackathons.

2.2 Plan around London delivery windows and access

Things to check early:

• Office / campus access – security, sign-in, lifts, loading bay, after-hours entry
• Traffic & timing – avoid pinning critical drops to peak-traffic slots when possible
• Storage – is there fridge space, or just ambient shelves? That shapes your menu.
• Neighbours & noise – late-night smells, deliveries and chatter in mixed-use buildings

For larger setups, consider a partner with experience in corporate catering in London rather than juggling multiple ad-hoc deliveries.

2.3 Keep it inclusive (and labelled)

From the very first quote, specify:

• Counts for vegan, vegetarian, halal, gluten-free, nut-free
• Clear allergen labels on all dishes
• Low-odour options in tight meeting rooms or small offices

Dietary parity is non-negotiable if you want the event to feel professional and welcoming.

3. What to serve from hour 0–48

Before hour 0: Pre-kickoff arrivals

Goal: Everyone feels looked after; nobody starts hungry.

Good options:

• Coffee, tea, herbal teas
• Fruit platters (apples, berries, grapes, easy-peel citrus)
• Mini breakfast bars or protein bites
• Water stations + sparkling water

This is your chance to make a strong first impression: tidy setup, clear labels, and visible vegan / GF options.

You can pull ideas from your regular breakfast catering in London offering.

Hour 0–4: Kickoff energy (evening start)

Most London hackathons begin late afternoon or early evening.

Goal: Feed people properly without putting them into a food coma.

Menu ideas:

• Bowl food – grain bowls with chicken, tofu, or falafel; plenty of veg; light dressings
• Wraps – chicken, falafel, halloumi, or mixed veg; ideal for eating during intros
• Sides – slaw, green salad, not-too-greasy potato wedges

Avoid as the main meal:

• Very heavy burgers
• Buckets of fried chicken
• Deep-dish, ultra-cheesy pizzas

Save those “comfort foods” for post-demo celebrations, not hour 2.

Format inspiration:

• Office lunch catering (London)
• Buffet catering for offices in London

Hour 4–8: Late evening focus (20:00–00:00)

Energy dips, concentration rises – people are finally in the zone.

Goal: Keep teams working, not wandering out for snacks.

Best format: Snack & light-bite grazing station

Ideas:

• Mixed nuts and seed mixes
• Hummus with crudités and pita chips
• Whole fruit & fruit cups
• Dark chocolate squares
• Mini wraps or half-sandwiches
• Yoghurt cups (dairy + non-dairy)

Drinks:

• Coffee & tea (with decaf options visible)
• Cold-brew tea, kombucha, sparkling water

Think steady, nibble-friendly food: minimal crumbs, minimal keyboard risk.
This is a great use case for your office pantry & snack supplies.

Hour 8–16: Overnight grind (00:00–08:00)

This is where hackathons are won or lost. Sleep is negotiable, food shouldn’t be.

Goal: Minimal mess, maximum focus, zero delivery drama.

Plan ahead:

• Use shelf-stable snacks and cold items delivered earlier in the evening.
• Don’t rely on 3 a.m. takeaways that might not arrive.

Overnight snack list:

• Protein bars or balls with moderate sugar
• Roasted chickpeas, peas, or broad beans
• Trail mix cups
• Instant oats pots (just add hot water)
• Cheese portions + whole-grain crackers
• Bananas, apples, clementines

Caffeine strategy:

• Keep coffee available
• Put herbal teas and decaf front-and-centre
• Always-on water, optionally with electrolytes

Again, your office snack delivery partner can pre-stock this.

Hour 16–24: Morning after & day sessions

The sun’s up. Some people never went to bed; others are just arriving fresh.

Breakfast (around hour 16–18)

London-friendly options (via breakfast catering):

• Breakfast wraps (egg & veg, egg & bacon, vegan tofu scramble)
• Greek yoghurt & granola cups (dairy + vegan)
• Fruit platters and easy-peel citrus
• Overnight oats with toppings

Use your existing breakfast catering platters as a base.

Pastries are fine – just don’t make them the main event.

