Why Would I Want To Hire A Chocolate Fountain?

Many party organisers decide to hire chocolate fountains for weddings, corporate events or parties for special occasions in order to add that special something to proceedings. Whether dipping strawberries, fudge or marshmallows in the chocolate fountain everyone will thank you for hiring a chocolate fountain.

The reason why so many people are interest in hiring a chocolate fountain for their event is that it will add that something extra to an already important day. As well as acting as a visual focal point, the chocolate fountain you hire will also be a brilliant talking point and ice breaker. The chocolate fountain should look impressive and fit in with your event. Also hiring a chocolate fountain will eliminate the need to have those uncomfortable silences when talking to your elderly relatives, partners, prospective lovers or the guy you don’t know who keeps asking you to feel his “guns”.

Party organisers in the UK will often have preferred suppliers when it comes to chocolate fondue fountains. They will want only the best, newest and most spectacular fountains rather than the cheaper chocolate fountains that are available to buy in shops or supplied by inexperienced companies.

If you are running an event then you will do well to find out prices from a few different suppliers in the city or further a field – many suppliers do not charge extra for travelling outside their home town. Be careful hiring from companies that only work in one city as their experience will be limited and therefore their service not as good compared to another supplier who travels all over the UK every week.

Once you have a few companies in mind you then need to contact them and get a quote for your event – be it a wedding, corporate event or party.

One of the biggest questions that chocolate fountain hire companies all over the UK get asked is "How much does it cost to hire a chocolate fountain? What are the prices?" or "What is a good price guide for Chocolate Fountain rental in “your city”".

You can usually expect to pay about £450 for the hiring of a chocolate fountain. Make sure the price you get quoted includes everything needed for your event. Don’t book the company and then find out you have to supply the dips your selves. The prices for rental of chocolate fountains will differ from one supplier to the next, but so to will what is being offered. The prices will also differ depending on your event – the more people you have, the longer you want the chocolate fountain for and the specific details of your chocolate fountain, different flavoured chocolate, more dips, surrounds etc. may add to your cost. Due to this make sure you state exactly what you want when enquiring about your chocolate fountain

How much should I pay? This all depends on your budget. By going with the cheapest quote you are possibly going to receive the lowest level of experience and service available or maybe they won’t have public liability insurance. If all the quotes you receive are very similar then I would choose from the middle of the quotes. Don’t be blinded by a really low quote as you may regret not spending that extra £50 on the next cheapest company. Equally don’t ignore really high quotes – make sure they are not including accessories you don’t want – lots of companies offer a lighted surround and if you feel this would be too overpowering or look silly at your event then mention this to the chocolate fountain company and they maybe able to lower their price excluding the surround.

Once you have hired the chocolate fountain and if you did so without requesting any of the ordinary extras e.g. a naked operator with only a plate of marshmallows to cover his delicate area, then you can expect a smartly dressed operator or two (depending on the size of your event), the fountain and chocolate, all dips and presentation plates, skewers and napkins for your guests, a table and cloth to cover the floor in case of spillage. Some operators may ask you to provide a table for them for the convenience of not having to disturb your guests too much on the way out of your event. The chocolate fountain you can expect to run for about 4 hours unless stated a specific time and this will exclude the shutting down and cleaning at the end of your event.

In the case that you were offer something when booking the chocolate fountain or requested something extra with the chocolate fountain and on the day of your event the company turned up with out it you will have to re negotiate your terms of price if it is something you can do with out e.g. a particular dip, or if it is something you can’t do with out e.g. a coloured chocolate for the themed fountain you needed, then you will be able to cancel without paying if it is not resolved and should receive a refund of your deposit if you paid one.

The more respectable companies will be able to offer you various chocolate flavours to run through your chocolate fountain. Most suppliers will be able to offer you milk and dark chocolate. Whilst some will offer white chocolate if requested. These should not incur an extra cost but be sure to ask before assuming. The well equipped providers will be able to offer flavoured chocolate or even (and this is usually at a small extra cost) coloured chocolate – it is white chocolate with tasteless food colouring added. The latter option is used for themed events or parties e.g. Halloween event would use orange colouring.

