FAQs – Wedding Food & Drinks

Fingers & Forks is a highly respected catering company renowned for delivering bespoke, high-quality catering services with an element of accessible luxury.

At Stanlake Park, we have had the pleasure of working alongside Fingers & Forks for many years. We can confidently attest to their unwavering commitment to excellence, ensuring the highest standards of service for your special day.

The talented team at Fingers & Forks has carefully crafted menus to suit a range of budgets and styles, designed to perfectly complement the beauty of our venue.

Their prices include:

• Event management from a highly experienced team to ensure seamless service
• Acclaimed chefs and professional waiting staff
• Glassware, white crockery, and silverware
• Classic white table linen 

All prices are inclusive of VAT and charged per person, unless specified otherwise, making it easy to calculate the overall cost of your catering.

To explore the full offering from Fingers & Forks, please refer to our Food Packages page.

No, all necessary staff are included within the venue hire or catering price per head.

Catering is provided by Fingers & Forks, who operate under their own separate terms and payment schedule. They will confirm all payment arrangements with you directly when you book your catering.

Catering prices and any subsequent changes are determined by Fingers & Forks under their own terms and conditions. They will confirm their current pricing and any applicable terms directly with you.

Catering at Stanlake Park typically follows a banqueting style due to the high guest numbers and need for simultaneous food service. This means:

• You select one meat or fish starter and main
• You select one vegetarian starter and main
• You select one dessert for all guests.

Your guests will be served from your chosen menu (not à la carte).

BBQ menus and buffet options are also available through Fingers & Forks. Please feel free to reach them directly for details.

Yes, absolutely! You’re welcome to mix and match your menu format in any combination that suits you. Our menus are fully bespoke, so if you have a specific dish in mind, please ask!

Yes! Fingers & Forks and Stanlake Park host two menu tasting events throughout the year, where you can sample a three course menu with some of our most popular dishes, prepared by our Head Chef Kevin and team, paired with our drinks packages. Canapés and evening food will not be tasted. 

Tastings are complimentary for each couple as part of your booking, with the option to bring up to four additional guests for a fee of £75 per person (including VAT). 

These are fantastic group tasting events, providing a great opportunity to:

• Experience the Vineyard Barn from a guest’s perspective
• Meet and share ideas with other couples getting married around the same time
• Explore our Drinks Package with one of our Stanlake Park specialists, who will make it fun and relaxed!
• You’ll also be able to view sample hireware options for potential upgrades—if anything interests you, let us know so we can check stock availability and incorporate it into your quote.

Yes, subject to availability, Fingers & Forks are happy to host private tastings at their venue in Cookley Hill Farm, Maidensgrove for couples and up to four guests. The tasting will feature the couple’s chosen three-course menu (excluding canapés and evening food) at a cost of £200 ex VAT per person.

You select one meat or fish dish, one vegetarian dish and one dessert for all guests

Guests should notify you via RSVPs of any dietary requirements or food allergies. These must be carefully marked on the table plan template (which we’ll provide) and submitted at least one month before your wedding

The number of canapés depends on the timings of your day, and we will guide you accordingly.

When selecting your canapés, please consider your guests’ dietary requirements to ensure suitable options for everyone.

No, to avoid confusion, please do not share the full menu with your guests

If you want to offer two meat or fish options, an extra charge applies due to the additional preparation and staffing required.

Note: This may slow down service, so it’s not recommended, but please enquire with your event planner for details.

Yes, we offer a Children’s Menu – you select one dish per course for all child guests.

Alternatively, we can serve a half portion of the adult menu at half price.

As with adult guests, please inform us of any dietary requirements or allergies.

Children’s menu applies only to kids up to 12 years old.

Yes, we can! If there’s a dish from your culture or heritage that you’d like to incorporate into your menu, please let us know. Our chefs have a wealth of experience with global cuisines, and we’d be delighted to recreate a family recipe to meet your exact expectations.

No, we’re unable to offer halal meat. Stanlake Park follows a strict animal welfare policy and only sources and serves meat that meets our animal welfare standards, including effective pre-stunning before slaughter. We’re very happy to offer suitable vegetarian or plant-based alternatives for guests with specific dietary or religious requirements.