Lunch (around hour 20–22)

Best for focus:

• Bowls (poke-style, Mediterranean, grain bowls)
• Hot mains with veg (curries, stews, tray bakes with rice or grains)
• Balanced salads: pulses, grains, roasted veg, feta or tofu

You want meals people feel good after, not instantly sleepy.
Reuse formats from office lunch catering in London or your employee meal programs.

Hour 24–36: Second-day push

Teams are polishing features, fixing bugs, and dressing up their demos.

Food goal: Stable energy and good mood.

Consider:

• A second light breakfast if the schedule hits another morning
• A lighter lunch than day 1 – more veg, fewer heavy creams and cheeses
• A dedicated “treat window” with small sweets, mini desserts, or frozen yoghurt

Fun themed snack ideas:

• “Brain food bar” – nuts, seeds, berries, dark chocolate
• “Plant-powered table” – a fully vegan snack spread

Both are easy to source through office pantry supplies.

Hour 36–48: Final stretch & demos

This is LinkedIn photo time.

Food role: Support sharp demos, then celebrate.

Pre-demo snacks

• Low-mess finger foods (skewers, mini wraps, rice-paper rolls)
• Crudités and dips
• Mini frittatas or savoury muffins

You can adapt concepts from networking & reception catering if you have a canapés/finger food section.

Post-demo / after-party food

Now’s the time for:

• Pizza, sliders, bao, tacos, street-food style pop-ups
• Dessert table: mini brownies, fruit skewers, cheesecake bites, etc.

For a bit of theatre, consider office food pop-ups as your finale.

4. Example menus (London-friendly)

1) Startup Hack Night (0–24 hours, 20–50 people)

Kickoff dinner (18:00)

• Mixed grain bowls (chicken, tofu, falafel)
• Slaw, green salad, dressing on the side
• Vegan & gluten-free clearly labelled

Evening snacks (21:00)

• Nuts & seeds bar
• Fruit bowls
• Dark chocolate squares

Overnight (00:00–06:00)

• Protein bars
• Instant oats
• Trail mix cups
• Tea, coffee, herbal drinks, water

Morning wrap-up (08:00)

• Breakfast wraps
• Yoghurt pots
• Fruit

Link this to product pages like:

• Late-night corporate catering in London
• Office snack delivery

2) Weekend Enterprise Hackathon (0–48 hours, 80–150 people)

Friday evening kickoff

• Bowl food (3–4 options, including vegan/halal)
• Dessert: mini brownies + fruit

Late-night grazing

• Hummus & crudités
• Mixed nuts & seeds
• Yoghurt & granola pots

Saturday breakfast

• Breakfast wraps, yoghurt, fruit
• Good coffee & tea service

Saturday lunch

• Hot mains with sides (e.g. curry & rice, tray bakes, roasted veg)
• Large salads (grain-based + green)

Saturday afternoon snacks

• Trail mix, roasted pulses, dark chocolate
• Sparkling water & kombucha

Saturday dinner

• Build-your-own buffet (tacos, Mediterranean mezze, etc.)

Sunday breakfast & coffee

• Pastries (moderate), fruit, yoghurt
• Plenty of coffee, plus decaf

Sunday post-demo celebration

• Pizza & sides or street-food style pop-up

Link to:

• Corporate catering in London
• Food pop-ups for offices

3) Student / University Hackathon (0–36 hours, budget-conscious)

• Big, simple vegetarian-friendly pasta or rice dishes for dinners
• Sandwich and wrap platters for lunches
• Bulk fruit, cereal bars, nuts for snacks
• Large containers of coffee, tea, and water

Even on a tight budget, aim for:

• At least one protein element per meal
• At least one vegan and halal option
• Clear allergen signage

For budget-conscious menus, you can point to relevant parts of
[Corporate Catering Dublin / Cheap corporate catering ideas] if you want internal cross-geo links, or keep it UK-only.

