Weddings
Mobile Bar
Burnbake
Events
Schools
Private Dining
Wedding Catering Questions And Answers
What different types of catering services can you supply for my wedding?
We have a wide range of services that we can supply for a wedding, our sample menus can be found on our website, for more information, drop us an email at info@crabapplecatering.co.uk and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Can you make kid’s meals?
We certainly can! Any child up to 12 years old will be provided with either a half portion of the meal or a pre-agreed child’s meal.
Will the wedding food be made on-site or brought in?
A mixture of both, we do as much on-site as we can, but some things have to be made in our industrial kitchen beforehand.
What do you do with leftovers?
We don’t tend to have many! But if we do, the couple tends to leave us some tubs/ plates, etc for us to safely store the food for them.
Can you provide bartending services?
We have a range of bar options available, drop us an email at info@crabapplecatering.co.uk to find out more!
How many weddings have you done in the past?
With over 50 years of catering experience between us, we can’t possibly put a number on our past weddings.
Do you provide linens, table settings, and accessories?
We would provide all the plates, cutlery, and everything to serve the food on. Linen, glasses, and table decorations would need to be sourced elsewhere – we have some great contacts we can put you in touch with if necessary!
Will there be an onsite coordinator day of? Can we meet them ahead of time?
At least one of our directors will be onsite for the whole day. You are likely to meet all 3 of us at a meeting/ tasting beforehand.
What is the amount of the deposit due to hold our date, and when will the remainder be due?
We take a rough 10% deposit to secure your date, with the final balance due 14 days before the event.
What happens if we need to reschedule our date?
If for some reason you have to reschedule, providing enough notice is given, we would be able to move your booking, and keep your deposit in place.
What are your minimum and maximum numbers for wedding catering?
We don’t have a minimum or a maximum number of guests.
Do you offer late night food?
We have several options for evening food. We are happy to discuss these with you.
What makes you better than other street food vendors?
We are a family-run company, with over 50 years’ experience between us. We provide custom-made menus, bespoke to the client, so not your generic ABC menus!
Do you provide certain foods such as fresh or frozen, locally grown, organic, and specific cuisines?
We work closely with our suppliers to get the most local, fresh, and sustainable ingredients. If given enough notice we can source almost anything!
Can I get references from wedding couples you catered for?
We have a folder with all of our wedding feedback in it at our unit. You’re more than happy to look through it when you come for a meeting!
What are your water, electrical, and equipment needs?
We bring our own touring kitchen, so we’d need a covered space to set this up, 2 13 amp sockets, running water is great, but not essential.
How much space will you need at the venue?
We require a 6x6m catering tent (if using a marquee) or a similar-sized area inside to set up our touring kitchen.
Do you charge a bulk fee or cost per person?
All of our prices are on a Per Person +vat basis. We find that this best shows exactly where your money is going.
When will you need the final menu choices and headcount?
We would require these at least 14 days before the wedding date.
What are the portion sizes?
We never like to have guests leave hungry…. We’ll leave it at that!!
Do you make wedding cakes as well?
We certainly do! We offer some fabulous ‘naked’ style wedding cakes. Please enquire at info@crabapplecatering.co.uk
Will we need to provide alcohol, or can you?
We can do it, either way, we find it works best when we buy the alcohol, and sell it to the guests, this relieves the stress from yourselves.
Are any non-alcoholic beverages included in the food costs
We don’t provide any non-alcoholic beverages as part of the food package, but we are happy to discuss options with you.
Will your staff handle setting place cards and menus if desired?
We can definitely do this for you. We’d just need to know how you’d like it and of course a table plan.
Do you have the proper catering license requirements, as well as liability insurance?
We have all the necessary licenses and insurance.
What is your cancellation policy?
There is a Cancellation section in our terms and conditions, available on our website.
Do you do tastings? Is there a fee for the tasting?
We offer a tasting session to our booked clients, free of charge, however, if you haven’t booked, we charge £15+vat per person.
Will we work with the same person through the entire planning process?
There are 3 directors, you will be dealing with at least one of us at all times.
Will you provide tea and coffee after the meal?
We can provide tea, coffee and an urn, and cups.
