Concession catering is a highly efficient, high-volume mobile food service designed for festivals, public exhibitions, corporate functions, and large-scale sports gatherings.
Unlike static venue kitchens, professional concession catering services utilise self-contained food vans, shacks, and mobile units to deliver premium, rapid-service dining directly under contract with event organisers.
What You’ll Learn in This Guide:
- The Definition: What exactly is concession catering, and how does it differ from traditional venue catering?
- The Logistical Benefits: Why hiring high-output, mobile concessions solves massive crowd and capacity challenges.
- Behind-The-Scenes Operations: A quick look at strict UK food safety regulations and setup prerequisites.
- Our Fleet Assets: Exploring Supreme Concession Shacks, Pop-Up Outlets, and Mobile Licensed Bars.
The History of Concession Catering
Concession catering has a rich history dating back to ancient times when concession stands were often found at ancient marketplaces and fairs.
Then, in the 19th century, concession catering stands were seen at public events like circuses and trade fairs, offering guests convenient access to snacks and drinks.
As the 20th century approached, movie theatres and sports stadiums started to feature food concessions selling popcorn and hot dogs. Eventually, other event venues, such as theme parks like Disneyland, began to offer concession shacks.
In the 21st century, concession catering continues to be a solid choice for many service businesses and event venues. Concession catering has modernised with technological advancements for smoother ordering and expanded menus for more variety.
There is now a focus on offering sustainable and healthier options, using eco-friendly materials, and providing diverse food choices, making events and venues more enjoyable for everyone.
Why Choose Mobile Food Concessions for Your Event
Selecting the right food setup can dictate the flow and success of a massive gathering.
Here is why modern coordinators are moving away from traditional catering and choosing specialised catering concessions:
1. Variety of Food Choices and Global Cuisines
Concession catering units are a food lover’s paradise, offering various food options. From traditional favourites like hot dogs and burgers to exotic cuisines from around the world, there’s something to tantalize every taste bud.
2. Unmatched Speed and Convenience
Concession catering is a convenient choice for both event organizers and attendees. For organizers, it’s easier to plan with caterers than buffet catering, and for attendees, it offers a wide variety of food options in a convenient setting.
3. Total Operational Flexibility
Concession catering offers flexibility as adjusting offerings and setup to fit any event size or location is easy.
4. Cost-Effective Scaling
Depending on the scale and type of event, concession catering can be a smart financial choice, often more cost-effective than traditional catering. This can help event organizers stay within their budget without compromising on the quality of food.
Behind-The-Scenes: How to run a concession stand
Operating high-output food concessions at major public events or festival grounds requires meticulous planning, strict compliance, and rigorous safety standards.
When you partner with a professional concession company like British Event Catering, we handle all the logistical and regulatory heavy lifting behind the scenes:
1. Full Licensing and Permit Compliance:
Every mobile catering unit and concession stall in our fleet holds complete legal authorisation.
We secure all required permits from local health departments and regulatory agencies ahead of schedule, including full food business registrations, individual food handler permits, and five-star food safety and hygiene certifications.
2. Strict Health & Safety Standards (RAMS)
Public safety is our absolute priority. Our mobile operations strictly adhere to UK food safety regulations and environmental health standards.
We manage comprehensive risk assessments and Method Statements (RAMS) entirely in-house, ensuring safe food storage, precise temperature controls, and flawless hygiene during high-speed, off-grid service.
3. Data-Driven Menu Planning
A highly successful event relies on a balanced menu. We plan our catering options based on actual event demographics, current food trends, and crowd requirements.
By deploying independent, specialised mobile food units, we ensure that high-volume favourites run seamlessly alongside dedicated menus for special dietary needs.
British Event Catering: Premium Mobile Food Units for Hire
With 40 years of trade experience, British Event Catering provides the rock-solid infrastructure required to manage high-output concession catering nationwide.
Supreme Shacks
New for 2024, we have recently introduced 8 high-output catering shacks offering various delicious food options, including burgers, fish and chips, greek gyros, doughnuts & coffee shacks. We also provide 30 picnic benches and bright lights for evenings
Pop-Up Shacks
We also offer 12 pop-up street food outlets, offering food such as dirty loaded fries, Mexican food, Philly cheesesteaks, noodles, and meats such as burgers, pork, and chicken.
Rustic Event Bars
We also offer a selection of premium mobile bars and drinks suitable for casual gatherings or large events. We have five styles available for both indoor and outdoor setups. Choose between a choice of beer, wine, cocktails, champagne and PIMM’s
Choose British Event Catering for Your Event
At British Event Catering, we take pride in our commitment to providing excellent food and drink concession catering.
So, what makes us stand out?
- We offer reasonable fees for fairs
- Fully self-contained service ensuring convenience and efficiency
- Visually appealing concession units, with unique uniformed staff in each
- We only hire friendly and professional catering staff, ensuring guest satisfaction
- With 20 food units and 5 mobile bars, we can cater for large events with up to 35,000 attendees
- For events with more attendees, we can collaborate with numerous catering companies
- We have a controlled waste management system
- We prioritise using sustainable products
- Our food service is speedy and high-quality
- We offer picnic benches which can accommodate up to 260 people
When considering concession catering for your event, choose British Event Catering for a reliable and professional service. For more information on our concession catering services, contact our team with your event needs, and we’ll be happy to provide you with a quote.
