Hygiene has always been very important in the catering industry.

Just think about how many events a single plate, knife, or fork takes part in. When hired from a professional catering company, they’ll have passed through the hands of thousands of people.

It’s why professional cleaning is just as important as professional hire.

It feels really close, doesn’t it? We’re hoping that normality - in whatever form that takes - is approaching for the UK.

Speak to anyone in the events industry and you’re likely to be met with plenty of overdue optimism. It’s been a tough time for the sector, but with lockdown finally easing, parties, events, and delayed weddings can finally re-enter the diary

So, folks, it looks like we’ll be doing a lot more dining outside this year and beyond.

How wonderful!

In fact, it’s hard to think of a better way to eat with friends, family, and business colleagues. Once the warmer months arrive, everyone always scrambles for any available outdoor space, therefore why shouldn’t we make alfresco dining more of a habit?

There’s nothing quite as exciting as thinking ahead (no matter how far ahead that might be) and planning an outdoor event.

Whether it’s a wedding, festival, or delayed Christmas celebration, your outdoor event will need to be meticulously planned. If you’re not a fan of planning, that might sound a bit dull, but the more groundwork you do now, the more you can enjoy the big day.

If there’s one thing the constant lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 have forced many of us to do, it’s spend more time watching TV.

As always, there are certain shows which steal the limelight and, arguably, Netflix’s Bridgerton has taken up more of the nation’s time than any other binge-worthy boxset.

Ah, parties. Remember them? Remember when they weren’t conducted over a screen and you could actually hug people, share the same space, and sing as loud as you wanted to?

Those times will return. Remember - every jab in the arm is one jab closer to restrictions being lifted and you being able to finally get those postponed parties back in the diary.

As we write this, we’re looking at a quiet summer for the event and wedding equipment hire industry. The Coronavirus has had a huge impact on almost every aspect of life and business. We don’t wish to be all “woe is us” - far from it - but the events industry has certainly been all but temporarily closed down while we’re under lockdown.

Many events have been postponed, but some will have been cancelled from the 2020 calendar altogether which is a massive shame for all involved. Some can’t be cancelled though, and although we’re hearing tongue-in-cheek predictions about higher divorce rates due to lockdown, some weddings that were due to happen in spring/summer will be postponed and this could well lead for a busy autumn/winter wedding season.

Organising an event can be an exciting time. All the invites, colours, the theme – it’s a really involving process. If this is your first event, you’ll soon discover that there are lots of things you didn’t even consider until you get into the planning stage.

No matter the theme or type of event you’re organising, there’s a high chance that you’ll be serving food and will need to think about what crockery hire you require. Food is so closely entwined with meeting up, celebrating, and even saying goodbye to a loved one that it’s nearly always the centrepiece of the event.

Planning the drinks for an event is important but not usually at the top of your To Do list. It’s not always the main part of an event, and of course the reason for the celebration should be forefront in the minds of the organisers or guests, but the drinks are important if you want your guests to feel welcome and relaxed.  

After you’ve sorted your crockery, glassware, and cooking equipment for your client’s event, you’ll want to make sure all that hard work is framed perfectly with crisp linen to cover the tables you’ve hired in for them.

The government has told us all that we can bring our households together this Christmas for a maximum of five days. Many people are delighted to be able to see much-loved family and friends. But, for some people, it’s still too big a risk.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Christmas 2020 is going to be different for all of us. Whether you live in Warwickshire or not, local or national restrictions will force most of us to reduce the number of people we entertain.

Congratulations – your loved one said “Yes!”. Now the hard work begins! Planning a UK wedding is great fun and allows you to be creative, but it does require some really strong organisational skills. It would be a great idea to get that really organised friend on your wedding party. (There’s a top tip for you!)

The events industry is licking its wounds right now but there’s an air of excitement as we finally spot the green shoots of our industry, thanks to the relaxation of lockdown and new guidance being introduced.

The summer of 2020 will certainly go down as one of the quietest summers in our 20+ year history, but summer 2021 is looking like a cracker so there’s some real hope and excitement building here and in the events world.