The most important factor to consider when hiring a chocolate fountain is to make sure you can see exactly what chocolate fountain you are receiving before you hire. Most good respectable companies will have pictures on their websites – for example maybe under a link called “About our Chocolate Fountains”. Unfortunately size does matter! And the bigger the better when it comes to chocolate fountains. The next thing to bear in mind is the operator that comes with the fountain. Making sure they are smart and presentable is important. So to is making sure they conduct themselves professionally over the phone or are prompt when emailing you back. Another good sign is previous quotes or remarks posted on the company’s website, hiring a chocolate fountain without a confident and charming operator is a waste. The atmosphere around the chocolate fountain has to be kept humorous and light hearted – which is only done by a competent and professional operator.

The earlier you can book the better really as many dates throughout the year will book up very soon and you don’t want to be forced to use a second choice company just because you left the booking until the last minute. Having said this, do not think it is not worth hiring a chocolate fountain if you only decided at the last minute. A lot of companies will offer or be willing to hire out chocolate fountains mid week or at the week end for last minute bookings if they are not booked else where at a cheaper rate. Don’t however rely upon being able to get one to do this and therefore miss out on the opportunity of hiring a superb chocolate fountain for your occasion.

Once you have booked a company to hire you a chocolate fountain you have done all of the hard work and all you need do now is wait for that special day with anticipation, for when that day comes you will be faced with a scrumptious flowing waterfall of chocolate accompanied by luscious mouth watering dips – provided you have listened to all the suggestions above.

To make sure everything runs to plan make sure you ring or have received a phone call about a week prior to your event for reconfirmation of your booking. Also if you have paid, which some places ask for a week prior to event, you can also check they have received payment.

I hope you enjoy your next chocolate fountain hire and I would recommend the following supplier: Jack of http://www.jackschocolatefountains.co.uk

Tips For Having A Chocolate Fountain At Your Wedding Reception

Chocolate fountains are an increasing trend these days not only for birthdays but also for wedding receptions. These items are often a must not only because they are gastronomically attractive but they also provide a picture perfect centerpiece for all the guests to enjoy. Unlike the wedding cake, which is the center of attraction but is rarely eaten by the guests, the chocolate fountain is likely to be a hit for both children and adult guests.

It is often a good idea to use the fountain not only whet the curiosity of your guests but also their palates while they are waiting for the main attraction of the reception, the bride and groom. In most cases, it takes time for the couple and the bridal party to arrive at the reception due as they often hang around at their ceremony to have some photos taken.

How about serving light appetizers even before the arrival of the bride and groom? Add a few marshmallows, biscuit sticks, strawberries and other fruits into the mix and this can give your guests the opportunity to dip in while they wait.

The fountain, especially when set up strategically can be a good backdrop for a memorable photo not only for the couple but also for their guests. It is often best to put a spotlight or some lighting to highlight the display to maximize its visual impact. Traditionally brown chocolates would be used, but ultimately no one can stop you from using red, yellow or any other colors you wish.

You will find that a lot of caterers include a fountain as part of a special wedding package while others offer it as an additional expense. Some will even allow you to bring your own machine, however, you should take into consideration that it will be up to you to set it up and deal with it in case of any problems that may arise. A good tip is to make sure that someone is assigned to check on it regularly so it does not run out of melted chocolate or become too messy.

One final tip is to ensure you use a chocolate with a high cocoa butter content. These are the most suitable, and you may even find that other varieties neither flow or taste as good.

Find more advice on wedding planning and wedding etiquette. In addition you can get more information on mother of the groom dresses.

