Policies

Equipment hire

We can source all crockery, glassware and cutlery for you from our local supplier who stocks many different styles. Please just let us know in the planning stages and we can direct you to the catalogue. Alternatively, we have lots of samples we can show you to help you make your decision. If you require a kitchen to be bought in i.e a marquee wedding, this will need to be paid for by the client. We can arrange this for you through a reputable events hire company.

Tastings

If you would like to try your menu please do not hesitate to get in touch. We offer tastings from our farm kitchen in between Falmouth and Truro. We charge £40.00 per couple for this service. Please note that we can only offer this service during the warmer months due to our location.

Table laying service

If required we are more than happy to set up the crockery, cutlery and any glassware onto the tables. Please let us know in advance as this may incur extra staffing costs. Please note that this is not a wedding styling service.

Pouring of drinks

Our staff will be on hand to serve your welcome drinks (usually served with canapés) and all wine and water to the table plus Champagne for the toast if required.

Dietary requirements

All dietary requirements can be accommodated for, we ask you to provide all the details of these as soon as possible and at the latest when being sent our ‘event run sheet’ eight weeks prior to the event.

Point of contact

As part of your booking, every bride and groom will have a point of contact on the day. We ask our clients to provide a contact from the wedding party, with telephone numbers, usually the best man/maid of honour or one of the bride/groom’s parents.

Meals for any other staff involved in the day

If you have any other people outside of your wedding party to feed, for example, performers or photographers, then this must be pre-arranged and taken into consideration when hiring crockery, cutlery and glassware.

Menus

We don’t print menus for the table but we can recommend some great local companies that produce beautiful, bespoke wedding menus.

Kitchen/venue requirements

Depending on your chosen menu, certain kitchen equipment will also be required. i.e. fryer/ plate warmer etc.

Indoor event:

We will require adequate indoor kitchen space along with necessary equipment. i.e ovens, plenty of fridge space, sink and countertop space in order to prepare and serve all our menus.

Marquee/outdoor event:

Please speak with your Marquee/hire company about providing either a separate kitchen tent adjoining the main marquee or portioning off a section of the main marquee in order for us to prepare and serve all our menus. Marquee/outdoor kitchens will need to have the following; suitable flooring, electrical outlets, adequate lighting and running water within 20 metres of the kitchen.

Grazing Tables

If you would like to choose our grazing table option we will require 2 x 6ft trestle table per 50 people. The tables should be as close as possible to the kitchen in order to make it simple for us to top up the food when necessary.

Reception Drinks Tables

We recommend 1-2 x 6ft trestle tables for the serving of reception drinks.

Portion Sizes

All our menu items are sold on a per guest basis, with generous portion sizes having been determined by our experienced catering staff. If you would like information regarding the exact quantities, please do not hesitate to ask for this in advance of your event.

Table Plan

We will ask you to supply us with a table plan including any menu options & dietary requirements. We would also suggest writing on the back of guests name place-card to remind them on the day and to ensure a smooth service.

Power supply/water supply/food prep area

It is the responsibility of the client to ensure that an adequate catering tent/kitchen, with sufficient power/water supply together with trestle tables for food preparation and plate clearance are made readily available and located within the foodservice area.

Access

We will require reasonable access to the event location prior to the event start time to allow for food preparation and setting up of the event. This also includes reasonable access for unloading/loading of equipment.

Wedding Cakes

We are happy to cut the cake and set up a self-service buffet point for guests to help themselves. Please see price list.

Excess Food

Please note, it is standard practice to remove all leftover food from the site. This is in the interest of food safety, as once we are off-site we can have no control over the safe storage of said leftover foodstuffs.

Empty bottles and waste

We will remove all the waste associated with our service. Any other waste inc empty bottles and rubbish sacks will be left discreetly out of sight in a pre-arranged area, it is then the clients responsibility to organise the removal of any empty bottles and waste the following day.

Please note, it is standard practice to remove all leftover food from the site. This is in the interest of food safety, and once off-site we can have no control over the safe storage of said leftover foodstuffs.

Clearing away at the end of the night

We will clear and pack away plates/dishes/cutlery in their respective boxes in the catering tent, ready for collection by the hire company. We will also collect and pack away dirty glasses throughout the day, up to when we leave. If extra bar staff have been hired through the evening, they will carry on collecting dirty glasses until our bar service finish point. Please bear in mind that once we have left the site it is the responsibility of the client to ensure that all remaining hired items are returned to the correct hire crates at the end of the night. All breakages will be charged at the standard replacement cost by the hire company. If you would like cleaning staff to clear all remaining hired items and any rubbish at the end of the night, then this must be pre-arranged at an additional charge.

Guarantees

AVO Catering Co will send out a confirmation event plan eight weeks prior to the event in which we must be notified of the exact number of attendees, dietary requirements and confirmation of the services we are providing. It is then the clients responsibility to confirm and amend this plan and send it back to us no later than 14 days prior to the event. Should the number of attendees decrease

after the 14 day period the client will still be charged the confirmed amount. If a confirmed event plan is not received back, the original estimated attendance count will be prepared and charged.

Cancellations

If the client cancels a contracted food and beverage event, and/or facility before fourteen days prior to the event AVO Catering Co will retain all of the deposit fee as liquidated damages. If the client cancels a contracted food and beverage event, and/or facility less than fourteen days prior to the event AVO Catering Co will retain all of the fee as liquidated damages.

Public liability Insurance

We hold full public liability insurance. Please ask to receive a copy of our certificate.

