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.

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.

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.

Getting married isn’t a cheap exercise. Even the simplest of weddings can turn out to be one of the largest spends you ever make. Although marriage is worth celebrating and we recommend that you enjoy it (it’s likely to be the biggest party you’ll ever host) it can involve some tough decisions.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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…

Award Winners - Honoured to have won  'Event Equipment Hire Company of the Year".  The finals of this year's  Hire Association Europe's Hire Awards of Excellence took place on Saturday night at Grosvenor House, Park Lane,  London with the absolutely fantastic and amazing broadcaster Steph McGovern hosting.  

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. 

Award Winners - Really proud to have secured 2nd place nationally  and recognition of exceptional performance in the category 'Event Equipment Hire Company of the Year". 

Plato is one of three companies nationwide shortlisted for the Event Equipment Hire Company of the Year at the 2016 Hire Association of Europe's Hire Awards of Excellence. 

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.