Booking an ice cream van: what to know first
Costs, timing, access and the questions worth asking before you book a van for any event.
The chime of an ice cream van on a warm day is one of those sounds that does a lot of emotional work with very little effort. It is why the van shows up at everything from third birthdays to fiftieth wedding anniversaries. But there are a few practical things worth knowing before you book one.
Work out your numbers first
Almost every pricing question comes down to headcount and time. Forty children over half an hour is a very different job to a hundred wedding guests drifting out over an hour. Get a rough number before you ring anyone — it makes the quote accurate first time.
Check access before the day, not on it
An ice cream van is a full-sized vehicle that needs somewhere safe and legal to park with room to open the hatch. Narrow estate roads, soft grass after a wet week, and venues with a height barrier are the three things that catch people out. A minute on the phone beforehand saves a scramble on the day.
Ask about insurance and registration
Any van serving food should be fully insured and registered with the HSE, with trained staff. For a private party nobody usually asks. For a school, a corporate site or a hotel, someone will — so check the operator can produce it.
Book earlier than you think
Communion and confirmation Saturdays, school sports days and summer weekends are the pinch points, and they are all concentrated into a few weeks. Those dates go months ahead. Midweek and off-season is far easier.
