Catering Equipment Hire Guide for Events in Zimbabwe

If your caterer does not supply their own service ware, or if you are using a home cook, you will need to hire catering equipment. The standard list for a sit-down or buffet event includes:

— Dinner plates
— Side plates
— Dessert bowls or plates
— Dinner knives and forks
— Dessert spoons
— Soup spoons (if serving soup)
— Water glasses
— Wine glasses (red and/or white)
— Champagne flutes (for toasts)
— Serving platters and bowls
— Chafing dishes with fuel canisters (for buffet service)
— Water jugs
— Coffee/tea urns
— Sugar bowls and milk jugs
— Salt and pepper sets
— Serving tongs and spoons

Browse our catering equipment in the catalogue to see what is available.

The golden rule: order 10–15 per cent more than your guest count. This covers breakages, extra servings and unexpected guests.

For a 150-guest event:
— 170 dinner plates, 170 side plates
— 170 sets of cutlery
— 170 water glasses, 170 wine glasses
— 6–8 chafing dishes (depending on menu variety)
— 8–10 water jugs
— 2–3 coffee urns
— 4–6 serving platters

If the event has multiple courses, you may need a second set of plates (or plan for washing between courses — discuss this with your caterer). See our event hire cost guide for typical pricing on these items.

Buffet service requires chafing dishes (to keep food warm), serving platters, tongs, spoons and a buffet table with linen. Guests serve themselves, so you need less serving staff but more serving equipment.

Plated service requires less serving equipment but more crockery (each course needs its own plate) and more serving staff. The presentation is more formal and the pace is controlled by the kitchen.

For most Zimbabwe events, buffet service is the standard. It handles large numbers efficiently and allows guests to choose what they eat.

— Confirm with your caterer exactly what they supply and what you need to hire. Some caterers bring their own chafing dishes and serving equipment; others expect you to provide everything.
— Make sure the kitchen or food prep area has a power supply for urns and warming equipment.
— Arrange a separate table for drinks service (water, juice, alcohol) away from the main buffet to reduce congestion.
— Hire a few extra glasses — they are the most commonly broken item at any event.
— If hiring crockery and cutlery, check that the hire company washes and packs them properly for return.

Ready to build your list? Browse the catalogue or request a quote with your event details and we will suggest what you need.