Easter is one of the most significant occasions in the Christian calendar and a natural point in the spring corporate calendar for team lunches, client events, and office gatherings. For London workplaces, the Easter period — with Good Friday and Easter Monday as bank holidays — concentrates social events into the three working days around the bank holidays. This post covers the traditions and dietary considerations of Easter, the particular catering considerations for a diverse London office, and how to plan the Easter period effectively.
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What Easter marks and its traditions
Easter is the central celebration of the Christian year, marking the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the Sunday following his crucifixion on Good Friday. It is the oldest and most theologically significant Christian festival, predating Christmas in the church calendar. The date of Easter is calculated according to a formula based on the lunar calendar — the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox — which is why it moves significantly from year to year, falling anywhere between late March and late April.
Easter traditions in Britain have both religious and pre-Christian roots. Hot cross buns, associated with Good Friday, have been eaten in Britain since at least the seventeenth century. Simnel cake — a fruit cake with marzipan — is traditionally associated with Mothering Sunday and Easter. Easter eggs, in chocolate and decorated forms, reflect both the Christian symbolism of new life and older spring festival traditions.
In 2026, Good Friday falls on 3 April and Easter Monday on 6 April, making the working days of Easter week Tuesday 31 March, Wednesday 1 April, and Thursday 2 April.
Food traditions and dietary considerations at Easter
Easter Sunday is traditionally associated with a roast lamb dinner in Britain — lamb carrying symbolism of new life and, for Christians, theological associations with Christ as the Paschal lamb. Hot cross buns, consumed on Good Friday, are traditionally a sweet, spiced bread roll marked with a cross.
Good Friday is observed by many Christians — particularly Catholics and some Anglicans — through abstinence from meat, with fish as the traditional alternative. This practice has medieval roots and remains meaningful to a significant number of churchgoing Christians. For workplace catering in the days leading up to Easter, being aware that some colleagues may be observing this tradition is considerate.
The most common allergens in traditional Easter food are gluten (in hot cross buns and simnel cake), nuts (in marzipan, which contains almonds), and dairy (in chocolate eggs and many Easter baked goods). Marzipan in particular is worth noting as an allergen risk in Easter baked goods — almond-based fillings are not always visually obvious.
Easter in a diverse London workplace
London workplaces include colleagues from many religious backgrounds, and Easter's significance as a Christian festival means that for some colleagues it is a deeply meaningful religious occasion, while for others it is primarily a bank holiday period. Both are legitimate, and workplace Easter events can function as spring social occasions without requiring any religious content.
For Muslim colleagues, the Easter period in 2026 falls close to Eid al-Fitr, meaning some colleagues may be in the period immediately following Ramadan. Catering that is certified halal throughout and alcohol-free — marzipan and some chocolate products contain alcohol in flavourings — means all colleagues can participate fully in an Easter office event without special accommodation.
Vegetarian and vegan colleagues can be well served at Easter without any reduction in quality or variety — the traditional fish and vegetable associations of Good Friday, and the wide range of plant-based spring ingredients available, make for naturally varied menus.
Planning Easter office catering in London for 2026
The working days of Easter week — Tuesday 31 March, Wednesday 1 April, and Thursday 2 April — are popular for team lunches and spring office gatherings. The Thursday before Easter is particularly busy as offices use it as their informal last-day-before-Easter occasion, equivalent in spirit to the last working day before Christmas.
Key planning considerations:
- Confirm which days your office is open — headcount is often lower during Easter week as some colleagues take annual leave around the bank holidays
- Order at least a week in advance for Easter week delivery — caterers fill their Easter slots quickly
- If serving hot cross buns or Easter baked goods, check for nut content — marzipan contains almonds and is not always labelled prominently
- Provide fish and vegetarian options prominently for colleagues observing Good Friday abstinence traditions
Vanda's Kitchen's kitchen is independently certified halal throughout, entirely nut-free, and over 60% of the menu is gluten-free as standard. All food is freshly prepared on the day of delivery. Minimum order is £150 in our central zones and £200 further out, with free delivery on orders over £600.
For Easter catering across London — independently halal-certified, 100% nut-free and fully allergen-labelled — browse our catering shop or WhatsApp the kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
When is Easter 2026?
Easter Sunday 2026 falls on 5 April. Good Friday is 3 April and Easter Monday is 6 April, both UK bank holidays. The working days of Easter week are Tuesday 31 March, Wednesday 1 April, and Thursday 2 April. Easter moves each year because it is calculated as the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox.
Why do some people avoid meat on Good Friday?
The tradition of abstaining from meat on Good Friday is rooted in Catholic and some Anglican Christian practice, observed as a form of fasting or penance on the day commemorating the crucifixion of Christ. Fish is the traditional substitute. The practice remains meaningful to many churchgoing Christians, and providing fish and vegetarian options prominently in Easter workplace catering is considerate of those observing it.
Are there hidden allergens in traditional Easter food I should be aware of?
Yes. Marzipan — common in simnel cake and some Easter chocolate products — is made from ground almonds and is a significant nut allergen risk that is not always visually obvious. Hot cross buns contain gluten, and many Easter chocolate products contain dairy and sometimes alcohol in flavourings. A caterer whose kitchen is entirely nut-free removes the marzipan risk at source.
Is Easter catering appropriate for a diverse, multifaith workplace?
Yes, when handled thoughtfully. Easter functions as both a religious festival and a bank holiday occasion in Britain, and workplace Easter events can work as spring social gatherings without requiring religious content. For Muslim colleagues, certified halal and alcohol-free catering allows full participation. For Hindu, Buddhist, or vegetarian colleagues, a varied menu with strong vegetarian options is standard good practice.
When should I book Easter week catering for a London office?
At least one week before the event, and ideally earlier. Easter week catering slots — particularly the Thursday before Good Friday — fill quickly as many London offices use that day as their spring occasion equivalent to the last working day before Christmas. Vanda's Kitchen delivers Monday to Friday across the City of London and central London.
Related: End of Year Team Lunch London: How to Close Out 2026 With Your Team · Away Day Catering London: How to Feed Your Team on Away Days and Offsites
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