Reading Festival Equipment Hire | Expo Hire

Equipment Hire for Reading Festival

Reading Festival at Richfield Avenue is one of the UK's longest-running music festivals, drawing 90,000 visitors each August Bank Holiday weekend. The site hosts a large catering village, multiple licensed bars, and backstage hospitality operations. Expo Hire is a member of NOEA (National Outdoor Events Association). We supply food traders, bar operators, and hospitality teams with catering equipment, furniture, and refrigeration for the event.

Why hire from Expo Hire

• The only hire company in the UK that delivers and collects on Sundays. Most competitors stop at Saturday. We cover every day of the week.
• Live order tracking on every delivery and collection. Track your driver in real time by order number and postcode. No other hire company in the UK offers this for both delivery and collection.
• Every order 100% guaranteed before you pay. We check live stock and logistics at the point of booking. No substitutions, no shortfalls, no calls the week before.
• Choose morning or afternoon for delivery and collection. No other hire company gives you this choice. Your venue, your schedule.
• No security deposit. No damage deposit. Ever. Expo Hire never holds your money.
• Free Minor Damage Waiver on every order. Accidental scratches and minor wear covered at no charge. Other companies charge 2–3% of your order total for the same cover.
• The widest product range in the event hire industry. Chairs, tables, catering, glassware, linen, heating, gazebos, staging, and more from a single supplier.
• The only hire company in the UK with live chat support seven days a week, 8am to 8pm. Every competitor closes at 5pm on weekdays. Get answers when you are planning, not just during office hours.

Catering Equipment for Food Traders

The Reading catering village covers everything from gourmet street food to classic festival fare. Our catering equipment hire range covers the full commercial kitchen requirement. Commercial fryers handle the output volumes of a busy festival trading day. Our LPG gas ovens and griddles suit outdoor trading where gas is the primary fuel source. For baked goods and pizza operations, our commercial ovens cover the requirement.

Cold storage is non-negotiable for a multi-day festival in August. Our refrigeration hire includes commercial chest freezers and upright refrigerators rated for outdoor operation in warm weather. Maintaining food safety compliance across a Bank Holiday weekend requires reliable, continuously running refrigeration.

Bar and Drinks Service

Bar operations at Reading require substantial glassware and drink service equipment. Our beer glass hire, wine glass hire, and cocktail glass hire cover the quantities a busy festival bar moves across a three-day run. Poseur tables and bar stools create drinking zones in covered bar areas. Our Send It Back Dirty policy applies to all glassware and crockery.

Hospitality and VIP Areas

Reading Festival operates tiered hospitality packages. Our chair hire, sofas, tables, and linen suit the fitout of hospitality lounges, corporate entertainment areas, and backstage zones. For August evenings when the temperature drops, our patio heater hire extends outdoor hospitality into the night.

Delivery to Reading Festival

See all festival equipment hire options from Expo Hire.

We coordinate with site logistics to deliver equipment to your pitch or hospitality area during build week. Our depot network covers England and Wales, with strong coverage of the South East and Berkshire area. Browse and order online, no quote required.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do you hire for Reading Festival?

Expo Hire supplies furniture, catering equipment, linen, glassware, crockery and cutlery for Reading Festival across England and Wales. Browse the full catalogue at expohire.com or call 0800 910 1100 for help with your order.

How far in advance should I book equipment for Reading Festival?

For busy weekend dates, booking 4–6 weeks ahead is advisable. Midweek dates are usually available with 1–2 weeks' notice. Use the live stock checker on each product page to confirm availability for your specific date.

Do you deliver Reading Festival hire equipment on Sundays?

Yes. Expo Hire delivers and collects 7 days a week including Sundays and Bank Holidays. Morning and afternoon delivery windows are available every day of the year.

Is there a minimum order for Reading Festival hire?

The minimum order value is £50 ex-VAT excluding carriage. There is no minimum quantity per item.