At Plato we’ve remained positive throughout lockdown. What else can you do when your industry is decimated by a global pandemic? Aside from all the seriousness of the virus and the global crash, there have been many positives (like cleaner air, more family time and reflection) and we, like many in the events industry, have held on to that.

We’re an event hire company that's been hiring catering equipment throughout Birmingham, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, The Cotswolds, and the West Midlands for over 20 years so, we’ve got a pretty good idea what you need which is why we've created our event planning checklist.

With over two decades of experience supporting some of the best party planners in the UK with thousands of parties, we've created a dinner party hire checklist to help you plan a stress-free party that's remembered for all the right reasons!

We are pleased to announce that we are 1 of 3 companies nationally shortlisted for the SafeHire© Event Hire Company of the Year 2020 'Hire Awards of Excellence' and the only Midlands based catering equipment hire company.

One of the items on your wedding list could well be wedding chair sashes and you may be considering chair sash hire but can't decide if this is really necessary. This is why we have created this guide to explain why you need to hire wedding chair sashes for your big day.

Over the past two decades we’ve seen a lot of changes in the world. We’ve also been through a lot of changes ourselves. Like any industry, ours has moved on, and the way we do business has changed dramatically since we started out.

Running an event, or working at one, is exciting but exhausting at times. There’s so much you need to think about and do.

Events are great fun and if you’ve ever been along to a well-run event you’ll have experienced what it’s like to be in a film. Smoothly-run events feel like a dream come true. You’re immersed in the event, the theme, the music, the food and wine, and the setting, and occasion.

Social media certainly changed the business world with its arrival, and ever since MySpace, we’ve all been trying to work out how to use social media to gain more interest, leads, and sales.

Organising events is a big task and one that takes meticulous effort and a lot of time.

Knowing what the rest of the event team are doing, what they’re responsible for, and when they’ll be doing their part is good event management.

Getting everything just right at an event can be a challenge and a lot of that comes down to logistics. When you’re planning on serving hundreds of people and something doesn’t arrive, doesn’t work, or there simply isn’t enough of something – that’s when the trouble starts!

We are pleased to announce that we are 1 of 3 companies nationally shortlisted for the SafeHire© Event Equipment Hire Company of the Year 2019 'Hire Awards of Excellence' and the only Midlands based catering equipment hire company.

As you know, not all venues are the same and some simply won’t be able to house all the guests in a sit down meal. Bowl food is a great solution, but if your client is struggling to see the concept of bowl food and the benefit to an event struggling for space…

We have just been awarded the prestigious SafeHire certification.  SafeHire has been developed by Hire Association of Europe/Event Hire Association  for the hire and rental industry with the assistance of BSI. 

Head to any bar or pub and you’ll probably see large gin cocktails being enjoyed. It really is the thing to drink right now.

The humble juniper berry is now celebrated all over the world at tastings, festivals, and even bars which are completely dedicated to the drink. Who’d have thought a ‘gin bar’ would become a ‘thing’!

Getting married brings thoughts and visions of grand venues, large family gatherings, and scenes from movies like Father of the Bride or maybe the Wedding Planner. But putting grand wedding scenes aside for a minute, do weddings have to be large, or can you have a splendidly small wedding instead?

Planning a UK wedding is an exciting but detailed task. It’s not until you start to look into what’s involved that you realise that you’re going to need ninja planning skills and a good team around you. If you’re recently got engaged then Congratulations, and then welcome to the rather large job of planning the wedding.

Since the UK lockdown in March 2020 the event industry has been closed. We’ve had no real idea when it could get back to normal… or even the ‘new normal’ that keeps being spoken about!

Events were a clear risk at the beginning of the UK Coronavirus breakout, and it was understandable that we all retreated and took time to help slow the spread of the virus and protect the NHS.

2020 has certainly thrown a spanner in the works of the wedding world. Business here is far from being as usual. The events industry has been paused and that’s given us an unplanned rest and some challenges, too.

