Mobile Catering at Events and Festivals

by David Bentley
(Stoke-on-Trent)

Hi David,

My business partner and I are setting up a mobile catering business using a catering van as our premises. We are going to mainly try to do county shows, festivals and other events up and down the country. It is now November and we are looking to start next year. Unfortunately we do not have the van yet but are aiming to get it around January time.

From a business point of view, we wanted to book as many pitches (even if they cost money) as possible so that we can jump straight into it at the start of next year without the worry of not having the business there to do.

I have bought the events book guide but I've been told that it doesn't come out until the end of this year. This means that we can't get a clear picture of who to ring and who to arrange with until probably January next year - will this be too late for events happening in 2011?

Also, a lot of the county shows are asking for pictures and information leaflets to go alongside an application - how are we meant to provide these when we are only just starting up??

Your help would be greatly appreciated.