Do you have the capacity to cater all day – canapes, wedding breakfast, and evening?
We definitely do, we can cater as much or as little of your day as you’d like us to!
How long have you been in business?
The company has been running since 2015, but we have been catering weddings, parties, and events our whole lives!
Do you offer rental of crockery, cutlery, glassware, and linens?
Crockery and cutlery are included in our price, we don’t supply glassware or linen, but have a great contact we can put you in touch with.
When should I reserve my wedding catering services?
As early as possible! Our dates fill up very quickly, with our latest booking usually 2 or 3 years in advance, so we’d suggest booking in quick to avoid missing out.
How much time will you need for set-up and clean-up at our venue?
We would look to arrive at the venue around 3-4 hours before the wedding, depending on our involvement in the day. And we would be cleared up by the time you finish partying in the evening
Can you provide wedding vendor meals?
We do indeed, we can provide food for any of the vendors at the wedding, this would be charged at the price of the wedding breakfast unless there is an agreement between ourselves and the venue/ vendors.
Can you take care of various allergy/dietary requests?
We take allergies and dietary requirements very seriously and agree with the couple about exactly what will be provided for these guests so that they can reassure them of what they will be eating.
Can/how will you handle last-minute requests?
We can be relatively flexible with last-minute requests, we’ve dealt with everything that’s been thrown at us before.
Do you offer other desserts?
We do indeed, our deserts menu is at the bottom of our Full event menu.
Do you have photos of past events and references from past clients?
We have a wide range of photos available on our social media platforms, as well as an album that you can see at our unit, we also have many reviews from past clients on our website, Facebook and Google, as well as a folder of feedback emails at our unit.
What is your typical server-to-guest ratio?
We usually have 1 member of staff per 10-15 guests, dependent on the event..
Can you provide a copy of your standard contract?
We have a Terms and Conditions section on our website you can look over.
Where do you get your service staff? What do they wear?
We have a returning group of serving staff that has been with us for a number of years. They wear smart, black clothes.
What happens after we book you for our wedding?
We can book you in for a tasting, finalise some menus with you, and discuss all the things you want us to do.
Do we need to choose a single set menu or will our guests have options to RSVP with?
We usually serve our food on sharing boards, in the middle of the table. So clients usually get menus printed to let the guests know what it will be. The only thing guests will need to let you know is if they have any dietary requirements.
Which areas do you cover for wedding bookings and how far do you travel?
We normally cover most of Dorset, we tend not to go much further, as we’d have to charge more for travel.
What does the price include?
Our quotes include all of our waiting and cooking staff, our equipment, plates, cutlery, travel costs, and all the things to serve the food. And of course, all the food.
How many other weddings will you be catering for on my chosen date?
We often only do one wedding per day, unless we get 2 smaller bookings.
Can you provide a wedding BBQ?
We certainly do! Our BBQ menu is on our site for you to look at, for more info please email info@crabapplecatering.co.uk
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catering questions and answers?
Mobile Bar Catering Questions And Answers
Can you run the bar?
We can indeed, for more info on our bar option please email info@crabapplecatering.co.uk
Can I ask you to stay longer on the day?
You can, but this will likely incur an extra cost.
How is the bar priced?
We price our bar very competitively, we’d rather your guests have a good time and bought more than have one drink and be annoyed at the cost!
Do I need to apply for any licenses?
No, we are fully licensed, we’d just need there to be a premises license in place, if there isn’t we can apply for one, the price for this is covered by us.
Can we request specific drinks? (Specialty gins, craft beers, etc.)
Absolutely, just let us know! And if it’s particularly specific, we may ask where you usually source it.
Do you provide glasses?
If we are providing the bar for the whole day, we will provide all the glasses, if not, we’d ask you to source them, but we have a great hire company that we can put you in touch with.
What sort of events do you hire your bar to?
We supply our bar to all sorts of events, from weddings and birthdays to Christenings and funerals.
Is there a minimum spend required?
We usually have an £800 minimum spend, this is usually easily met.
Does the bar need to be outside?
The horsebox bar needs to be outside, but the freestanding bar can be inside or out.
Do we have to buy in the alcohol or can you supply it?
