Iftar catering is the one event in the year where the serving time is fixed by the sky rather than the invitation. Everything else in the plan works backwards from maghrib.
Build the timeline backwards from maghrib
Fix the maghrib time for your date first, then work back:
- Maghrib: dates, water and something light must already be on the table — not being carried in.
- Maghrib minus 30 minutes: buffet set, chafing units lit, mains at temperature.
- Maghrib minus 90 minutes: delivery and set-up at the venue.
- Maghrib plus 20–30 minutes: most guests return from prayer and the main service peaks. This is the moment your warm holding earns its keep.
That second peak is what most first-time hosts underestimate. A buffet opened at maghrib and left uncovered is lukewarm by the time the hall refills. We serve from professional warm holding in silver or copper chafing units precisely for this shape of evening.
Portioning: two sittings, not one
Plan an iftar as a light opening and a substantial main service. Dates and a starter carry the first ten minutes; the mains, rice and breads carry the rest. Because guests break fast in stages, dish variety matters more than sheer quantity — a Silver £35 spread (2 starters, 3 mains, 2 sides) suits a community iftar better than a single-main Bronze order, even at the same headcount.
For reference, our tiers are Bronze £25 (1/2/1), Silver £35 (2/3/2), Gold £45 (3/4/3) and Platinum £60 (4/5/4) per head. Selections beyond the tier allowance become a bespoke quote, priced and shown to you before confirming.
Halls, mosques and community venues
Community halls across Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston and Hounslow rarely have usable kitchens, and access is often tight around prayer timetables. Confirm three things with the hall: the earliest set-up time, whether tables and table length are provided, and who is responsible for clear-down. Our catering service runs from 11am onwards by prior booking, so an early set-up is not a problem — it just needs booking in.
Delivery is free within 10 miles of our Richmond kitchen and quoted between 10 and 20 miles, which covers most South West London community venues.
Sourcing and what we can evidence
Meat and poultry are sourced from trusted suppliers providing halal-certified products, no pork is handled and alcohol is not used as an ingredient. Jaflong itself is not independently HMC-certified — if your committee requires a specific certification standard, tell us before booking. Our FSA hygiene rating is 5, inspected 25 March 2025 at 16 Ashburnham Road, and is checkable on the FSA website.
Ramadan dates fill early
Ramadan compresses a month of catering into a fixed set of evenings, and weekend dates within it are the first to go. If you are catering a family iftar, a workplace iftar and a community night, book them as one conversation. Eid follows immediately afterwards — our Eid catering page and Ramadan iftar service page cover both.
Allergens and dietary needs
Community iftars have the widest dietary spread of any event we cater. Keep a clearly labelled vegetarian and vegan section — see our plant-based menus — and send allergy information before confirming. Allergen information is available on request; our kitchen handles multiple allergens and cannot be guaranteed allergen-free.
Next steps: browse the full catering menu, check package prices per head, build a quote with your date and guest count, or send an enquiry. We cater across Richmond, Twickenham, Kingston upon Thames and every area we serve.
Written by the Jaflong Tandoori catering team, family-run in Richmond since 2008 and led by owner Syed Bashar. Last reviewed September 2026.