Of course! We use high-quality ingredients to create delicious dishes that ensure all guests feel included, regardless of dietary needs. If any of your guests have a severe nut allergy, we can prepare a fully nut-free menu. For any specific concerns, guests are welcome to contact Fingers & Forks directly, and we’ll be happy to discuss their options and provide reassurance. All allergies and dietary requirements are handled with the utmost care.

We require a detailed list of:

• Which guests have dietary needs
• Where they are seated
• What their specific requirements are

This information must be included in the table plan template we provide before your wedding.

Absolutely! Fingers & Forks offers a variety of catering options beyond the wedding day itself.

At Stanlake Park, we can help you plan many pre-wedding events such as tours, tastings, and drinks evenings. Just get in touch!

Absolutely! During your tasting event, you’ll have the opportunity to explore our hireware upgrades, from simple touches like coloured water glasses or gold cutlery to fully customised linen options. If you have a specific vision in mind, we’d love to hear your ideas so we can bring them to life.

• External caterers are not permitted to ensure culinary excellence, food safety, and quality control
• The only exceptions (subject to approval) are:
  • Wedding cakes
  • Sweetie tables
  • Ice cream carts*
  • Please note: Additional charges may apply. Suppliers are responsible for removing all their rubbish.
• If we are catering for your reception and wedding breakfast, we cannot mix external catering with our own (e.g. food vans for evening suppers)
• Dry hire (bringing in an external caterer for the full day) is not available

This policy also applies to friends or family wishing to provide hot or cold food.

For convenience, you may use a document we have prepared—just ask your dedicated planner. Alternatively, you can use the Hitched Table Planner: hitched.co.uk/planner/tableplanner/.

If you prefer, you are welcome to submit your plan in hand-drawn, Excel, or Word format—whichever works best for you.

Please submit your table plan to your Fingers & Forks dedicated planner one month prior to your event.

The plan should list guests by table in order of seating, along with any dietary requirements, including vegetarian meals or children’s meals. Additionally, please indicate any children who require a high chair or booster seat.

Any deadlines for final guest numbers, menu choices, dietary requirements or other catering changes are set by Fingers & Forks under their own terms and conditions. They will confirm the relevant deadlines with you directly as your wedding approaches.

Service times depend on your itinerary and previous meal timings.

We recommend having evening food during the band / DJ break.

During extremely cold times, pizzas may be cooked in the kitchen instead

This decision is at the chefs’ discretion, as they understand the appeal of wood-fired pizzas

If the weather is too cold:

• Alternative cooking methods will be used to replicate the wood-fired taste and texture
• This also ensures guests don’t have to go outside in cold weather and prevents heat loss from the barn
• It maintains comfortable working conditions for our kitchen team.

We don’t allow external food trucks or evening food suppliers, but Fingers & Forks offer a wide range of evening food options, please let them know if you are after something specific.

• This depends on the terms & conditions of your suppliers and what you’ve agreed with them
• If a hot meal is required, we typically provide a main course from your wedding breakfast menu (see Supplier Meal pricing)
• Check your contracts as some suppliers may stipulate meal provision
• It’s also helpful to inform your suppliers in advance of:
  • Whether they will receive a meal
  • What they can expect and when

We usually serve suppliers after all your guests have been served their main course. Please don’t forget to ask your suppliers’ dietary requirements.

Cake stands are usually supplied by your cake provider.

There is a lovely wine barrel in the Vineyard Barn that may be used as a cake table.

We provide a silver bride’s knife, which will be placed next to your cake.

As a vineyard wedding venue, we provide unique drinks packages that you won’t find in other venues. 

Please refer to the Drinks Package Menus for details and pricing. 

You can mix and match packages or request wines from our range that are not typically included. 

Bringing your own wines and drinks is not allowed, but we will do our best to accommodate your needs – just speak to our sales team.

No minimum spend applies to the bar. 

The bar accepts card payments only.

For guests who prefer not to drink alcohol, we offer an elegant alternative at £15 per person, including premium spritzes, local alcohol-free beer, and high-quality juices for both the reception and meal.

