Hire ovens, induction hobs, fryers and grills for temporary kitchens, marquees and event catering sites across England and Wales.
Cooking equipment sits at the centre of every temporary kitchen, whether the job is a wedding marquee, a corporate canteen, a festival trader pitch or a backstage catering compound. Expo Hire hires 4-grid and 6-grid convection ovens, combi ovens, 2-zone and 4-zone induction hobs, gas ranges, salamanders, deep fat fryers and turbo fan ovens for chefs who need commercial output on site.
A temporary kitchen starts with three things: an oven, a hob and chilled storage. That core lets the chef roast, regenerate, boil, reduce and hold enough product for service. A 4-grid convection oven suits smaller teams cooking for 40 to 80 guests or handling support prep behind a main kitchen. A 6-grid oven gives more tray space for banquets, school catering and event dining where several proteins or side dishes need the oven at once. Convection and combi ovens do different jobs. A convection oven gives dry circulating heat, which suits roasting, baking, finishing and regeneration. A combi oven adds steam control, which helps with meat yield, vegetable finish and batch cooking where moisture retention matters. If the venue does not allow LPG or the site has no gas run, induction becomes the cleanest option. A 2-zone induction hob draws about 3.5kW and suits sauces, garnish work and smaller service lines. A 4-zone unit gives more flexibility for larger menus, but the power plan must allow for it. Heavy electric ovens often draw 6kW to 8kW and need a 32A supply. Fryers and salamanders also need dedicated feeds, so the generator or venue board should be signed off before the van leaves the depot. Gas ranges still suit outdoor kitchens and open marquee prep tents because chefs get direct flame control and fast heat recovery, but the team must hold the right safety paperwork. Sites that use LPG in a fixed or semi-permanent arrangement need a Gas Safe engineer to handle that installation. Expo Hire supplies dry hire, so your chefs or site engineers must connect and operate the kit. Build the kitchen around the menu pace. A plated wedding needs ovens and hot holding. A street food line might need griddles, fryers and one small oven for backup. The right answer depends on the food, not the stock list.
A chef serving 150 plated mains in 20 minutes needs different tools from a trader selling loaded fries to walk-up customers. Banquet work often needs oven space, a finishing grill and hot holding. Fast casual service often needs a fryer, a griddle and one prep fridge close by. Induction suits exhibition halls and smart venues because it keeps the line clean and cuts open flame risk. Gas suits open-air sites and large field kitchens because it removes pressure from the electrical plan. Before you book, list the dishes that must cook live, list the dishes that can regenerate, then match each step to one machine. That process exposes the weak point in the menu before the event does.
Most temporary kitchens need an oven, a hob and chilled storage as the starting point. The final list then depends on the menu and the service style.
A convection oven uses dry circulating heat. A combi oven adds steam, which helps with moisture control, regeneration and batch cooking.
A 2-zone induction hob draws about 3.5kW and should run from a dedicated supply.
You need a competent person for temporary outdoor use, and a Gas Safe engineer for fixed or semi-permanent gas installations.
Expo Hire does not charge a security deposit. A free minor damage waiver covers minor damage and loss. Excessive or negligent damage is charged at 10 times the hire price. Full details in our terms and conditions.
Use the carriage calculator to find your nearest branch and get an accurate delivery quote. Heavy or bulky items may need a second delivery operative — this is shown at checkout when applicable. At checkout we show an itemised delivery cost before you confirm the order.
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For orders over £1,000, you can confirm a booking with a 25% deposit and pay the balance up to 28 days before delivery. The checkout offers this automatically. Full details in our terms and conditions.
