A new-joiner welcome lunch has a different job from an ordinary office pizza order: it should help someone learn names, understand who does what and feel comfortable joining the conversation. The food matters, but so does knowing who will attend and giving the new colleague a clear idea of what to expect.
For teams in Canary Wharf or Canning Town, start with the welcome you want to create, then choose the setting and discuss food arrangements. This guide focuses on people and participation, rather than repeating a delivery checklist.
Choose the welcome before choosing the venue
Decide whether this is a small team introduction, a gathering for several starters or a chance to meet colleagues from other departments. Each needs a different guest list. Ask the new joiner privately whether they would prefer a quieter lunch or a broader introduction; do not assume that being the centre of attention will feel welcoming.
| Format | When to consider it | What to arrange |
|---|---|---|
| Small team lunch at work | The priority is meeting immediate colleagues in a familiar working space. | A host, a suitable table and a clear break from normal work. |
| Restaurant lunch | The team wants a change of setting and can agree time away from the office. | Enquire about space, food requirements and the proposed date before confirming plans. |
| Several starters together | New colleagues need introductions across different roles. | A few established colleagues who can explain useful points of contact. |
If colleagues would be leaving a Canary Wharf workplace for a Canning Town lunch, ask whether that change of location works for everyone. Do not make attendance depend on an unconfirmed travel assumption. For workplace catering, use a team enquiry; for a restaurant visit, ask specifically about hosting a welcome lunch.
Build a guest list with a purpose
Invite people the new colleague will actually need to know: their manager, immediate teammates and perhaps one or two regular collaborators. Avoid turning a first lunch into a parade of unfamiliar names. If the wider department wants to say hello, arrange another opportunity rather than expanding the lunch automatically.
Appoint one host to welcome people, make introductions and notice anyone left outside the conversation. If there is a buddy or designated point of contact, invite them too. Make clear that this is a social welcome, not a presentation or an informal assessment.
Confirm attendance without putting anyone on the spot
Send an invitation with the proposed setting, start and finish, purpose and a reply deadline that leaves time to discuss the order. Say whether lunch is being provided and clarify any payment arrangements internally before inviting people.
- Confirmed: attending the meal.
- Provisional: waiting on a meeting, working pattern or other commitment.
- Not attending: no explanation needed; offer a separate introduction.
Ask for food requirements privately rather than collecting them in a public group thread. Keep dietary details out of the general attendance list and share only what is necessary with the person handling the food enquiry. Confirm provisional replies before finalising arrangements; do not quietly count every invitee as a diner.
Give introductions a simple shape
A short prompt is enough: name, role and one thing the person can help the new colleague with. For example, a hypothetical introduction might cover who handles project questions or where to ask about a team process. There is no need for compulsory fun facts, personal disclosures or a speech from the newcomer.
For a hypothetical 45-minute lunch, try this structure:
- First five minutes: the host welcomes everyone and explains the relaxed format.
- Next ten minutes: brief introductions, with permission to keep them short.
- Next 25 minutes: eating and conversation, with the host explaining unfamiliar team shorthand.
- Final five minutes: thank everyone and identify a useful next contact or catch-up.
This is a suggested social agenda, not a food-service timetable. Adjust it to the agreed arrangements and avoid stretching the lunch beyond its advertised finish.
Make the shared meal genuinely optional to share
Use the Zzetta menu as a starting point for discussion, then ask staff about the specific choices and requirements. Do not assume everyone wants identical food or is comfortable taking slices from communal boxes. Discuss whether separately allocated food would be appropriate, without treating separate portions as an allergen-safety guarantee.
Zzetta is an independent stone-oven pizzeria, established in 2018, with Halal, Vegan and Gluten-Free options from one flame-fired kitchen. Discuss specific ingredients and suitability with staff: these options do not establish that every dish is halal or that food is allergen-safe. Nobody should have to explain their food choices to the table.
Send an enquiry that explains the occasion
For a team meal, visit the Catering Hub, then Get a Quote via WhatsApp. Adapt this template:
We are planning a new-joiner welcome lunch on [date] for [confirmed number], with [number] still provisional. We are considering [workplace catering in area / a restaurant lunch]. Our aim is relaxed introductions over a shared meal. Our proposed lunch window is [time]. We would like to discuss [food requirements] privately with staff. Please advise on suitable options, what you need from us and a quote. Nothing is confirmed yet.
Zzetta – Soul Fired Pizza · 110 Barking Road, Canning Town, London E16 1EN · 020 3904 7074 · WhatsApp +44 7852 272312 · ciao@zzetta.co.uk