About Us
Welcome to Thistle Catering Services, award-winning bespoke event caterers in the heart of Scotland. Dedicated to creating fantastic canapés, lunches, dinners, and buffets as well as designing and organising beautiful weddings, corporate events and private parties.
Getting it right on the day is key, our experienced and energetic team of professional chefs, event managers and uniformed front of house waiting staff will provide peace of mind on your event day, as well as offering an outstanding level of event planning in advance.
Owner Lorraine Smith inspired by her love of cooking and serving customers started out by setting up a mobile shop back in 1996 with the sole aim of working part-time in the food industry, whilst at the same time working full time in NHS management.
Never shy of hard work, that love of food and serving customers grew, and the company expanded to a 70 seated restaurant and ice cream shop in 2003.
During the 10 years in the restaurant, Thistle Catering Services organically expanded into events catering, extending to Festivals, Private, Corporate and Wedding catering.
Providing catering at many events throughout Scotland, operating street food units, large marquee field kitchens, and the addition of a Fish and Chip Shop, Thistle Catering Services served up great tasting food throughout the whole of Scotland and in some of the most unlikely places…..
In 2013, Thistle Catering moved to industrial premises, allowing the company to grow the business further to include contract catering and expand and enhance their growing wedding catering services.
A family run business, we love what we do, and our approach is simple; we use high quality, local Scottish seasonal ingredients and reinvent traditional dishes with a stylish and modern twist.
A professional, approachable team who are passionate and care deeply about our food and excellent service delivery.
Thistle Catering Services is one of the top event caterers in Scotland, working with an impressive portfolio of clients having delivered great events in some of Scotland’s stunning venues;
Haddo House, Cluny Castle, Burgie House, Cortes House, Coos Cathederal, Mar Lodge, Brodie Castle, Barra Castle Barn, Fyvie Castle, Kinkell Byre, Errol Park Estate, Schivas House, Ballogie House and many other stunning locations in marquees and Edwardian Homes.
Our experience
We have catered at many of Scotland’s large scale Festivals and Highland Games,
Aberdeen Highland Games, VIP Marquee Catering 2003,
Main Caterer for Portsoy Traditional Boat Festival Catering in the 90’s,
Scone Palace Game Fair Public Catering Marquees and public bars,
Edinburgh Sea Fest, Private Lunch for
HRH Princess Anne
Grampian Transport Museum Main Caterer
Main Caterer for Aberdeen City Hogmanay Street Party 2005
Gordon Highlanders Military Shows 2003 and 2004
HRH Queen Jubilee Tea Dance Aberdeen Marquee caterer, in 2002
TV, channel 4 Artist of the Year, Top Gear 2021, photoshoots
Developing and growing the business is always at the forefront of our vision.
So if you are looking for a great venue, delicious food, excellent service and great value for money, then we would love to talk to you.
Our Staff
Its the Thistle Catering Team who make us who we are and where we have got to today! We have a hardworking team who are passionate and care deeply about our food and service delivery.
Deliver wonderful food experiences and events, whilst embracing new and innovative food and service ideas. We personally care about providing genuine satisfaction to all of our clients whilst ensuring that their event is an overwhelming success from start to finish.
Waiting Staff
We have a fantastic team of waiting staff, enthusiastic, trained, helpful and experienced.
Our staff are uniformed, wear name badges and will ensure that your guests are attended to throughout your event
Industry Awards
Recognition By Industry Leaders, Voted By Our Customers
The Scottish Wedding Awards
The Scottish Wedding Awards aim to recognise and reward those within the wedding industry that work towards making your day perfect.
Voting by the Scottish public, the Wedding Awards recognise catering companies that provide excellent wedding coordination and delicious food for your wedding day. The Official Scottish Wedding Awards allows suppliers in the Wedding Industry to be recognised for all their hard work and collaboration with bridal parties.
Our team at Thistle Catering Services were delighted to be awarded Regional Wedding Caterer of Highly Commended Wedding Caterer of the Year 2019
The Scottish Food Awards
The Food Awards Scotland recognises the success of local catering professionals who consistently deliver delicious food experiences to their customers. The winners are a true reflection of high standards of food and customer service voted for by members of the general public.
These awards aimed to thank those that work hard in the Scottish food industry and contribute to making Scotland a great place to visit.