Chocolate Fountain Description and Help

What is a chocolate Fountain? A chocolate fountain is a device for serving chocolate fondue. It can come in many different sizes, mini, medium, large and extra large depending on the number of guests you wish to cater for. The fountain has multiple tiers over a heated basin at the bottom. The chocolate is melted in the basin and then pulled up through the augur and continuously flows over the tiers. When it flows over the tiers, guests are able to select a condiment they would like to dip into the fountain, using a skewer, they select a dip of their choice and coat their item in delicious, warm melted chocolate....heaven! Essentially, a chocolate fountain is composed of two parts. The base is the motor and a heater. The heater is designed to transpose heat through the base to keep the chocolate in liquid form. The motor drives the screw in the upper part of the fountain.

This is an Archimedes screw, weren't they clever! This is thought to have originated around 600 BC, I bet they never thought of a chocolate fountain then. The screw lies in a tight cylinder in a vertical fashion with several holes at the bottom of the screw. The screw lifts the chocolate to the top of the cylinder from where it flows over several plates and down the fountain to be recycled again. This is the basic premise of a chocolate fountain, because the chocolate is thick, there is no need for a pump as the screw is a better means for lifting the chocolate up. Why have a chocolate fountain? Chocolate Fountains are a new and impressive form of entertainment, they create a fantastic focal point at any major event and provide your guest with a unique and interactive way of treating themselves to luxurious fondue chocolate. Chocolate fountains are a great solution for some weddings, they provide a wonderful desert or can be used for an evening buffet.

Some people chose to have a chocolate fountain rather than a wedding cake, this is because chocolate fountains are interactive and people can help themselves as much as they like when the would like it What should you consider when booking a chocolate fountain? We recommend you consider booking you chocolate fountain at least 12 months in advance, this is because they are extremely popular. To enable you to get a realistic quote you will need to provide the following details:1. Number of guests the chocolate fountain is to cater for. 2. Location of event. 3. Date of event - (if it's a midweek event you may get a good discount). 4. Duration of event. Most people book their chocolate fountain for the evening and on average, chocolate fountain companies hire their fountain for a period of 3 hours. However, every wedding/event is different, if you require your fountain during the day or for a longer period of time etc, please discuss this with the chocolate fountain company you have chosen Home chocolate fountains are mini versions of the commercial ones used for weddings and events. Unfortunately there is a lot of rubbish out there and we get calls regularly from people saying that their mini fountain doesn't work. Here are a couple of things that will help.

Only use a quality chocolate that is made specifically for chocolate fountains. This tends to be more expensive but it is the key to success. Chocolate purchased from your local supermarket doesn't work unless you put oil in it, a good quality fondue chocolate doesn't require oil. The poorer the quality chocolate, the more oil you require. This is in fact a contradiction because standard chocolate bars typically contain around 20% vegetable fat anyway, but you will still have to add more oil because of the high level of impurities. If this doesn't work, take the fountain back to the point of purchase and tell them that it is rubbish, maybe some of the high street chains will think again about selling consumers junk! How do you get the most out of your home fountain. Ensure that you have a variety of dips available, the best to use are strawberries, grapes and other fruits such as pineapple and melon but fruit works really well with chocolate. Ensure that you have skewers and enough for your guests, these are readily available at a variety of shops, especially hardware shops that sell barbecues. Also ensure that you have some large napkins as you wouldn't want chocolate dripping all over your floor. Finally, presentation is key, make sure that your skewers are kept together and that you present your home fountain as clean and attractive on a surface that is easy to wipe to ensure that drips don't spoil your display.

Finally, after your event has finished, don't turn the fountain of and go to bed. Dispose of the chocolate whilst it is still in liquid form as this makes cleaning so much easier. Your fountain should also disassemble into separate parts, put everything except the motor assembly into a dishwasher or a sink full of hot and soapy water and then it should be easily to clean down. Before you pack your fountain away, make sure that it is completely clean and dry to prevent any contamination. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at the Chocolate Fountain Directory or Chocolate Fountains of Devon for advice and information on suppliers.

Edwin Hall is the owner of Chocolate Fountains of Devon and the chocolate Fountain Directory. Bizarely also has a bsc, msc and phd in economics, surfs in the summer and plays football, soccer if you're American or like Becks, in the winter