We usually supply it all, but some clients like to provide their own. Like their favourite wines etc
Do you have taps? What can you serve on tap?
We have a keg dispenser, with 2 taps, and we can serve a range of beer and ales from eight arch brewery or Dorset cider.
What happens if I need to cancel for whatever reason?
We ask for a 10% non-refundable deposit, so we would have to keep that unless there’s a reasonable reason for canceling.
How much does it cost to hire a mobile bar?
We have several options, we’d suggest dropping us an email at info@crabapplecatering.co.uk to find out more.
What size are your mobile bars?
We have a horsebox bar, and a freestanding indoor bar (approx 1.5 meters).
What time will you serve until?
That depends on the venue and their license. Usually between 11pm and 1am
What cocktails, spirits, or beers can you serve?
We currently don’t offer cocktails, but we provide a range of local beers and ales from Eight arch Brewery in Wimbourne, Ciders from Purbeck cider farm, and wines from Dorset wines. We also provide a range of spirits.
Do I have to pay a deposit?
We would usually take a rough 10% deposit for the day.
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catering questions and answers?
Burnbake catering questions and answers
What are your opening times?
8-10 am and 6-8 pm during school holidays and weekends.
What type of atmosphere can I expect?
Depending on the time of year, there’s a lovely bubbly, friendly atmosphere around.
How is your food served?
You can have it as a takeaway in recyclable boxes, or eat in and have it served in American-style baskets or china plates.
I’m driving, where is the best place to park?
There is a number of parking spaces out the front of the campsite reception and shop.
Is The Snack Shack Wheelchair accessible?
It is outside, and level, but it’s on gravel, so yes, as long as you can get over the gravel.
Do you serve drinks?
We have a large selection of soft drinks available, and on bank holidays, we are licensed to serve alcohol.
What types of food do you serve?
We serve burgers, a range of daily specials, chips, and squid, and occasionally we do pizzas.
Where can I find your current menu?
Our menu is on our website, as well as on the outside of the snack shack itself.
Do you cater to people with specific dietary requirements?
We certainly do, just give one of our friendly team the heads up, and they will make sure you’re looked after!
What is your food hygiene rating?
5!! We have a great food hygiene rating across our entire company.
What is the largest table you can accommodate?
We only have tables that comfortably seat 8, but we are more than happy to move furniture around, providing it all gets put back.
Is the Snack Shack dog friendly?
Absolutely! We just ask that they are on leads and that you clean up after them.
What type of seating is available at Burnbake?
We have 2 custom-built fire pit tables, several uncovered tables, and 2 6- seater covered pods, with heaters and fairy lights inside.
Can I pre-order food?
Unfortunately we don’t offer a pre order service, but there usually isn’t that much of a wait!
Do you accept cash and contactless payments?
We do indeed, both, our internet can be slightly temperamental, so please don’t be offended if your payment is canceled! It’s us, not you!
Do you serve alcohol at Burnbake?
At the moment we are only allowed to serve alcohol on Bank holiday weekends.
Do you cater for allergies/ dietary requirements? Do you have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free options?
We have a wide range of options available for vegetarians, vegans and any other dietary requirements, just let one of our team know and we can talk you through what you can have.
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Event Catering Questions And Answers
What types of food do you offer for event catering?
We have a wide selection of menus that we can provide, these can be found on our website, but if there’s something that’s not on there that you’d like, let us know and we’ll see what we can do! We can do most things!!
Can you supply ‘street food’?
We certainly can, We have a classic Citroen H Van, kitted out with a full kitchen. This is available for hire for any occasion! Check it out on our website.
Where do you source your ingredients?
We source all of our ingredients as locally as possible, ensuring that we get the most local and fresh produce.
What are your payment terms?
We take a rough 10% deposit to secure the date, with the final balance due 2 weeks before the event.
What type of events do you cater for?
Absolutely any occasion, we do anything from weddings and birthdays to funerals and christenings!
Can I see some sample menus and costings?
All of our menus are on our website for you to look over, and we have a rough quote guide software on our website.
When do you need numbers?
We’d like to have these at least 2 weeks before the event.
Do you cater for funerals?