Thistle Catering Services are very proud to have been awarded Cater of the Year 2018
Food Awards Scotland.On Monday 21st August 2018, Thistle Catering were awarded the Caterer of the Year, 2018, at The
Food Awards Scotland – Caterer of the Year – Winner 2016
Thistle Catering Services are delighted to have been voted Caterer of the Year 2016, voted by our customers we are delighted that our customers enjoy our food as much as we enjoy producing it!….. Using the finest local produce you can be assured of great tasting food.
The Scottish Wedding Awards
The Scottish Wedding Awards aim to recognise and reward those within the wedding industry that work towards making your day perfect.
Voting by the Scottish public, the Wedding Awards recognise catering companies that provide excellent wedding coordination and delicious food for your wedding day. The Official Scottish Wedding Awards allows suppliers in the Wedding Industry to be recognised for all their hard work and collaboration with bridal parties.
Our team at Thistle Catering Services were delighted to be awarded Regional Wedding Caterer of the Year 2015, 2017, and Highly Commended Wedding Caterer of the Year 2019
Scottish Wedding Awards, Wedding Caterer of the Year 2017
Top Tier Awards Grampian
Recognising the work of the Wedding Suppliers in Grampian. Local brides and grooms vote for their best suppliers. We have been fortunate to be a Finalist in 2017,2018,and 2019. 2022.
Finalist for Grampian Wedding Caterer of the Year
The Scottish Confetti Awards
The Scottish Confetti Awards is a free to enter, public voted, an independently judged award scheme, celebrating the best of the Scottish wedding industry. In their own words:
“We search nationwide for the best companies as voted for by their customers. The shortlisted businesses from each category will be researched and reviewed by our panel of industry specialists. Our independent judges and mystery shoppers will be touring the country visiting the best of Scotland’s wedding businesses; cakes will be sampled, catering taste-tested, venues inspected, and customer service scrutinised in the search to find the best of the best.”
2016, 2018 and 2019 Finalists in the Scottish Confetti Awards, Wedding Caterer of the Year
Highly Commended 2022 & 2023
Scottish Weddings Award – Independent Caterer North East Scotland
Thistle Catering were voted the best North East Wedding Caterers 2015, With a public voting system the Scottish Wedding Awards is very much a celebration of local talent. Winning the award is a true reflection of quality and customer service, chosen by members of the public for excellence in all aspects of business practice in the wedding industry. We are so excited to have won the 2015 awards.
In 2016, Thistle Catering were voted Finalist in the Scottish Independent Catering of the Year, and were also voted Finalist in the Scottish Confetti Awards, Caterer of the Year, one of only five companies in Scotland.
Healthy Living Award – 2010
Over the years Thistle Catering has built a considerable reputation as one of the Scotland’s leading event caterers and outside catering companies.
As recognition of this we have received industry awards from our clients and peers in the events industry for our food and menus.
Thistle were awarded the Healthy Living Award in 2010 for dishing up healthy food in line with Scottish Governments Initiatives.
The healthyliving award is a national award for the foodservice sector in Scotland. It has long been recognised that caterers can play an important role in influencing what their customers eat, and it is important to recognise and reward those who are making it easier for their customers to eat more healthily. We were delighted to be recognised. playing an important role in providing healthy nutritional food in our restaurant.
Press & Media
Sit back, relax, and grab a cup of coffee (or your favourite beer) and read about what’s happening in the world of event catering and wedding catering.
Two Grooms, A Best Dog + A Car Called Dorothy
It was love at first sight when Brent and Julian’s eyes met over a jelly bean machine. They got engaged on a clifftop on the Moray coast, with a Haribo jelly ring. And it’s safe to say things have been pretty sweet ever since. Their vintage-inspired, DIY village hall...
Beyond the breakfast: creative canapés and evening snacks to save room for
There’s no denying your sit-down meal will be the main event, but start and finish the day with an equally stellar spreadBefore As well as an emphasis on taste, a good canapé spread should look visually appealing with pops of colour. This selection from Orde Food more...
Eight Scottish caterers tell us about times they’ve risen to the challenge
Step aside mere mortals – these big-day gourmet gurus can tackle any test of foodie skillFighting fire with fire What could be better than munching on a BBQ at the height of summer? Serving a feast of grilled meat and veg chimes nicely with the chilled-out barn...
What our Friends Say About us......
Join Us
Let’s do great things together!
If you’re on the hunt for a rewarding and flexible job in a multi-award-winning catering company, then we offer plenty of opportunities to bright, passionate and like-minded individuals who want to join our team.