Quote

Please quote for a minimum number of guests as whilst these numbers may increase, the booking and pricing is in regard to this minimum number and as such cannot decrease.

Payment

Payment arrangements for all events must be made in accordance with catering policies. There is a 30% deposit to be paid on all events in order to secure the booking unless prior arrangements have been agreed to by AVO Catering Co. We ONLY accept payment in the form of Bacs, debit or credit card. Please be aware that payment with debit and credit cards will incur a fee of 2.5%. Full Payment is due no later than fourteen days prior to the event.

Kitchen & Venue Requirements

The kitchen facilities required will vary depending on your chosen menu and venue. For marquee events, a complete temporary kitchen setup may be necessary which we can arrange on your behalf with Abbotts. For venues with existing kitchen facilities, only additional equipment may be required, depending on what is already available. Any equipment requirements will be detailed within your final quotation. Please note that estimated kitchen costs are included within your instant quote.

Marquee & Outdoor Events

For marquee events, please liaise with your marquee supplier to ensure a catering tent is positioned adjacent to the main marquee for food preparation and service.

Outdoor kitchen areas must have:

Suitable flooring
Electrical supply
Running water

Dietary Requirements

We are able to cater for all dietary requirements and allergies. To ensure we can accommodate your guests appropriately, please provide details as early as possible. Dietary meals are typically prepared and served individually. Around two months before your event, we will send an Event Run Form and request a seating plan with all dietary requirements clearly marked.

What’s Included in Our Quotes?

Waiting Staff

Our professional front-of-house team will look after your guests throughout the event, from service through to clearing down at the end of the evening. Experienced in weddings, corporate events, and private celebrations, our staff deliver attentive and polished hospitality throughout.

Welcome Drinks & Table Service

Our team will be happy to assist with serving your supplied welcome drinks. There will be a small charge for this as you will see in the quote. We recommend using 6ft trestle tables for reception drink service.

During your meal, our staff will serve wine, water, and toast drinks where required. However, many couples find guests are equally happy to pour their own drinks at the table.

Cake Cutting

We are happy to cut your wedding cake free of charge if it falls within our times of service. Outside of this time there will be a small additional cost. Whilst we are happy to assist, responsibility for the cake’s preparation, ingredients, storage, and quality remains with the client.

Serving Equipment

We provide all enamel bowls, wooden boards and canapés boards for you day.

Crockery and cutlery

We include all crockery and cutlery within your quote, this is outsourced from Abbots and will all be arranged for you. The only thing we need to know from you is the style preference.

Meals for Additional Suppliers

If meals are required for photographers, musicians, entertainers, or other suppliers, these must be requested and arranged in advance to be added to your quote.

Leftover Food

Any remaining food can be left on-site if requested. However, responsibility for storage, refrigeration, and food safety passes to the client once service has ended. Suitable refrigeration facilities should be available if food is to be retained.

End of Event Clearing

At the end of service, we will clear and pack all plates, crockery, and cutlery into the designated catering area or hire company containers, ready for collection.

Once our team has departed, responsibility for any remaining hired items transfers to the client. Any missing or damaged items may be charged by us after the event at our discretion.

What’s Excluded from our service?

Empty Bottles & General Waste

We will remove all waste generated directly by our catering service. Any additional waste, including empty bottles and general rubbish, will be placed neatly in a pre-agreed location. The client is responsible for arranging its collection and disposal. We are happy to recommend local waste management providers if required.

Printed Menus

Table menus are not included within our service. However, we are happy to recommend trusted local stationery suppliers who specialise in bespoke event and wedding stationery.

Room Setup & Styling

Our service does not include venue styling, décor setup, table dressing, or room preparation. While we focus on exceptional food and hospitality, we are not an event styling company. Tables can be laid if agreed upon in advance.

Glassware & Linen

Glassware and table linen are not included within our standard pricing. Should you require these items we can arrange this for you and it your Abbotts order.

Additional Services

Bar Staff Hire

Professional bar staff can be added to your booking to provide a complete drinks service. Our experienced team can assist with bar setup, drink service, glass collection, and clearing down. Whilst we can provide these staff members to run a bar we don’t provide the alcohol/garnishes etc. This is left up to the client to provide for our staff.

Tea & Coffee Stations

Our tea and coffee stations include hot water urns, a selection of quality teas and coffee, along with disposable cups for guest convenience. Professionally managed and neatly presented, they provide a practical and welcoming addition to weddings, corporate events, and private functions.

The Finer Details

Travel

Travel within the local area is included in our quote. Further distances may be charged.

Menu Tastings

We offer free menu tasting at our beautiful HQ just outside Truro. We charge £20 per person for this and this cost is fully refundable for the bride and groom if you do book with us. We encourage you to bring family and friends along as it’s a great experience in a wonderful setting. Please note we can only offer this during the warmer months due to our location and outside setting.

Quotations

All quotations remain valid for 30 days from the date of issue.

Deposits & Date Reservation

A non-refundable deposit of 30% is required to secure your booking and reserve your event date. We understand that some couples can’t make it for a tasting immediately and want to get their dates secured so we do offer a refundable deposit until the point of the tasting incase we are not the right for you.

Final Payment & Amendments

The remaining balance is due 14 days before your event.

Final guest numbers and amendments can be made up to 14 days prior to the event date.

Public Liability Insurance

We hold full public liability insurance. Copies of our insurance certificate are available upon request.

Venue Access

We require reasonable access to the venue before the event to allow sufficient time for setup and preparation, including access for loading and unloading equipment.