Planning a wedding, birthday, corporate event or private celebration usually involves one big decision early on: do you choose venue hire with catering included, or find the venue and caterer separately?
Both can work brilliantly. The right option depends on how much flexibility you want, how involved you want to be in the planning and whether you already have your heart set on a particular venue or style of food.
Key Takeaways
- Venue hire with catering can make food and venue coordination much simpler.
- Hiring suppliers separately can give you more freedom over your venue and menu.
- The cheapest option depends on what is actually included in each quote.
- Always check a venue’s outside catering rules before booking.
- Consider the overall guest experience, not just the individual venue and catering costs.
What Does Venue Hire with Catering Include?
An event venue with catering combines two major parts of your celebration into one booking.
Rather than finding a space and then organising food separately, you choose a venue where catering forms part of the package. Depending on the supplier, this could also include serving staff, equipment, crockery, set-up and clearing away.
The biggest advantage is coordination. Your venue and food are already designed to work together, which can mean fewer suppliers, fewer conversations and fewer catering logistics to organise.
At The Aussie Smoker, our fully catered venue in Cornwall at BBQ HQ in Penryn combines the space and food in one booking. Catering is always included, with different food packages available, and the venue caters for events of up to 80 guests.
What Happens When You Hire the Venue and Caterer Separately?
The alternative is finding your venue first and bringing in a separate catering company.
This can offer plenty of venue flexibility. Perhaps you have already found the perfect Cornish wedding venue, are holding a party at a private location or want to organise an event at your workplace.
You can then choose a caterer whose food matches the occasion. Our BBQ catering in Cornwall can be brought to weddings, private events and corporate gatherings around Cornwall, so you do not have to hold your celebration at BBQ HQ to get The Aussie Smoker experience.
The trade-off is that there can be more coordination involved. You may need to organise access times, cooking or preparation areas, power, equipment, serving arrangements and clearing up between separate event suppliers.
Venue Hire with Catering vs Separate Suppliers
Planning and Coordination
An all-in-one event package can make event planning easier because fewer moving parts need bringing together.
With separate suppliers, you may find yourself passing information between the venue and caterer about arrival times, service times, access and equipment. That is not necessarily a problem, particularly if both suppliers regularly work together, but it is worth understanding who is responsible for what.
Cost and What Is Included
Is venue hire with catering cheaper? Sometimes it may offer better value, but there is no universal answer.
Compare the full package rather than the headline price. Check whether quotes include:
- Catering and serving staff
- Crockery and cutlery
- Tables or equipment
- Set-up and clearing away
- Hidden costs such as VAT
- Drinks arrangements
- Additional venue charges
Hiring a venue and caterer separately could look cheaper until extra costs are added. Equally, separate suppliers may give you more control over where your budget goes.
Before paying deposits, check cancellation terms carefully. The Competition and Markets Authority provides consumer guidance on cancelling goods and services, including information about deposits and cancellation charges.
Menu Choice and Flexibility
Food matters. A lot.
Booking suppliers separately can give you freedom to find a caterer whose style is exactly what you want, whether that is mobile BBQ catering, formal wedding reception catering or something completely different.
Venue hire and catering packages can still offer choice, but you should ask how flexible the menu is before booking.
At The Aussie Smoker, our catering is centred around proper Australian-style BBQ with Cornish oak smoked meats, sides and options for vegetarian and vegan guests. Bespoke menus are also part of the current catering offering.
If guests have allergies, make sure dietary requirements are discussed properly with your caterer. The Food Standards Agency allergen guidance explains the allergen information food businesses must provide.
Which Option Works Best for Weddings?
For weddings, the decision often comes down to priorities.
A wedding venue with catering can reduce the amount of coordination involved. The venue already knows how the food service fits into the day, which can be useful when timings move from ceremony to drinks, wedding breakfast and evening celebrations.
Booking separately can be ideal when you have already found the venue you love but want more control over the food.
For couples taking this route, our wedding catering in Cornwall provides a food-led option for celebrations at external venues. The Aussie Smoker also works with a number of Cornwall wedding venue partners.
What About Parties and Corporate Events?
The same choice applies to birthdays, anniversaries, family celebrations and corporate functions.
If you want to arrive somewhere that already has the venue and food sorted, catered venue hire can keep things straightforward. If you already have the perfect location, private event catering Cornwall or corporate event catering Cornwall may make more sense.
For certain events involving the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment or late-night refreshment, licensing requirements can also apply. Cornwall Council provides current Temporary Event Notice guidance.
Your Place or Ours?
This is where The Aussie Smoker gives you both options.
You can bring your people to our fully catered BBQ HQ in Penryn, where the venue and food come together in one booking, or we can bring our BBQ catering to your chosen location.
BBQ HQ is designed for weddings, birthdays, private gatherings, corporate events and other food-led celebrations, with space for up to 80 guests.
So rather than asking which approach is always better, ask which works better for your event.
If simpler coordination matters most, venue hire with catering could be the way to go. If you already have a location in mind and want to bring your chosen caterer into it, booking separately can give you that flexibility.
Got an event in mind? Get in touch with The Aussie Smoker and tell us your date, guest numbers and what you are planning.
Keep smilin’ and stay jazzy.
FAQs
Is it cheaper to book venue hire with catering or hire them separately?
Not necessarily. It depends on the venue, caterer and what each quote includes. Compare the total cost of catering, staffing, equipment, venue hire, travel and any additional charges before deciding.
What are the benefits of choosing a venue with catering included?
It can reduce the number of suppliers you need to coordinate and make timings, food service and set-up easier to organise. It can also give you a clearer picture of what is included from the start.
Can I bring my own caterer to a wedding or event venue in Cornwall?
It depends on the venue. Some welcome external caterers, while others work with preferred suppliers or provide catering themselves. Always check the venue’s catering policy before committing to a booking.
What should I check before booking a venue and caterer separately?
Ask about supplier access, cooking and preparation facilities, equipment, power, service times, clearing up, dietary requirements and any restrictions on outside caterers.
Is venue hire with catering suitable for small weddings and private parties?
Yes, it can be particularly useful when you want the venue and food organised together. The Aussie Smoker’s catered BBQ HQ in Penryn is designed for events of up to 80 guests, including smaller weddings, birthdays and private celebrations.
