Old Skool Bus Events, a catering and events company, has been announced as a finalist in two categories for the prestigious Festival Supplier Awards 2026. The event, which celebrates outdoor events and the suppliers and production teams behind them, will take place on Thursday 29th January at the De Vere Connaught Rooms in central London.
The company has been shortlisted in the Best New Product/Service of the year category, as well as the Best Support Service – Crew Catering category for their work at the Glastonbury Festival 2025. Old Skool Bus Events is run by Director Kate Packham, who has over 25 years of experience in event management, including working with festivals such as Boomtown, Shambala, and Glastonbury.
Packham started the original business, called “The Old Skool Bus & Kitchen,” during the 2020 lockdown with two friends, using a food truck for charity projects. After separating from her original partners, she relaunched as “Old Skool Bus Events – Kitchen & Bar” in 2023. The company operates in two main event sectors, providing catering services for private parties, weddings, and corporate events in Sussex, as well as in the UK festival industry.
Packham expressed her excitement about being shortlisted for two award categories, saying, “We are absolutely blown away that in just 18 months of relaunching our ‘Old Skool Bus Events – Kitchen & Bar’ that we would be shortlisted in TWO award categories in the UK Festival Supplier Awards!” She also shared that the company has made significant progress in their crew catering services, serving over 40,000 meals during the 56 consecutive days at Glastonbury’s Worthy Farm.
In addition to providing delicious food, Old Skool Bus Events prioritizes sustainability and staff welfare. Packham herself became a certified Nutrition & Health Coach in 2025 to create nourishing menus for crew members and artists on site. The company also implemented new standards and policies and recruited a new team of chefs and staff in Spring 2025.
Now in its eleventh year, the Festival Supplier Awards are a highly anticipated event in the outdoor event industry. Michelle Tayton, event director of the Festival Supplier Awards, expressed her amazement at the quality of entries this year, saying, “Our finalists really highlight the creativity, capability, and capacity that exists within the outdoor event industry.”
The awards are judged by a panel of esteemed industry experts, including event managers, production managers, and representatives from major events like the London Marathon and the Ryder Cup. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony and dinner at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in London on Thursday 29th January 2025.
Photos of Old Skool Bus Events can be credited to the company’s email.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.