Children's Party Hire: Tables, Chairs and Catering Equipment

Expo Hire is a commercial hire supplier with minimum order quantities, which means it is most relevant for larger children's events: school fetes, community children's parties, large family garden parties, and outdoor children's events where the numbers justify a full hire order. This guide covers the furniture and equipment for events of 50 guests and above.

School Fetes and Community Children's Events

School fetes and community children's events are the most common large-scale children's events where commercial hire makes sense. These need: trestle tables for stalls and serving, folding chairs for a seating area, outdoor furniture for general use, and catering equipment for a hot food or refreshment stand.

For a school fete with 10 stalls, 10 to 12 trestle tables are the starting point. A trestle table is 6ft (183cm) long and gives enough surface area for a well-stocked stall. Stall-holders need one table per stall, sometimes two for larger displays.

For visitor seating, folding tables and chairs create a picnic area where families can sit with food and drinks. For 200 visitors with peak attendance of 80 to 100 seated at any one time, allow 10 to 12 folding tables and 40 to 50 chairs. See the folding chair hire page for available options.

Garden Party Children's Events

A large family garden party for a child's birthday, such as a 10th birthday with 60 to 80 friends and family, falls within the range for commercial hire. For this format, the key items are:

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• Folding tables for the buffet and general seating
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• Outdoor furniture including garden chairs and tables for adults
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• A gazebo or small marquee for cover over the buffet table and main seating area
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• A BBQ for outdoor cooking if the party includes hot food
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For 60 to 80 guests at a garden party, allow 6 to 8 folding tables and 40 to 50 chairs. If adults and children are mixed, a separate adult seating area with garden furniture keeps the layout organised without the children's party area becoming overcrowded.

Gazebos and Outdoor Cover

Outdoor children's events in England need a contingency for bad weather. A gazebo over the buffet table and the main seating area keeps food and guests dry if rain arrives. Expo Hire stocks gazebos and smaller marquee structures suitable for garden parties and outdoor events. See the gazebos and marquees page for sizes and availability.

BBQs for Outdoor Children's Parties

A BBQ is a practical catering option for a large outdoor children's party. Gas BBQs from Expo Hire are available in sizes suited to events of 30 to 100 guests. For a party of 60 children and adults with a BBQ as the main food, a mid-range gas BBQ with a large cooking surface is the right choice.

For events over 80 guests where BBQ food is the primary catering, two BBQs keep serving times down. See the BBQ hire page for current models and output.

Crockery and Serving Equipment

Children's party buffets are often served on paper plates for convenience, but for a more eco-conscious event, reusable crockery from Expo Hire is an option. For a buffet of 80 guests, the basic crockery needed is 80 to 100 plates, serving spoons and tongs for each buffet dish, and trays for carrying food from the kitchen to the table.

For hot food at a buffet, chafing dishes keep food at temperature during a long service period. For a children's party with a two-hour eating window, chafing dishes are worth including if the food is hot. See the catering equipment page for the full range.

Minimum Orders and Planning

Expo Hire has a minimum order value for delivery, which means small orders for 10 to 15 children are not cost-effective. The hire model works best when the event is large enough to justify the delivery cost. For smaller children's birthday parties at home, a local party hire company may be a better fit.

For events of 50 or more guests where a full furniture setup is needed, Expo Hire is the right option. Delivery and collection is available across England and Wales. For delivery charges and minimum order values, see the carriage and delivery page.

See also: sports day hire guide and outdoor cinema event hire guide.