Food & Drink Festivals

Hire trader tables, bars, refrigeration, barriers and catering equipment for food and drink festivals across England and Wales.


Start Planning Your Event Today

Food and drink festivals need service equipment that can keep up with footfall, producers, traders and public dwell time.

Seating matters, but refrigeration, bars, wash-up support, prep areas and queue flow matter more once the gates open.


Why hire from Expo Hire

  • Sunday delivery and collection available.
  • Live order tracking on every delivery and collection.
  • Every order confirmed before payment. No substitutions and no shortfalls.
  • No security deposit. No damage deposit. Standard hires do not carry either charge.
  • Free Minor Damage Waiver on every hire. Normal accidental breakages are covered.
  • One supplier for the full event order. Chairs, tables, catering equipment, glassware and linen from one place.
  • Live chat support seven days a week, 8am to 8pm.

Equipment for Food & Drink Festivals

Most jobs on this page start with chairs, tables and a clear service layout. The order then grows into the support stock that keeps guests, staff and suppliers moving in the same room or on the same site.

For most orders, the core links sit in Chair Hire, Table Hire, Catering Equipment Hire, Glassware Hire and Linen Hire. Outdoor formats often add stock from Outdoor Hire.

  • Bench seating and poseur tables for public dwell areas.
  • Bars, bottle coolers and glassware for drinks zones.
  • Display fridges, hot cupboards and prep tables for traders.
  • BBQs, griddles, fryers or burners for live service.
  • Gazebos and service counters for weather cover and cleaner operation.

The exact mix changes with guest numbers, service style and venue access. A standing launch needs more bar surfaces and fewer seats. A dinner, exam or conference needs stronger seating counts and more disciplined aisle space.


Quantities guide

Start with the busiest point of the day, not the quietest. Count who needs a seat, who only needs a standing surface and what support stock the service team needs at the same time.

Group sizePlanning guide
50 guests50 covers or a small tasting crowd often means 4 bench sets, 1 bar and 1 display fridge
100 guests100 to 150 guests often means 10 bench sets, 2 bars and several trader prep surfaces
200 guests200 plus guests often means several bars, several refrigeration points and separate trader prep zones

Tasting-led events need more glassware and standing surfaces.

Street-food-led events need more seats, bins and tray-clear space.

These figures give you a planning baseline, not a fixed rule. The venue shape, the weather, the menu and the delivery route can all change the final count.


Planning considerations

Utilities come first because many appliances need 16A or 32A supply.

Deliver refrigeration the day before so it can pre-cool for 6 to 8 hours.

Use a competent person for LPG cooking equipment.

Protect the working side of the site with shelter before the guest side.

Plan queue routes and dirty returns early because the site generates constant movement.


How hire works

Standard hire runs for 3 days: delivery day, event day and collection day. That structure suits most event jobs because it gives you time to build, trade or host, then clear the stock without forcing everything into one shift.

Expo Hire delivers across England and Wales. Delivery starts from £40 ex-VAT and is calculated by distance from the nearest depot. Equipment arrives clean and tested. The service is dry hire, so your team, venue staff or caterer place the stock in final position after delivery.

Drivers do not set equipment up, connect gas or carry items up and down stairs. If the order includes refrigeration, ask for delivery the day before so the units can pre-cool for 6 to 8 hours. LPG equipment must be connected by a competent person. Fixed installations need a Gas Safe engineer. Many commercial catering items need a 16A or 32A supply rather than a standard 13A socket.


Ordering

Build the order online at expohire.com once the dates, quantities and venue details are ready. The basket shows live stock and pricing, so you can size the job around the real guest count or room plan rather than a rough estimate.

If you need help with quantities, carriage or specialist equipment, call 0800 910 1100 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. If the order needs sign-off before payment, use the basket as the base for an internal quote.

Add access notes, room names, hall numbers, stand details or site contacts before checkout.


FAQ

What equipment do people usually hire for food & drink festivals?

Most orders start with chairs, tables and service equipment, then add the extra stock that fits the format. That can include bars, glassware, linen, refrigeration, outdoor furniture or temporary kitchen equipment. The exact mix depends on guest numbers, service style and venue access.

How many tables and chairs do I need for food & drink festivals?

Start with the real guest count, then check how much of the event is seated and how much is standing. A drinks-led event needs fewer seats and more poseur or service tables. A dinner or exam setup needs a full seat count and clearer aisle space.

Can Expo Hire deliver for food & drink festivals in England and Wales?

Yes. Expo Hire delivers across England and Wales. Carriage starts from £40 ex-VAT and is calculated by distance from the nearest depot.

What should I check before ordering catering or refrigeration equipment?

Check power, gas responsibility and access before you place the order. Fridges and coolers should arrive the day before so they can pre-cool for 6 to 8 hours. LPG equipment must be connected by a competent person, and fixed installations need a Gas Safe engineer.

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