Outside Catering for Restaurants: Expand with Hire Equipment

Expanding your restaurant operations into private parties and corporate events requires commercial-grade kitchen setups. Sourcing the right gear for off-site locations presents a major logistical challenge. Using outside catering services hire from Expo Hire removes this obstacle. You get access to professional equipment without the capital expenditure, allowing your team to replicate restaurant-quality food in temporary venues. Every order includes a free minor damage waiver, covering accidental scratches or dents during service.

Building a Kitchen with Outside Catering Services Hire

Running an off-site food operation means replicating the functionality of a fixed commercial kitchen in a venue that might lack existing infrastructure. The specific items you need depend on your menu and guest numbers. Most setups require a combination of cooking units, preparation surfaces, handwash facilities, and hot holding units. Expo Hire stocks both LPG and electrical catering equipment to meet each of these requirements.

Essential Cooking Equipment for Events

The cooking equipment inventory covers multiple fuel types and capacities:

• Ovens: Blue Seal Turbofan convection ovens provide high-volume hot food service. These units give you stable temperature control, crucial for dishes requiring precise cooking times.
• Fryers: Thor single and double basket fryers suit high-volume production of chips, seafood, and fried starters. A double basket fryer significantly increases your output per hour.
• Griddles and Hot Plates: Flat-top cooking surfaces suit burgers, bacon, and breakfast items at large outdoor events. Their large surface area lets your chefs cook multiple items simultaneously.
• Induction Hobs: Electric induction units provide a safe choice for use under marquee canopies and at venues with gas restrictions. They deliver rapid heating and exact temperature management.
• Chafing Dishes and Bain Maries: These units hold hot food at the correct service temperature across buffet and banqueting services, maintaining food quality throughout the event.
• BBQ Hire: Cinders commercial barbecues suit outdoor events, product launches, and large private parties. They deliver a distinct flavour profile for grilled items.

We supply LPG equipment with the correct hose and regulator for standard bayonet fittings on your gas cylinders. You can request Gas Safe engineer certification for your records.

Preparation and Hygiene Equipment for Food Safety

Maintaining strict food hygiene standards remains paramount for off-site events. The hire inventory covers the practical requirements to maintain compliance:

• Preparation Tables: Stainless steel work surfaces provide a hygienic and durable area for all your food preparation tasks. You can select various sizes to suit your space.
• Hand Wash Units: Self-contained units with a water supply help staff maintain hand hygiene at outdoor events.
• Sinks: Single and double bowl sinks handle the washing and rinsing of utensils, ingredients, and equipment.

Refrigeration and Chilling for Ingredient Safety

Keeping ingredients at safe temperatures during outdoor events remains a strict requirement. The cold equipment inventory includes counter-top refrigerators, under-counter fridges, and cool boxes suitable for event use. For large operations, you can book multiple units to hold temperature-sensitive ingredients safely.

Before booking refrigeration units alongside your cooking equipment, confirm the power requirements at the venue. LPG cooking equipment operates without a mains power supply, but refrigeration units require access to electricity. You can check the power draw of each unit on our product pages to help you plan your generator needs.

Planning Your Outside Catering Services Hire

To run a tight operation, consider the following factors before booking your outside catering services hire:

• Menu Analysis: Break down your menu item by item to identify the specific cooking, holding, and preparation equipment needed for each dish.
• Guest Numbers: Accurately estimate the number of guests to determine the capacity and quantity of equipment required. A 100-guest buffet needs more chafing dishes than a 50-guest event.
• Venue Assessment: Check the power and water availability at the venue. This dictates whether you can use electrical equipment or if LPG becomes a necessity, and if you need to hire water storage solutions.
• Space Constraints: Measure the available space for your kitchen setup. You can view exact dimensions for all equipment on our website to fit different footprints.

Expanding your restaurant's reach into the off-site market requires commercial-grade gear. Expo Hire supplies this equipment, and we require no security deposit on any order. If your event includes table service, you can also book crockery hire, glassware hire, and cutlery hire. We include a "Send It Back Dirty" service on all tableware, meaning your team skips the washing up. We calculate delivery from £40 ex-VAT based on road distance from our nearest depot. Prices and live stock levels show directly on the site. Add your required items to the basket and confirm your dates online.