Hire fridges and freezers for event bars, temporary kitchens and catering sites. Display fridges, back bar fridges and freezers from Expo Hire.
Cold storage protects food safety, supports service speed and gives every kitchen or bar a place to stage stock at the right temperature. Expo Hire hires back bar fridges, upright display fridges, undercounter fridges, chest freezers, blast chillers and counter-top mini fridges for wedding venues, exhibition stands, event bars and temporary kitchens.
Cold chain planning starts before the first tray goes into the cabinet. Refrigerated equipment should arrive the day before the event, because Expo Hire's terms require the unit to stand switched off for 12 hours after delivery before you turn it on. After that rest period, most fridges need another 6 to 8 hours to pull down to service temperature. If a team asks for a display fridge on the morning of the event, that team is already taking a risk. The right cabinet depends on the job. A 600mm back bar fridge suits bottled beer, white wine, soft drinks and garnish stock close to the bartender. An upright display fridge works well for front-of-house drinks sales, breakfast buffets and concession counters because guests and staff can see stock at a glance. An undercounter fridge keeps prep ingredients close to the chef in a marquee or temporary kitchen where floor space stays tight. Chest freezers give deeper frozen storage for desserts, ice cream or long service periods where the team needs reserve stock off the main line. Blast chillers suit larger cook-chill operations because they help chefs pull hot food down through the danger zone after production, then stage it for later regeneration. Compliance sits with the catering team, so staff should log temperatures, check door seals, avoid overfilling and keep raw products below ready-to-eat items. Event bars need the same discipline. White wine needs stable chilling, ice backup needs freezer space and reserve mixers need a dedicated shelf instead of a random box on the floor. A good refrigeration plan protects service speed as much as food safety because the chef or bartender stops wasting time hunting through warm crates for the next stock line.
A retail stand or buffet often needs a display fridge because visibility sells drinks and helps stock checks. A working bar often needs a back bar fridge because the staff need quick access behind the counter. A prep kitchen needs an undercounter or upright fridge because chefs need ingredients close to the cookline. Large scale catering that cooks in bulk may also need a blast chiller to support HACCP records and protect product quality between production and service. Keep each fridge on a level surface, give the ventilation grills room to breathe and keep doors shut as much as the service allows. A fridge can only hold temperature if the team uses it with discipline.
Order delivery for the day before the event. The unit must stand switched off for 12 hours after delivery, then it needs time to chill down before service.
A back bar fridge suits most event bars because it keeps bottled drinks, wine and mixers close to the service point.
Hire a display fridge when guests or staff need to see the stock, such as buffet service, concession counters or retail drinks sales.
Yes. The catering team should check and log temperatures as part of normal food safety practice.
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.
On the day, track your driver in real time on our order tracking page, or use the link in the automated text we send.
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.
