Outside Catering for Restaurants: Expand with Hire Equipment

Venturing into outside catering for private parties and corporate events can be a profitable expansion for any restaurant. But the logistics of sourcing reliable kitchen equipment for off-site events can be a significant obstacle. This is where hiring equipment makes sense.

Building an Off-Site Kitchen

Running a successful off-site catering operation means replicating the capability of a commercial kitchen in a location that may have no fixed infrastructure at all. The equipment you need depends on the menu and the volume of covers, but most outside catering setups require some combination of cooking equipment, preparation surfaces, handwash facilities and hot holding equipment.

Expo Hire offers an extensive range of both LPG and electrical catering equipment to cover each of these requirements.

Cooking Equipment

Our cooking equipment range for outside catering includes:

• Ovens Blue Seal Turbofan convection ovens for high-volume hot food service
• Fryers Thor single and double basket fryers for chips, seafood and fried starters
• Griddles and hot plates flat-top cooking surfaces for burgers, bacon and breakfast items at large outdoor events
• Induction hobs electric induction units that are safe for use under marquee canopies and at venues with gas restrictions
• Chafing dishes and bain maries for holding hot food at service temperature across buffet and banqueting service
• BBQ hire Cinders commercial barbecues for outdoor events, product launches and large private parties

LPG equipment is supplied with the correct hose and regulator for standard bayonet fittings on your gas cylinders. Gas Safe engineer certification is available on request.

Preparation and Hygiene Equipment

Off-site events require the same food hygiene standards as a fixed kitchen. Our hire range covers the practical requirements:

• Preparation tables stainless steel work surfaces for food preparation
• Hand wash units self-contained units with a water supply, essential for compliance at outdoor events
• Sinks single and double bowl sinks for washing and rinsing

Refrigeration and Chilling

Keeping ingredients at safe temperatures during outdoor events is non-negotiable. Our cold equipment range includes counter-top refrigerators, under-counter fridges and cool boxes suitable for event use. For large outside catering operations, we can supply multiple units to maintain food safety across all temperature-sensitive ingredients.

Order refrigeration equipment alongside your cooking equipment and confirm power requirements at the venue in advance. LPG cooking equipment can be used without a mains power supply; electric fridges and induction hobs require a reliable power source.

Serving Equipment and Tableware

A complete outside catering setup requires serving equipment and tableware alongside the kitchen kit. We supply:

• Crockery plates, bowls and serving dishes in quantities to match your covers
• Glassware wine glasses, water glasses and beer glasses
• Cutlery, full place settings including starters, mains and dessert
• Linen hire tablecloths, napkins and buffet skirting
• Beverage equipment tea urns, coffee dispensers, water boilers

Ordering tableware alongside cooking equipment from a single supplier reduces the number of deliveries to coordinate and ensures everything arrives on the same schedule.

Safety and Quality Assurance

All LPG equipment is inspected and tested before delivery. Gas Safe engineer certification is available on request. Each item arrives clean and in working condition. Our delivery drivers can confirm connection points and hand over any relevant safety documentation on delivery.

Transparent Pricing and Easy Ordering

All products are listed online with pricing and availability. There is no back-and-forth or quote process. Browse, confirm stock and order from your phone or computer.

A 25% deposit secures your order, with the balance due 28 days before delivery. This gives restaurants planning events well in advance plenty of financial flexibility.

Expo Hire provides a practical, cost-effective route into outside catering. Contact us to discuss your upcoming events and what cooking equipment or bar equipment you will need.