Christmas Party Hire: A Guide for Venues and Caterers

The festive season brings a sharp increase in bookings for venues and caterers. Managing this surge requires the right commercial equipment to maintain service standards across private dining and large corporate events. Securing your 2023 christmas party hire early prevents stock shortages during the busiest weeks of the year. Expo Hire supplies the necessary ovens, furniture, and tableware to run your December events without relying on phone calls or manual quotes.

Catering Equipment for 2023 Christmas Party Hire

Festive menus demand higher food preparation and holding capacities than standard service. You can scale your kitchen output using LPG and electrical catering equipment from our commercial range. Adding six-burner ovens, twin-basket fryers, and hot holding cupboards prevents bottlenecks during service. Temporary kitchens benefit from extra preparation tables, double-bowl sinks, and portable handwash stations. These additions support off-site operations and professional caterer equipment hire setups for event agencies managing large guest lists.

Chafing dishes keep large quantities of food at the correct serving temperature during buffet service. Gel fuel burners heat the water bath beneath the food pans, removing the need for mains electricity. Venues with limited power sockets or outdoor marquees rely on these units to maintain food safety standards throughout the service period.

Table Settings and Send It Back Dirty Service

Presentation dictates the atmosphere during formal December dinners. You need commercial-grade crockery, glassware, cutlery, and linen to dress tables to a professional standard. Expo Hire removes the post-event washing up burden through our "Send It Back Dirty" service. Staff pack the plates, glasses, and forks straight into the crates unwashed, and our warehouse team handles the cleaning.

Traditional three-course settings follow a strict layout. Diners expect a starter fork and knife on the outside, followed by the main course fork and knife, with a dessert fork above the plate. A side plate occupies the left side of the main setting, complete with a side knife. Wine glasses sit at the tip of the main knife, alongside a water glass. You can order the exact quantities needed to build this layout through our live online booking system.

Classic white or ivory tablecloth hire creates a formal base for festive dining. You can match coloured napkins to specific corporate branding or room themes. A 120-inch (305cm) round cloth drops to the floor on a 5ft (1.5m) round table, hiding the table legs from view. Long trestle tables require a 70-inch by 120-inch (178cm x 305cm) cloth. Adding a table skirt to the guest-facing side hides storage boxes and creates a neat finish.

Christmas Furniture: Chairs and Tables

Formal dining requires seating that matches the occasion. Gold Chiavari chairs dominate December bookings because their metallic finish suits traditional winter themes. White Chiavari chairs present a stark, modern alternative for contemporary room designs. We include a free minor damage waiver on every order, covering the inevitable small scratches that occur during busy turnarounds.

Extended awards dinners and four-course meals demand supportive seating. Upholstered banqueting chairs give guests better comfort than bare wooden frames over a long evening. You can select seat pad colours to match your venue decor. EventPro manufactures this seating specifically for the hire trade rather than domestic retail, delivering heavy-duty performance.

Room layout dictates your table selection. Round tables keep sightlines open and prompt conversation among guests. Trestle tables work best for long banquet rows or straight buffet stations. A 6ft (1.8m) trestle table seats 6-8 guests, while a 5ft (1.5m) round table accommodates 8-10 diners. You can check live stock levels for all table sizes directly on our website.

Glassware and Barware for High-Volume Service

Bar traffic peaks during winter celebrations. Your inventory must include enough glassware to handle rapid service without waiting for the glasswasher to finish a cycle. Stocking extra wine glasses, champagne flutes, spirit tumblers, and pint glasses prevents queues at the bar. You do not need to pay a security deposit on these items, freeing up budget for other event costs.

Cocktail menus require specific preparation tools. Bartenders need shakers, jiggers, and strainers to maintain speed and accuracy. Adding high poseur tables and bar stools creates a distinct social area away from the main dining floor. You can view all bar equipment prices live on the product pages, with no hidden fees or manual quoting delays.

Logistics for 2023 Christmas Party Hire

Transporting commercial equipment requires strict scheduling. Expo Hire calculates delivery from £40 ex-VAT based on the road distance from your nearest depot. We send live vehicle tracking links and SMS arrival times on the morning of your delivery. This keeps your team informed while setting up a stately home event or preparing a private dining room.

Securing stock early prevents last-minute shortages. We recommend booking your December inventory by September or October. You can place your entire order online 24/7, paying a 25% advance deposit on orders over £500 to lock in the dates. Warehouse self-collection operates Monday to Friday between 7am and 3pm from our Birmingham depot for smaller orders.

Managing a busy festive calendar requires dependable equipment and transparent pricing. You can browse the full EventPro range online, check real-time availability, and secure your dates instantly. Prices are live on the site right now. Add your required items to the basket and confirm your booking today.