Chocolate Fountain Hire Questions

Listed below are a number of frequently asked questions.
If your questions are not answered below please contact us and we will be pleased to answer.

Q: Is the chocolate fountain suitable for people with a nut allergy?
A: We are not able to guarantee that the chocolate, any flavourings or some of the dips do not originate from suppliers who may use nuts or come into contact with nuts as part of their production processes, therefore we cannot confirm that the fountain would be suitable for those with a nut allergy.

Q: What type of chocolate can I have?
A: We can supply dark, milk or white chocolate (extra) and can also supply if desired, various flavorings and colourings (eg: coffee, mint, orange etc, at extra cost). We will need advance notice to order any flavorings not held in stock. However, what may be 'one man's (or women's) chocolate, may not be another's. Unless you are sure your guests are of one taste bud, we would suggest otherwise, but the option is available if requested.
Our chocolate fountain and the relevant equipment is hired for the period of contract, namely 3-hours, this does not purport to the client having purchased any ingredient, mechanical or otherwise for his own personal use beyond the 3-hour hire and will only be as such at the owners (Chocolate Fountains R us) discretion.

Q: What do you require to operate the fountain?
A:
1) We will need access to a power point
2) For outside events we require a level surface and will ideally be located away from any strong draughts, preferably within a marquee.

Q: Who will operate the chocolate fountain?
A: One or more of our fully trained staff will deliver, set up, operate, stock, dismantle, clean and remove the fountain and leave the event spot as clean as possible.
With food establishments such as hotels, clubs, restaurants who are covered with the appropriate insurance coverage we are able to hire out the machine, as in our 'Dry Hire' option

Q: Do you have public liability insurance?
A: Yes we have public liability insurance to the value of £5 million and are registered with the Environmental Health at Cheltenham Borough Council. All food is prepared to the highest of standards.

Q: Do you hire out your fountains without operators and dips?
A: Not at this point, we have had some regretful circumstances whereby the apparatus was damaged and the client was legally liable, so we have abandoned that option.

Q: What sort of dips can I have?
A: There are a range of up to 12 different dips that we can provide and you are welcome to provide your own or suggest a particular favorite for us to get (within reason). Certain foods are not suitable as they can adversely effect the quality of the chocolate and or the operation of the machine. Our standard dip range includes:
Fresh strawberries
Fresh pineapple chunks

Cream profiteroles

Marshmallows
Mini donuts
Dairy fudge

Turkish Delight

Waffles
Seedless grapes

We have experimented with Kiwi fruit, melon, and banana, feedback from clients confirmed that after excessive exposure, despite an initial positive cosmetic appeal, fruit became messy, finicky and dettieriated rapidly. We have since advised clients to stay with the core selection which are more carbohydrate-based.

Q: How far do you travel?
A: Everywhere...just let us know where you are as our network extends the whole of the UK, however we mainly receive extensive booking in the South West, the Midlands, Birmingham, the Home Counties and London.

Q: What chocolate do you use?
A: We only use the best Belgian Couvature chocolate, milk, dark or creamy white, ' you will taste the quality when you try our fountains '. Fresh chocolate is incorporated every time and the chocolate after the event is either disposed of, or can be requested upon discretion, or used for demonstration purposes only.

Q: Will you require a deposit?
A: Yes, a non-refundable deposit of £100 will be required to secure your booking. The balance will be required 7-10 working days prior to the event as we will be ordering chocolate and dips in this period. In the very unlikely event that we fail to honour a booking (eg: mechanical failure) a full refund will be provided and every effort will be made to find a replacement. We aim to NOT disappoint, so book early as dates get filled up quickly. In the event of us having received full-payment for the event and is cancelled by the client, no refund will be possible as we would have turned away other business for that date.

Footnote
We will always take the care and due diligence to cater to the volume of guests originally invoiced, if the number attending on the day increases substantially, we reserve the option to negotiate a revised price or cancel the booking entirely. While we have the integrity to 'hold' the booking despite potentially other larger lucrative bookings we trust that clients will also adhere to the same principles and be forthcoming on numbers attending.

Children and safety guidelines

Due to the thermostatic function of the Chocolate Fountain, certain elements run at 50 degrees or more, we would advise parents therefore with small children that they supervised at all times when close to the fountain to eliminate the risk of any accidents. While we can assist we cannot be responsible for large or even small crowds of young, unsupervised, children. Chocolate Fountains R Us reserve the right for time-out should certain circumstances exceed safety guidelines and procedures. Under such circumstances our attendant will conduct the dipping process.