Festival / Event Catering
Discussion
My girlfriend is investigating the possibility of doing some festival and/or event catering. She's priced up all the equipment and has costings for the food side but one thing that is quite difficult to find the 'going rate' on is pitches at festivals / events. Most seem to require you to fill in loads of applications including copies of Health and Safety certificates etc, which at present she doesn't have.
Does anyone have any experience in this area?
How much would one pay for a pitch at a huge event like Reading Festival? Or something still very big but a bit more upmarket like The Chelsea Flower Show? Or what about something a bit smaller such as a large town's Beer Festival or something like the Ragley Hall Classic Car Show?
Obviously costs will vary according to event size and quality of location within the site (as well as if it includes electric or not) but would really like some rough numbers if anyone has any insight?
Thanks in anticipation.
Does anyone have any experience in this area?
How much would one pay for a pitch at a huge event like Reading Festival? Or something still very big but a bit more upmarket like The Chelsea Flower Show? Or what about something a bit smaller such as a large town's Beer Festival or something like the Ragley Hall Classic Car Show?
Obviously costs will vary according to event size and quality of location within the site (as well as if it includes electric or not) but would really like some rough numbers if anyone has any insight?
Thanks in anticipation.
I have no actual figures, but i hear that its very hard to get on the list for the large events
like all things, ive heard that backhanders etc are common, and the established pitches are not going to let others push in on what appears to be a very nice earner
events etc, also limit the amount of catering as well
like all things, ive heard that backhanders etc are common, and the established pitches are not going to let others push in on what appears to be a very nice earner
events etc, also limit the amount of catering as well
Not sure either but there was a documentary a few years ago which showed it is quite cut throat and underhand as its all about the location of pitches. The large operators 'negotiated' better pitches. A woman tried starting up, went to a big event and had a poor pitch and lost money whilst others made small fortunes. She was in tears at the end of it. Not sure if it is still like this but it is worth bearing in mind.
northwick said:
My girlfriend is investigating the possibility of doing some festival and/or event catering. She's priced up all the equipment and has costings for the food side but one thing that is quite difficult to find the 'going rate' on is pitches at festivals / events. Most seem to require you to fill in loads of applications including copies of Health and Safety certificates etc, which at present she doesn't have.
Does anyone have any experience in this area?
How much would one pay for a pitch at a huge event like Reading Festival? Or something still very big but a bit more upmarket like The Chelsea Flower Show? Or what about something a bit smaller such as a large town's Beer Festival or something like the Ragley Hall Classic Car Show?
Obviously costs will vary according to event size and quality of location within the site (as well as if it includes electric or not) but would really like some rough numbers if anyone has any insight?
Thanks in anticipation.
We do events, with a 6m x 3m marque.Does anyone have any experience in this area?
How much would one pay for a pitch at a huge event like Reading Festival? Or something still very big but a bit more upmarket like The Chelsea Flower Show? Or what about something a bit smaller such as a large town's Beer Festival or something like the Ragley Hall Classic Car Show?
Obviously costs will vary according to event size and quality of location within the site (as well as if it includes electric or not) but would really like some rough numbers if anyone has any insight?
Thanks in anticipation.
Pitch costs range from something like £10000 for ideal home show type shows (which we dont do)
To £200 for really small local charity shows.
Most of the shows we do range from £500- £1500.
We dont have electric or water.
From my (reasonable) knowledge of catering stall prices, i suspect you can double the our costs.
There are cheaper shows though!
LooneyTunes said:
In addition to the costs, I saw/read something (on here???) about cash security being a big concern for this sort of operation - vaguely recall seeing reference to needing a safe welded into van and being watchful on the journey home.
I havnt heard of anything like that.I've got a mate who does this. The festivals side of things don't seem to be great, they seem to work very hard to just about break even once the cost of staffing and pitch fees are taken into account even if the turnover is impressive. For them they work with a collective of other traders and the collective gets booked by the festivals which saves the festival organiser dealing with dozens of individuals.
If you pay a fixed pitch fee be wary of how many other traders are there. We were at a festival with 32,000 visitors but 100 odd food traders.
They make much more from their fixed pitch and private events and the festivals stuff was a bit of a folly for them IMHO.
One of the big problems is that everyone and their dog is getting into 'street food' - people with big redundancy cheques and time on their hand. I feel like its a bubble fit to burst as people get bored of paying £6 for a pretentious burger.
On the other hand I appreciate the access to a refrigerated van stacked with booze, free food and a place to charge my phone!
If you pay a fixed pitch fee be wary of how many other traders are there. We were at a festival with 32,000 visitors but 100 odd food traders.