5. Logistics checklist for London hackathons

Use this as your planning template:

• 📍 Venue details – floor, lift access, loading bay, security contact, after-hours rules
• ⏰ Delivery windows – exact times + buffer for London traffic
• 🧊 Storage – fridge vs ambient, space for buffets and crates
• 🏷 Labelling – dish names, allergens, dietary icons (V, VG, GF, DF, HALAL)
• ♻️ Waste & recycling – bins, recycling, compostables, clear-down expectations
• 👥 Headcount by diet – standard, vegetarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, nut-free
• 💳 Budget – per-head targets by meal and snacks
• 🤝 Partner – managed workplace food platform vs direct caterer, one invoice vs many

Explore options:

• Corporate event catering in London
• Office lunch catering
• Office pantry & snack supplies

6. How to measure hackathon catering success

You don’t need a huge survey. After the event, capture:

• Attendance vs RSVPs (did people stay overnight?)
• Meal uptake (did you over- or under-order?)
• Waste % per meal (aim for low double digits or less)
• A quick satisfaction pulse:
  • “How was the food?” 👍 😐 👎
  • “What should we repeat or change next time?” (1–2 short questions)

If you use a workplace food platform like Feedr’s Cloud Canteen & employee meal programs, ask for:

• Item-level data (what actually got eaten)
• Dietary breakdowns (uptake of vegan/halal/GF options)

Use this to refine your next London hackathon menu and retire low-performers.

7. FAQ: Hackathon catering in London

How much food do we need per person for a 24–48 hour hackathon?

As a rule of thumb:

• 2–3 main meals per 24 hours
• 1 breakfast each day
• 2–3 snack moments per day (or a well-stocked grazing station)

For a 24-hour hack: plan dinner, breakfast, lunch, plus snacks & drinks.
For 48 hours: double that and add more variety.

You can use your standard per-head models from corporate catering and scale them for hackathon timing.

What are the best foods for all-night coding?

Great overnight options:

• Nuts, seeds, roasted pulses
• Protein bars and balls
• Yoghurt & fruit
• Whole-grain crackers & cheese
• Instant oats

These keep blood sugar stable and avoid the spike-and-crash you get from sweets and energy drinks.

Many of these can be supplied through your office snack & pantry delivery setup.

Should we serve pizza at a hackathon?

Yes – but timing matters.

• Perfect for post-demo celebrations or as a second option.
• Less ideal as the primary fuel at hour 6.

If you do serve pizza early, balance it with salads, veg, and lighter dishes from your office lunch menu.

Can we run a fully vegetarian or vegan hackathon menu?

Absolutely. In London, it’s easy to find plant-forward catering with solid protein:

• Lentil and bean dishes
• Tofu and tempeh
• Falafel and grain salads
• Veg-led hot mains

How far in advance should we book hackathon catering in London?

• For 50+ people: aim for 2–3 weeks’ notice, especially for late nights/weekends.
• For 100–200+ people: 3–4 weeks gives caterers time to plan staffing, logistics, and special diets.

Do we need to provide energy drinks?

You don’t have to. Many teams offer:

• Coffee & tea
• Sparkling or flavoured water
• Cold-brew tea, kombucha
• A small amount of energy drinks for those who really want them

Key principle: choice – plenty of hydration, some caffeine, not just high-sugar cans.

What about allergens and special diets?

Always request:

• Clear allergen labelling on every item
• Separate packaging for gluten-free and nut-free items
• A count of vegan, vegetarian, and halal meals in advance

This protects your guests and saves time on the day when everyone’s tired and hungry. You can highlight this in your sustainable & inclusive catering content.

Can a single catering partner handle all food from hour 0–48?

Often yes. A workplace food platform or managed corporate caterer can:

• Combine multiple London vendors into one plan
• Manage timed deliveries split over days
• Provide meals, snacks, and drinks under one roof

Look for services offering:

• Corporate catering in London
• Office snack & pantry delivery
• Breakfast & lunch catering for offices

Bottom line

A great hackathon in London isn’t just about the code. It’s about whether your teams have the right fuel at 03:00 and still enough energy to deliver a polished demo at 16:00.

By planning:

• What to serve from hour 0–48
• Menus that prioritise steady energy and dietary parity
• Logistics that work with London traffic and building access

…you turn food into a quiet superpower for your event.

Start simple:

1. Map your key hours
2. Choose focus-friendly meals and snacks
3. Book a London-savvy corporate caterer who understands hackathons

Then iterate based on feedback – just like your best products.