Get the food mix right
Food is one of the things visitors remember most about a festival. A good line-up covers different cuisines, price points and diets without three traders selling the same thing. Mexican street food is a useful part of the mix: tacos, burritos and nachos are quick to eat on the move, and the menu adapts easily for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free visitors.
Think about the size of your crowd, how long people stay and when they eat. An all-day family event needs lunch and tea options. A music festival needs late-night food.
What traders need from you
Every trader will ask similar questions, so it helps to put the answers in your trader pack:
- Pitch size. Frontage and depth, including space for the vehicle or trailer, any gazebo, a serving area and the queue.
- Access and ground. Route in, gate widths, height limits and whether the pitch is hardstanding or grass. Trucks and trailers need firm, level ground.
- Power. Whether you supply power, at what rating, or whether traders must bring quiet generators.
- Water. Where the nearest drinking-water point is.
- Waste. How general waste, recycling, cooking oil and grey water are collected.
- Timings. Arrival, set-up, trading hours, when vehicles can move and when break-down starts.
Documents to ask for
Most organisers ask food traders for a set of documents before they confirm a pitch. Your event’s safety adviser or local council may have their own list, but it commonly includes:
- Public liability insurance
- Food business registration with the trader’s local council, and their food hygiene rating
- Gas safety records for any LPG appliances, from a Gas Safe registered engineer
- Electrical safety checks for equipment
- A risk assessment and fire safety arrangements, such as extinguishers and a fire blanket
- Food hygiene training for staff
- Allergen information for the menu
See food hygiene ratings explained for how to check a trader’s rating.
Trading terms: common models
There’s no single way festivals work with food traders. Some common arrangements are:
- Pitch fee. The trader pays a fixed fee for the pitch and keeps their takings.
- Percentage of takings. The trader pays the organiser a share of sales, sometimes on top of a smaller fee.
- Guaranteed minimum. For smaller or private events, the organiser guarantees the trader a minimum spend, so the trader is paid even if fewer people turn up.
- Fully catered. For staff, crew or hospitality, the organiser pays for a set number of meals.
Which suits your event depends on expected footfall and how many traders you have. Be clear about terms in writing. These are general models, not our terms. Contact us for a quote for your event.
Keep the queues moving
Long queues spoil the day. Ask each trader how they serve at peak times, and spread traders out so queues don’t block walkways. Street food served from a truck is usually quick, because fillings are slow-cooked in advance and tacos are assembled to order.
Diets and allergens
Make sure the line-up includes proper vegan and gluten-free options, and that every trader can give allergen information. Under UK rules, food businesses must be able to tell customers about the 14 main allergens in the food they sell. Read allergens at events for more.
Crew and volunteers
Feeding crew and volunteers well keeps them happy over a long weekend. A trader can often cook for crew or a hospitality area at set times, alongside a public pitch.
Talk to us
We trade at festivals, fairs, markets and community events across London and the South East. See festival and event street food and send us your event details.
Planning an event? Tell us about it and we’ll suggest a menu and send a quote for your event.