They make much more from their fixed pitch and private events and the festivals stuff was a bit of a folly for them IMHO.
One of the big problems is that everyone and their dog is getting into 'street food' - people with big redundancy cheques and time on their hand. I feel like its a bubble fit to burst as people get bored of paying £6 for a pretentious burger.
On the other hand I appreciate the access to a refrigerated van stacked with booze, free food and a place to charge my phone!
Benbay001 said:
LooneyTunes said:
In addition to the costs, I saw/read something (on here???) about cash security being a big concern for this sort of operation - vaguely recall seeing reference to needing a safe welded into van and being watchful on the journey home.
I havnt heard of anything like that.rpguk said:
I've got a mate who does this. The festivals side of things don't seem to be great, they seem to work very hard to just about break even once the cost of staffing and pitch fees are taken into account even if the turnover is impressive. For them they work with a collective of other traders and the collective gets booked by the festivals which saves the festival organiser dealing with dozens of individuals.
If you pay a fixed pitch fee be wary of how many other traders are there. We were at a festival with 32,000 visitors but 100 odd food traders.
They make much more from their fixed pitch and private events and the festivals stuff was a bit of a folly for them IMHO.
One of the big problems is that everyone and their dog is getting into 'street food' - people with big redundancy cheques and time on their hand. I feel like its a bubble fit to burst as people get bored of paying £6 for a pretentious burger.
This is exactly my experience, too.If you pay a fixed pitch fee be wary of how many other traders are there. We were at a festival with 32,000 visitors but 100 odd food traders.
They make much more from their fixed pitch and private events and the festivals stuff was a bit of a folly for them IMHO.
One of the big problems is that everyone and their dog is getting into 'street food' - people with big redundancy cheques and time on their hand. I feel like its a bubble fit to burst as people get bored of paying £6 for a pretentious burger.
We've been doing events and functions since 1997. The only other thing to add is the weather, it can wipe you're profit out.
Private functions are better to start with, guaranteed income and guaranteed stock requirement. We did one in the early days that was a bit out of our league but we charged enough to buy most of the extra equipment needed.
rpguk said:
I've got a mate who does this. The festivals side of things don't seem to be great, they seem to work very hard to just about break even once the cost of staffing and pitch fees are taken into account even if the turnover is impressive. For them they work with a collective of other traders and the collective gets booked by the festivals which saves the festival organiser dealing with dozens of individuals.
If you pay a fixed pitch fee be wary of how many other traders are there. We were at a festival with 32,000 visitors but 100 odd food traders.
They make much more from their fixed pitch and private events and the festivals stuff was a bit of a folly for them IMHO.
One of the big problems is that everyone and their dog is getting into 'street food' - people with big redundancy cheques and time on their hand. I feel like its a bubble fit to burst as people get bored of paying £6 for a pretentious burger.
This is exactly my experience, too.If you pay a fixed pitch fee be wary of how many other traders are there. We were at a festival with 32,000 visitors but 100 odd food traders.
They make much more from their fixed pitch and private events and the festivals stuff was a bit of a folly for them IMHO.
One of the big problems is that everyone and their dog is getting into 'street food' - people with big redundancy cheques and time on their hand. I feel like its a bubble fit to burst as people get bored of paying £6 for a pretentious burger.
We've been doing events and functions since 1997. The only other thing to add is the weather, it can wipe you're profit out.
Private functions are better to start with, guaranteed income and guaranteed stock requirement. We did one in the early days that was a bit out of our league but we charged enough to buy most of the extra equipment needed.
I requested info for the Isle of Wight festival in 2012. This is the reply I got.
"Thank you for your enquiry, please visit our website for more information and to register for food.
www.centralcatering.com
Alternatively I have attached the registration documents for you.
Pitches prices range from £5500 - £7000, depending on event, location and your application parameters.
If you are enquiring about non-food, please view the non-food/markets page of the website"
I've heard stories from a friend who attended a well known festival in Somerset that there was also a requirement to buy all your raw materials from the onsite approved suppliers. So it's not really surprising that the customers have to pay a huge amount, even for something as simple as a cup of tea.
==========
"Thank you for your enquiry, please visit our website for more information and to register for food.
www.centralcatering.com
Alternatively I have attached the registration documents for you.
Pitches prices range from £5500 - £7000, depending on event, location and your application parameters.
If you are enquiring about non-food, please view the non-food/markets page of the website"
==========
I've heard stories from a friend who attended a well known festival in Somerset that there was also a requirement to buy all your raw materials from the onsite approved suppliers. So it's not really surprising that the customers have to pay a huge amount, even for something as simple as a cup of tea.
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