Allens Catering Equipment & Furniture Hire Reviews 20

So very reliable and courteous. The delivery and collection took place as and when promised and the equipment was spotless

The rudest delivery people I have ever experienced.
They were aware of the site and that there would be stairs, we did a video walkthrough a few weeks before.
Allens sent a rude and aggressive couple of guys.
They point blank refused to take the catering equipment up 8 steps, we were then forced to move it ourselves.
The bridesmaids carried up the ovens and even the poor bride even had to help move the plates and glasses.
On the pick up they sent one of the original guys and another 2, they still complained about the steps and didn't want to carry them down.
Once they had left we discovered that they had spilt oil from the fryer all over our driveway.
We have never had such a terrible experience with catering hire.
It nearly ruined a wonderful wedding.

From start to finish using Allens to hire equipment for our party was faultless. Ems, the Sales Administrator, advised and supported us throughout, ensuring we had everything we needed for the day. Delivery and collection were smooth and easy.
The whole process was stress free, and everyone we dealt with was friendly and extremely helpful.

We used Allen’s Catering for a garden party for my wife’s 50th.
The choice of equipment items on the website is vast, so plenty of choose from.
We required tables, chairs, glasses, cutlery, chafing dishes, serving plates, heaters etc.
The service from initial enquiry was professional with plenty of friendly advice on equipment choices.
We had the equipment delivered and collected. Delivery was on time and equipment located as requested in the garden.
Everything was good condition, clean and hygienically wrapped.
Once used the items can simply be placed in the crates and returned, so no washing up !
Would certainly recommend and use again.

Incredible communication, highly flexible and very professional service

They're very efficient at quoting and responding to messages and queries, and the delivery people were efficient and helpful.

Although it may seem small I was charged for not returning cutlery unfairly. I didn't count the knives on receiving them as I assumed they'd packed them correctly, as is reasonable. But I got told that I returned one less than I rented. I explained to them it's not possible because I returned them unopopend and unused in intact packaging that I received them in (but by this point if they were counting them they've taken it out and so can't confirm this). They simply repeated that they only have 9, and didn't understand that it means that they gave me 1 less.

I'm very happy to pay for legit charges because that's only fair and I had another charge for a broken glass, but this is very unfair as I literally gave back the knives in the packaging I received them in, sealed and unused.

Aside from that the furniture is pretty battered which I wasn't told in advance (they said I chose not to rent their tablecloths but there was no indication I would need them).

My family used their services for a party and when returning items the delivery driver (who were all very sweet) had broken a couple of things and informed the company it was their fault. We were still charged for the items that their drivers broke and when my mum called the lady on the other end was very rude and assertive about their “policy” stating that once it leaves their warehouse it’s not their responsibility which is silly as you’re providing a whole service of equipment hire and delivery so it is your responsibility.

the office staff were very helpful especially when I had to make changes to my booking and the delivery guys couldn't have been more pleasant and helpful.

Booking of the items for hire was very easy and efficient. Always able to speak to someone in the office who was friendly and helpful. Items were delivered and collected as requested. Refund of deposit in fairly good time.

All went well until Allens claimed that we had lost various things, including six tablespoons and a large plate, which we definitely had not. It wasn’t the money which annoyed us but their insistence that they were right and we were wrong. All the cutlery and dirty plates were loaded straight back into their crates but we even went through our bins. If you use Allens, check everything before it’s loaded at collection or expect a bill for things that ‘you definitely lost’.

I went to Allens hire as they had contacted my catering company for business over the previous year . A late notice wedding came up and our usual hire company couldn't supply All the hot cupboards required .
So I gave them a try on a wedding for 190 .
All was well and good enough service until it came to getting our deposit back , They wanted to charge for 4 plastic boxes 280 quid and the glass breakages were at a level we have never seen on a wedding before .
I have been in event catering all my career and present business for 6 years . I have never lost a plastic crockery box or been charged for 1 ever . All returns were packed and checked as our team always do and it just did not happen.
I asked to talk to a director, but the director was never available and did not call me as I was told they would.
Refusal to accept their warehouse mistake .
Appalling new customer attitude!!
Stay away from this company. They only respond to positive reviews on here and first form of defence is attack .....

The very last minute request i had was met with support, speed and accuracy. They recommended products, delivered at the agreed time, collected at the agreed time and provided what we needed. I was very impressed, and they saved me. No issues with returns of items, and no charges for breakages.

After using Allens last year and being so impressed, we were absolutely outraged with their customer service this year. 5 teapots apparently went missing (we received them, didn’t use them and they stayed in the crate) we were charged £150 for them. Despite numerous attempts to pursue this, I kept getting emails (when chased) saying they can’t do anything and that’s that. Outrageous to charge £150 for teapots that categorically we do not have. They said they’ve accounted for them and no complaints procedure in place and no recourse. Please check your returns carefully. Won’t be using them again as worried this is their scam.

Allens Hire were fantastic from beginning to end. Drifa went above and beyond taking photos of tabes and chairs so we could make the right decisions on the items we were looking at for our wedding set up. The communication with herself and the delivery team was brilliant and we wouldn’t hesitate to use them again. Thank you all, Caroline

Terrible - they have claimed that items were missing which were carefully accounted for and returned by a trusted caterer.

Be careful hiring from this company. Hired an item that included a security deposit. 3 weeks after event, still chasing refund only to be told that 'apparently' there were components missing from our returned item and sent an invoice to cover the loss.
Terrible after care and by the looks of it from other reviews they charge people for 'missing' items regularly - their word against customers! Avoid.

For Caterers only. If you are an individual looking for private hire, I would suggest looking elsewhere. From my experience the staff were rude and took weeks to respond to my questions regarding a potential booking.

I hired various items and happily left a deposit. When the goods were collected from my house the drivers by mistake dropped all the glasses over my drive. I am still finding small shards of glass. This was over two weeks ago and I have still not had my deposit returned. I have called and leave messages but I have not had the courtesy of a return call. They are unprofessional and they are not a good company to deal with. I think I should have had the courtesy of an apology

Awful aftercare, poor communication and £66 of fees paid as they didn't communicate a collection plan and then said I should have looked at my contract better.

They were lovely organising delivery and product but then totally let us down afterwards.

Disappointing

Bunch of rip off merchants - rip you off with the deposit and claim items missing with absolutely no accountability or transparency. Avoid like the plague