Corporate Christmas parties at offices and hired venues require a different approach to hire than a private celebration. Lead times, delivery logistics, and catering requirements all sit differently in a corporate context.
Corporate Christmas parties at offices and hired venues require a different approach to hire than a private celebration. Lead times, delivery logistics, and catering requirements all sit differently in a corporate context.
Corporate Christmas parties at offices and hired venues require a different approach to hire than a private celebration. Lead times, delivery logistics, and catering requirements all sit differently in a corporate context.
\n\nDecember is the busiest month of the year for event hire across England and Wales. If your party date is in December, place your hire order in October or November.
\n\nThe most in-demand items, particularly round tables, chiavari chairs, and linen, are reserved months in advance by large corporate clients. Booking late means a smaller selection and less flexibility on delivery slots.
\n\nCorporate Christmas parties split roughly into two formats: a sit-down dinner and a standing buffet or canapé reception.
\n\nFor a sit-down dinner with 60 guests, you need 6 to 8 round tables, 66 chairs, tablecloths and napkins, crockery for each course, and wine and water glasses. Expo Hire's round tables for hire are available in 5ft and 6ft formats.
\n\nWhite or ivory linen is the most common request for corporate Christmas dinners. Some companies want coloured napkins to match their brand scheme.
\n\nOrder linen at one tablecloth per table plus 3 spares, and napkins at one per person plus 10%. For 60 guests at 7 tables, that is 7 cloths plus 3 spares and 66 napkins. Expo Hire's linen hire range includes napkins and cloths in a range of colours.
\n\nFor a sit-down Christmas dinner, the standard glassware set per person is one wine glass, one champagne flute for the toast, and one water glass. For 60 guests, that is 180 glasses minimum plus a 10% buffer, giving you 200 glasses.
\n\nIf you are also running a pre-dinner drinks reception, add champagne flutes for the reception separately at 1.5 per person. Expo Hire's glassware hire covers all formats.
\n\nMany corporate Christmas parties use outside caterers rather than in-house catering. Outside caterers expect the hire company to supply chafing dishes, service equipment, and prep tables.
\n\nConfirm the list with your caterer at the time of booking. For a three-course sit-down dinner for 60 guests, the caterer will need 2 to 3 hot holding units, a prep table, and serving trays. Expo Hire's catering equipment hire range covers all standard outside caterer requirements.
\n\nOffice buildings and conference centres often have restricted delivery hours. Goods lifts may have size limits, and car park access may require advance permission.
\n\nProvide Expo Hire with full access details when you place your order, including the contact name for the site, any time windows for delivery, and the floor the event is on. This avoids delays on a busy December delivery schedule.
\n\nFor a corporate sit-down Christmas dinner for 80 guests, a working hire list is:
\nYour caterer and venue may adjust some of these numbers. Always confirm before finalising the order.
See also: black tie dinner hire guide and gala dinner hire guide.
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