We do indeed, we cater for any occasion.
Do you also make cakes?
We do indeed! Our cake list can be found on our website.
What catering services can you supply for my event?
We can take care of all the food, drink, and service if you wish! We can do as much or as little as you want us to do?
What is your food truck?
We have a classic Citroen H Van, kitted out with a full kitchen. This is available for hire for any occasion! Check it out on our website.
How do you present the food?
We serve our food on rustic wooden boards to the middle of the table, for guests to share between them.
Are there any extra charges?
Our quotes include all of our waiting and cooking staff, our equipment, plates, cutlery, travel costs, and all the things to serve the food. And of course, all the food. So anything else would incur an extra fee.
The weather is amazing – can you provide a BBQ?
Absolutely we have a large BBQ that we can bring to any location. We just need somewhere flat to put it.
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Schools Catering Questions And Answers
Can you provide catering services for my school?
We’d certainly consider it! We currently cater for 3 Primary schools in Swanage, it depends on your location!
Do you provide your own software for schools catering?
We do indeed, we have a fabulous web designer that maintains and updates our software.
What help/ support do you provide to schools/ parents?
We are on call Monday to Friday 9-4 to help with any problems or questions you have.
What menu options do you offer for schools catering?
We have a 3-week rolling menu for each term, this can be found on our school meal ordering system.
How do you deal with free school meals and meal vouchers?
Currently, the free school meals are provided for by ourselves and paid for by the government, via the school. All you need to do is let us know when you first sign up to our software, then book weekly! We currently don’t accept meal vouchers.
Do you supply fresh fruit and vegetables to schools?
Most days we try to incorporate as much fruit and veg as we possibly can.
How long is your standard catering contract?
We currently run with a yearly contract.
Do you offer dairy alternatives?
We provide all the necessary allergy and dietary substitutions.
For parents who pay for their children’s school meals, how much does it cost?
It is currently £2.40 per meal.
What counties do you offer school meal catering within?
Currently only within range of Swanage, Dorset
Does the school have to pay for compatible registration/ cms systems to use your service?
No, we cover all the costs for this.
Will our school have to take payment through our pay systems?
No, parents pay for their children’s bookings via our system.
Do you listen to feedback from parents and schools?
We certainly do, we appreciate any feedback from parents and schools.
How do I hire you to cater for my school?
Please get in touch at schools@crabapplecatering.co.uk and we can discuss options with you.
How will your food be delivered to the school?
We deliver the food in trays, held in hot boxes, for the dinner ladies to serve.
Will it cost the school to change school meals provider to yourselves?
Not from our end, it would only come from the other supplier.
What if a child is signed up for school lunches but doesn’t need one on certain days?
We have a super easy-to-use system that you can pick and choose meals for each day. If for some reason you need to cancel, we’d need at least a week’s notice in order to cancel.
How much does your school catering service cost the school?
We currently don’t charge the school anything. They only pay for children that are entitled to ‘Free School Meals’
Can parents order school meals on tablets/ phones?
They can! We have a super user-friendly system for them to use.
How do you deal with pupils’ dietary requirements?
We have a notes section assigned to each child. This flags up on our system report every morning, so we know what we need to provide for them.
How often do you change your menu?
Every school term.
Do you supply hot and cold school meals?
It depends on the school, 2 of our schools have a packed lunch option, as well as a hot lunch. The others only have hot lunches.
Do you supply healthy/ nutritious school meals?
All of our meals have the necessary nutrients in them, we try to include as much fruit and veg as possible.
How do you develop your menus?
We work closely with our schools, taking in their feedback, to come up with a healthy menu, that the children are likely to enjoy.
Can you provide parents with a printout or email with their lunch orders in it?
We certainly can, this is a function of our schools’ ordering system.
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Private Dining Questions And Answers
What is a private dining experience?
We turn up to your venue, cook and serve you an epic meal, then leave, taking all the washing up, and leaving the kitchen as we found it.
What menus do you supply?
All of our menus can be found on our website, we can do much, much more, so if you’d like anything not on there, just let us know and we’ll see what we can do!
What equipment do you require?
We bring all the necessary equipment with us, we just need somewhere to set it up, and access to power.