We hire chafing dishes, bain maries, hot cupboards, urns and serving equipment for events across England and Wales.
We hire chafing dishes, bain maries, hot cupboards, urns and serving equipment for events across England and Wales.
All catering equipment from Expo Hire is supplied on a dry hire basis. Equipment arrives clean and in tested working order. Expo Hire does not provide setup, installation, connection to gas or electrical supplies, or on-site technical support.
Gas appliances -- including BBQs, gas burners, and LPG ovens -- must be connected and operated by someone with the relevant competence. LPG connections in fixed or semi-permanent installations require a Gas Safe registered engineer. Expo Hire supplies the equipment and gas bottles; the customer is responsible for safe connection and use.
Electrical appliances -- including hot cupboards, glass washers, and electric ovens -- must be connected to an appropriate power supply by someone familiar with commercial catering equipment. If you are unsure whether you have the facilities or expertise to operate a piece of equipment, call us before placing your order.
This equipment is designed for commercial catering use. It is not suitable for domestic kitchens or users without catering experience.
We hire catering equipment to event organisers, caterers, and private hosts across England and Wales. Whether you're feeding 50 guests at a corporate lunch or serving 1,000 covers at an outdoor festival, we can supply the chafing dishes, bain maries, hot cupboards, urns, and serving accessories you need.
Our catering hire range covers buffet and hot food service from start to finish.
If you have specific equipment in mind that isn't listed here, get in touch. We carry a wider range than the website shows.
Wedding buffets and wedding breakfast service are among the most common reasons people hire catering equipment from us. Chafing dishes with gel fuel keep food hot during a self-serve buffet without any power supply. For a seated wedding breakfast with plated service, a hot cupboard lets kitchen staff hold courses at temperature before service begins.
Working lunches and conference catering follow a similar pattern: caterers prepare food off-site, transport it to the venue, and need to keep it hot during a long service window. Chafing dishes and bain maries are the standard solution. We supply to corporate event planners and in-house catering teams on a regular basis.
Outdoor catering brings its own constraints. Power supply isn't always reliable, and equipment takes a knock during setup and breakdown. Our chafing dishes run on gel fuel or methylated spirits, so there's no dependency on electricity. Gastronorm trays and serving tools in stainless steel are robust enough for outdoor use. We also hire trestle tables, folding tables, and serving furniture if you need to build out a full food service station.
Birthday parties, anniversary dinners, and marquee events at private venues often need catering equipment in smaller quantities than a commercial event. We hire by the piece, so you can order exactly what you need rather than paying for a full commercial kit. For a dinner party of 50, a couple of chafing dishes and a hot cupboard is often enough. For 200 or more, we'll help you work out the right equipment list.
Chafing dishes use gel fuel canisters or methylated spirits as the heat source. Fuel is not included in the hire price, but we can supply it as an add-on when you book. If you prefer to source your own, gel fuel canisters are available from most catering wholesalers.
As a guide, a standard gel fuel canister burns for around two hours. For a buffet running across a full lunch or dinner service, plan for two canisters per chafing dish. We can advise on quantities when you contact us.
We hire catering equipment by the piece and in pre-configured sets. For events between 50 and 200 covers, individual items are the most cost-effective option. For larger events, sets give you everything matched and counted without having to build a list from scratch.
Volume pricing applies from around 10 items of the same type. If you're equipping a full buffet station or ordering for a multi-day event, ask about volume rates when you get in touch.
Most events need more than the hot food equipment. We also hire crockery, glassware, cutlery, linen, and tables. Ordering everything together keeps logistics straightforward: one delivery, one collection, and a single invoice. Our range covers dinner plates, side plates, wine glasses, champagne flutes, table cutlery in standard and premium weights, tablecloths, napkins, and a range of trestle and poseur tables.
Return catering equipment dirty. We wash everything on return at our depot. You don't need to pre-wash, but please remove excess food debris and stack items safely for transport. Damaged or missing items are charged at replacement cost.
Add items to your basket and check out. You'll enter your event date and delivery address at checkout. We'll confirm your order and contact you if we need any further information before dispatch.
If you'd rather talk through what you need first, call us or use the contact form. We're used to helping people put together an equipment list from scratch, and we can turn around a quote the same day.
We deliver and collect across England and Wales. Delivery charges vary by distance from our depot. Enter your postcode at checkout for an accurate delivery price. We deliver seven days a week, including bank holidays, to suit event schedules.
Browse the full range and request a quote. We deliver to venues across England and Wales.