Please note that our drinks package prices include glassware based on wine and fizz. For non-drinkers, we kindly ask that they are marked on your table plan so we can provide them with a highball glass for their soft drink. These guests will not be given wine glasses or flutes for the toast.

For guests under 12, we offer a choice of premium pressed juices, cola, or lemonade at £8.50 per child.

All packages include bottled still and sparkling mineral water for the table.

You can also add fruit juice and elderflower jars to the tables for an additional £12.50.

All guests aged 5 and over must be covered by a Drinks Package – your choice between Wine, Non-Alcoholic, or Kids’ Package. 

Simply count the number of packages you need based on your guests number and preferences and let our team know!

Absolutely! We want you to feel confident in the exceptional quality of our estate-made wines, as well as our amazing selection of wines from our family friends in Puglia. If you haven’t had the chance to try them before, we offer several ways for you to explore our Drinks Packages:

• During a Menu Tasting Event – Enjoy our wines expertly paired with your chosen menu during a Fingers & Forks tasting. At group events, one of our knowledgeable team members will be present to guide you through the wine selection and provide insights into each option. 
• At Our Wine Bar – Experience the Stanlake Park vibe at our on-site Wine Bar. It’s the perfect place to sample our wines at your own pace, chat with our team, and relax with a glass while planning your special day.
• Private Wine Tasting – If you can’t attend the Menu Tasting Event, we’d be delighted to arrange a private tasting for the couple with one of our wine specialists. Simply get in touch, and we’ll make it happen!

Cantine PaoloLeo is one of the most highly regarded wineries in Puglia, a prestigious family-run estate led by winemaker Nico Leo—who also happens to be Stanlake Park’s winemaker, Nico’s, best friend and best man. Growing up in the same town and studying winemaking together at university, they always dreamed of producing wine side by side.

That dream became a reality with our Italian Collection—a selection of three fine Italian wines made from grapes grown in Nico’s family vineyard, then vinified by his best friend, Nico Leo, at Cantine PaoloLeo.

To further enhance our Drinks Package offerings, we now also offer a carefully curated selection of Cantine PaoloLeo wines, imported directly from the producer. These sit alongside our estate-grown English wine range and our Italian Collection, giving you an exceptional selection for your special day.

Yes! We have a selection of our very best wines available to purchase by the glass or bottle. If you’d like to include additional wines from our range, just let us know – we’d be happy to arrange it.

Please note: guests are not permitted to bring their own alcohol onto the premises. Any alcohol found will be confiscated; this includes flasks and small bottles. We also reserve the right to close the bar during the event if we realise that guests have brought their own alcohol. Please ensure your guests are aware of this policy, as the consumption of alcohol not purchased from the bar or included in your drinks package puts our licence at risk.

We offer a wide selection of drinks other than our wines, including spirits, craft beers, soft drinks and a selection of cocktails. We pride ourselves on sourcing as many of our drinks as possible locally, ensuring freshness and supporting regional producers. 

We also serve Double-Barrelled beer on draught (a local but widely recognised brewery from Tilehurst). 

The bar is operated by Stanlake Park’s experienced team. You have the following options:

Cash Bar
Our bar operates like a traditional pub, with guests paying for their own drinks. Please let you guests know that we accept card payments only.

Bar Tab
We can run a bar tab for your event. A credit card will be required and securely held behind the bar to settle the balance before departure. You can also set a spending limit if you wish.

Pre-Paid Tab
Alternatively, you may pre-pay a fixed amount for the bar. Please note that any unused balance is non-refundable.

If your Bar Tab reaches its limit on the night, please let us know in advance how you’d like to proceed:

• Extend the tab, which must be settled before departure, or
• Switch to a Cash Bar.

Unfortunately, this isn’t possible, as the bar operates under our licence, which requires us to control all drinks served and their source.

That said, if there’s something specific you’d like that we don’t currently stock, please let us know—we may be able to order it in for your evening (pre-payment would be required).

We operate a card-only bar, accepting all major cards (including Amex).

Please ensure your guests are aware of this in advance.