Book plates hire for commercial events and catering. Select 27cm dinner plates, 17cm side plates, and dessert plates with live stock and pricing online.
Plan commercial events or manage catering operations with commercial-grade tableware. Selecting the right plates helps define the dining presentation. Plates must serve their functional purpose and complement your menu. Expo Hire stocks plates hire for formal weddings, corporate dinners, casual buffets, and private parties. You choose specific styles for presenting each course. Booking happens entirely online, with live pricing and stock levels visible before you add items to your basket.
You select tableware from various materials and styles. China plates provide a traditional, clean look. These staple items suit formal functions, fine dining, and weddings, providing a bright white backdrop that makes food presentation clear. You find classic round china dinner plates in 27cm and 30cm diameters. Corresponding side plates measure between 17cm and 20cm. Dessert plates measure 15cm to 17cm. Matching your plates with our cutlery hire and glassware hire creates a unified table setting.
Consider stoneware plates for a different aesthetic. Stoneware items bring a rustic or contemporary feel, featuring a matt finish or subtle texture. These suit relaxed events, outdoor gatherings, or menus with a natural, earthy theme. Beyond round designs, specific square or oval plate styles create a modern table setting. Matching bowls and other tableware items present a unified table style. Every order includes a Free Minor Damage Waiver, covering accidental chips or breakages during your event.
Selecting correct plate dimensions matters for both presentation and practicality. Standard dinner plates measure 27cm in diameter. You present most main courses on this size without overcrowding the plate or leaving too much empty space. For larger main dishes or elaborate food displays, 30cm dinner plates offer additional surface area. You select these larger plates for banquets or multi-course meals. Portion control creates greater visual impact.
Side plates, measuring 17cm or 20cm in diameter, hold bread rolls, small starters, or additional sides for a main course. Their smaller size suits buffets or canapé receptions where guests collect smaller portions.
Dessert plates range from 15cm to 17cm. They hold puddings, cakes, or individual sweet courses. Their design matches the dinner and side plates. This maintains consistent table appearance across all courses.
Calculate quantities by factoring in the number of courses and guests. For a three-course seated meal for 100 guests, you require 100 dinner plates, 100 side plates, and 100 dessert plates. Include an extra 5-10% for unforeseen needs. Expo Hire operates a "Send It Back Dirty" policy. You return all crockery unwashed, and we handle the cleaning. We require no security deposit, and we calculate delivery from £40 ex-VAT by road distance from our 11 regional depots. You track your delivery vehicle live with an SMS ETA on the day.
Organising your catering setup requires accurate planning. Combine your plates hire with our linen hire to complete your dining tables. Stock levels update in real time across our website. Select your hire dates to check availability and confirm your order online.
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. 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.
