Bill Durston, owner of Bar Quality Catering situated in Gloucester, explains the advantages of hiring an outside caterer

Bill Durston, owner of Bar Quality Catering situated in Gloucester and serving weddings in Cheltenham, Stroud, Tewkesbury and the Forest of Dean, explains the advantages of hiring an outside caterer.

He says,"The price is a big advantage. I have seen in-house menus that are almost three times the price of ours that's a big difference. An outside caterer will also offer a taster meal in your own home. They will serve a full sample of your chosen starter, main and dessert complete with crockery and cutlery, plus wine if required. You'll find that some caterers, like us, don't charge a corkage fee or to serve drinks.

A good outside caterer will work with the venue management and provide all of the equipment needed to ensure that everything runs smoothly so that you can get the menu that you want at a competitive price.

There are a few things to check and consider, though. Your chosen caterer must be fully aware of the importance of food service and hygiene. They must also ensure that the venue they will be working at has adequate insurance policies in place.

It's worth noting that couples might be asked to pay a charge to the venue for using their own caterer. We have contributed towards this on many occasions to help the customer facilitate our service and to give them the best deal.

Finally, a good venue will have preferred outside caterers for when a couple is not prepared to pay the in-house food prices.

To book, call 01452 790 771 or visit www.barqualitycatering.co.uk and Facebook @BarQualityCatering