What dry hire means for your food
At a dry-hire venue you choose your own caterer. Some venues have a kitchen your caterer can use; barns, marquees and fields often don't. Some only allow your own caterer on their dry-hire package. I keep a list of dry-hire venues that welcome your own caterer, with each one's catering rules.
What I bring
- Chefs and a waiting team, included in every menu price.
- Crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen as standard; £10 a guest less if your venue supplies them.
- A full field kitchen where there's no kitchen: £20 a guest under 100 guests, £15 from 100.
- A menu built to hold, so the food is still at its best when the photos or speeches run late.
What it costs at a venue with no kitchen
An example: 100 guests in a marquee on a Saturday in June 2027, The Gatherer menu, nothing else added.
| The Gatherer: 100 guests × £95 | £9,500 |
| Field kitchen: 100 × £15 | £1,500 |
| Total | £11,000 |
That's £110 a guest. Travel is included.
What to ask the venue
- Can we bring our own caterer, and on which packages?
- Is there a kitchen? If so, what's in it: ovens, hot cupboards, fridges, power.
- What do caterers need? Insurance, a food hygiene rating, PAT-tested equipment.
- Are there fees for outside caterers? Admin fees, waste or bin charges, deposits.
- Who supplies tables, chairs, crockery and linen?
- When can the caterer arrive, and when must the venue be clear?
- Who runs the bar, and can you bring your own wine?
Where there's no kitchen, I'll also want a site visit before I confirm your quote, to check access, space and power for the field kitchen.
Menus and prices
| Menu, price per guest | 60 guests | 100 guests | 150 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Acorn (midweek & winter, 100+ guests) | – | £80 | £75 |
| The Gatherer | £105 | £95 | £90 |
| The Hoard | £110 | £100 | £95 |
| The Golden Acorn | £140 | £130 | £125 |
Chefs, waiting team, crockery, cutlery, glassware and linen included. No VAT to add. Prices slide between these sizes.
Price your wedding breakfast