Glossary · Events & planning
Pitch
Definition
A pitch is the spot where a food van parks and trades at an event. A good pitch is level, reachable and close to where guests gather.
In event catering, a pitch is the space allocated to a trader. For an ice cream van it needs to fit the vehicle with room around it, be firm and reasonably level, and be reachable without crossing anything the van cannot drive over. Organisers usually allocate pitches on a site plan before the day.
Where you put the van affects how much it sells and how smoothly the day runs. A pitch near the main gathering point, with open ground in front of the hatch for a queue, works far better than a corner of the car park. When you enquire, it helps to describe the proposed pitch, its surface and how we get there. Photos are useful too.
Related terms
- HatchThe hatch is the opening in the side of an ice cream van that customers are served through. Its position decides which way the van has to face.
- Ground conditionsGround conditions describe the surface a van will drive over and park on, such as tarmac, gravel or grass, and whether it is firm, level and dry.
- Access routeThe access route is the path a van takes from the road to its pitch, including gates, width, height clearance, turns and surfaces along the way.
- Site visitA site visit is a check of an event location before the day to confirm access, the pitch, the ground and any restrictions that affect a supplier.
- The full glossary54 terms, from soft serve to street trading licences.
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