Top 5 Challenges of Festival Catering and How We Overcome Them

Festival season is known for good vibes, great music, and excellent food, but behind the scenes, delivering smooth and professional festival catering services takes serious planning. With large crowds, artist hospitality, changing weather, and tight schedules to manage, festival food service requires adaptability, speed, and industry experience.

At Rhubarb Rhubarb Catering, we provide everything from backstage food services to crew meals and large-scale catering for festivals across the UK. These are the top five challenges we regularly face — and how we consistently overcome them.

1. Feeding Large Crowds Without Compromising Quality

Festivals draw thousands of people, and every one of them needs feeding — quickly. From artists and crew to guests and staff, catering must be efficient without sacrificing quality.

How we manage it:

• Streamlined food stations designed to move queues quickly
• Meals prepped and ready for fast service
• Well-balanced menus that offer variety without slowing down delivery

We focus on combining speed with quality, ensuring no one is left waiting and every plate meets our standards.

2. Operating in Remote or Unpredictable Locations

Festival catering often happens in fields, city parks, or other makeshift setups. Without fixed kitchens or guaranteed facilities, maintaining high standards becomes a logistical challenge.

Our solution:

• Fully equipped mobile kitchen setups that deliver fresh food on-site
• Temperature-controlled storage to maintain food safety and quality
• Use of locally sourced ingredients that are easy to prepare and transport

No matter where your event is located, we bring the equipment and planning needed to deliver consistently great meals.

Festivals attract diverse audiences and teams, each with their own dietary needs — from vegan and gluten-free to allergy-conscious and high-protein diets.

Our approach:

• Dedicated vegan, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly dishes that are developed with care
• Customisable meals that allow attendees to build their own plates
• Menu variety that includes everything from indulgent comfort food to lighter, healthier options

We ensure no one feels like an afterthought — every guest, artist, and crew member is catered for with proper, inclusive food choices.

4. Staying in Sync with Festival Schedules

Artist set times, crew shift changes, and peak meal windows make timing one of the most critical aspects of festival catering.

How we stay on track:

• Close coordination with festival organisers to align food service with the schedule
• Fast, flexible teams trained to adapt to unexpected changes
• Built-in contingency plans to prevent service disruptions

We keep catering in step with the rhythm of the event — so food never gets in the way of the show.

5. Dealing with the British Weather

The UK festival season is unpredictable. From blazing sun to torrential rain, weather conditions can disrupt even the best-planned catering operations.

How we stay prepared:

• Weather-resistant kitchen setups that can operate in all conditions
• Menu flexibility to suit hot or cold weather — light, refreshing dishes for heat, warming comfort food when it’s wet
• On-site adaptability to reposition setups as needed for changing conditions

Rain or shine, our food service remains consistent, efficient, and enjoyable.

Why Choose Rhubarb Rhubarb for Festival Catering?

We’re more than just caterers, we’re part of the event experience. With experience in large-scale event catering, artist hospitality, and crew meals, we bring professionalism and creativity to every service.

Why event organisers trust us:

• Proven expertise in festival logistics and large crowd management
• Menus that are flexible, inclusive, and built for speed
• Reliable, mobile catering teams trained to handle pressure
• National coverage — we work festivals across the UK

Whether you’re planning a headline event or a boutique festival, we’re ready to deliver exceptional catering every time.

Let’s Talk Food for Your Festival

Planning a festival? Need reliable, professional caterers who know how to deliver under pressure? Get in touch to discuss your event’s catering needs.