The wedding season is currently on hold and brides and grooms across the country are waiting (as we are) for news on when small events and indeed larger gatherings can take place again.

Hoping to get married in 2020? Here are some plans and thoughts to put in place now to help you steer through these rocky waters…

On July 17th 2020, Boris Johnson finally announced that COVID secure wedding receptions for up to 30 people can take place from 1 August. In his update he said, "We will also allow wedding receptions for up to 30 people. All of these measures for 1 August should be done in a Covid Secure way."

Furthermore he hinted that weddings of slightly larger sizes are on the return from October 1st, with news of larger venues also opening up. In addition, close contact businesses like beauticians will also be opening up, too!

And then from November there is the possibility that we'll have more of a return to normality. Find the full Downing Street update here.

Planning an event is fun but does need a level of attention to detail. Of course, the format and style of the event will drive what you need. Much like when you’re planning your glass hire or you’re ordering your table linen, the event that you’re organising will dictate what it is that you need.

For years, the hire industry was crying out for quality standards. As with many industries and sectors, the world of hire needed a benchmark and a symbol for those within it to show that they care about the quality and outcome of their service.

That’s why the creation of the Hire Association Europe (HAE), and the Event Hire Association (EHA) has been so great for the industry. The Hire Awards of Excellence celebrate the highest quality in the hire world and this helps to push the standards up, giving greater services and products to all.

There’s a lot that goes into planning an event. Whether it’s a simple gathering, a party, corporate function or wedding, there are lots of different elements to the event that need careful planning.

It’s the day before the event. You’ve got everything prepared, and you’re ready to enjoy it. You’ve got an itinerary of the itinerary, a to-do list for the to-do list lists and you’ve organised the organisers.

Even the weather is looking positive and not one person has cancelled. It’s a dream event come true. What could possibly go wrong?

You’re ordering the food, planning the music, and sending out the invitations. It’s a busy time and you need to get everything in place and ready for the big event.

If you’re organising a formal dinner for an event like a wedding, or a celebratory meal for 10, you’ll need to hire a varying amount of catering equipment.

One of the obvious items to tick off your list are the tables and chairs.

Aside from the usual drinks like champagne, wine, and beer though, many couples opt for cocktails, even at the reception. Cocktails have come back into favour and, just like Prosecco, they’re often more popular with guests, and more cost-effective for the hosts, so they really are a win/win.

Here at Plato we think events are incredibly exciting, and since 1999 we’ve enjoyed playing a vital role in thousands of them. Much of our work as a catering hire company happens before the event starts, so we get to see some amazing venue transformations.

John Lewis published research findings in a 2019 press release which highlighted some very interesting changes towards barn weddings and weddings in the countryside as an alternative to traditional hotels. DIY weddings are on the up!

Lighting the ovens signifies the start of a long, but successful event. The oven pilot light ignites and the day (or night) begins.

It’s long been our aim to give the best possible service we can. Although many clients are on board with using the best or even the second or third best, in this internet-driven world it’s often a struggle for businesses to compete when it appears to all come down to price.

When you’re setting up a catering business there are many questions you will ask yourself (aside from, “why did I decide to do this?!”). Seriously though, from set-up costs, to brand, website, investment, and the type of events you’ll do, there will be some big questions to ask and many problems to solve.

It was New Year’s Day 1999. The world was recovering from a great night of fireworks and parties, and somewhere in rural Warwickshire Stuart and Lynn Slaughter were out for a New Year’s Lunch.

When you’re hiring for an event, you’ll no doubt have a big list of the items you need to hire to make it a real success. You’ll also no doubt have a budget and a preferred list of suppliers. All that needs to fit into place.

Some of the most important things we’re asked by caterers before or during events are often around the subject of power and the larger pieces of equipment that we hire like ovens and hot cupboards.

Event catering requires a meticulous approach and making sure you’re heading to site with everything you need is a must. Events can range in size and nature but one thing remains essential throughout, and that’s good organisation.