First Essential
Ticketing, kiosks and payments for events that keep the crowd moving
One UK based partner for ticketing, kiosks and payments for events of every size, covering the gate, the floor and every stand. Real people answer the phone, so your show runs smoothly from doors open to pack down.
Card rates from 0.3%. Rates vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup. The free card machine offer applies when taken with an EPOS till system.
Doors open and the rush is on
The busy moments are when kit usually lets you down. We sort the gate, the floor and every stand so attendees get in quicker, stallholders sell more, and you have someone to call all day.
What does an EPOS and card payment setup for events actually mean?
An EPOS system (short for Electronic Point of Sale, and what most people still call a till) is the screen, software and printer a vendor uses to ring up sales, take payment and keep a running total of what sold. For an event it is the till on every stand, the bar and the merchandise counter, all reporting back so you can see how the day is going while it happens.
A card machine (also called a card reader or a card terminal) is the small device that takes the actual payment. It accepts chip and PIN, contactless tap, and phone wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay. At a busy event the card machine is what stops the queue, because a tap takes a second or two and there is no cash to hand back or count later.
Put together with self-service kiosks at the gate, the result is an event where people get in faster, pay faster and spend more before they leave. Because it all comes from one UK partner, the till, the card machine and the kiosk talk to each other instead of being three separate things you have to wire up yourself.
Everything your event needs, joined up
Kit out the gate, the stands and the whole site from one setup, with every part working together. No single supplier of just tills, or just card readers, can match the full picture.
Self-Service Kiosks
Let crowds check in, grab tickets and place orders themselves, so your team handles the queue instead of the till.
Learn moreCard Payments
Fast cashless card and contactless card readers at the gate, the bar and every stand, so nobody walks off because the queue is too long.
Learn moreEPOS Till Systems
A simple, sturdy till for every vendor and stall, ready to set up fast and sell from the moment doors open.
Learn moreAI Solutions
Answers attendees day and night, from opening times to where to park, so your inbox stays calm before the big day.
Learn moreKitchen Display Screens
Send food and drink orders straight to the prep area so caterers and bars keep up when the rush hits.
Learn moreFirst Essential One
Our all in one platform to capture leads before the event, follow up with attendees after, and keep your contacts in one place.
Learn moreThe things that go wrong on the day
Most of them come down to one supplier for the gate, another for the floor and a pile of kit nobody set up together.
Queues at the gate
Paper lists and manual checks back the entrance up before the show even starts. Scan and go ticketing on a kiosk gets people through in seconds and frees your staff to look after the crowd.
Kit that drops out at peak
A card reader that cuts out at the busiest hour costs real sales. We set up connectivity that holds up on a packed site and we are on the phone if anything wobbles.
Cash to count at close
Cash floats, change runs and a long count at pack down. Cashless card payments across the site mean vendors finish, lock up and go home instead of counting takings in the dark.
Vendors with no till
Stallholders turning up with a phone and a notepad slow the whole site down. A simple till per stand, ready in minutes, keeps every line moving and every sale recorded.
The same questions on repeat
Opening times, parking, what is on. An AI assistant answers attendees day and night across web chat, so your inbox is calm in the run up to the big day.
No one to call
An overseas help line is no use when doors open in ten minutes. You get real UK people, seven days a week, who know your setup before the event starts.
Self-service kiosks that cut the queue
Give attendees a quick way to check in, collect tickets and place orders themselves. Your team comes off the till and looks after the crowd instead, and the line at the entrance keeps moving.
Cashless card payments for events, anywhere on site
Take card, contactless and phone payments at the gate, the bar and every stand. Card readers accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and run on a 4G SIM or wifi so they keep working across a big site. When paying is quick, fewer people give up on a long line and more of their spend stays on site through the day.
An EPOS till for every vendor and stall
Hand each stallholder a simple, sturdy till that is ready to sell from the moment doors open. They pack down at the end instead of counting cash, and you can match the kit to the size of the crowd. Every sale reports back so you can see how the day is going as it happens.
Find the right setup for your kind of event
Different events lean on different kit. Here is where most organisers start.
Festivals and shows
Scan and go entry on kiosks, cashless card payments across every bar and stand, and a till per vendor. Keep the gate and the floor moving on the busiest days.
Kiosks and entryExhibitions and trade fairs
A fast till for every exhibitor, card readers that take payment on the stand, and First Essential One to capture and follow up leads after the doors close.
Capture leadsFood and drink events
Order kiosks, kitchen display screens for the prep area and cashless card payments at every counter, so caterers keep up when the rush hits.
Kitchen screensHonest pricing, no surprises at pack down
Plenty of providers in this space quote a low headline rate, then add monthly fees, long lock in contracts and charges that only show up once you have signed. Here is how we are different.
| What you want to know | First Essential UK | Some providers |
|---|---|---|
| Card rate | From 0.3%. Rates vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup, in writing. | A low headline rate with the real, higher rate hidden in the small print. |
| Card machine cost | Free card machine when taken with an EPOS till system. | Device fees or rental on top, sometimes per terminal. |
| Monthly fees | Explained up front so you can see the full picture before you commit. | Surprise monthly software or service charges added after signing. |
| Contract and lock in | We talk you through the terms before you sign, in plain English. | Long multi year contracts with steep early exit fees. |
| Support | Real UK people, seven days a week. They know your event setup. | Overseas call centres or ticket only help. |
| Breadth | EPOS, card payments, kiosks, kitchen screens, AI and First Essential One from one partner. | One product only, so you juggle several suppliers. |
We describe "some providers" generically based on common patterns in the UK payments market. We do not quote any named rival's figures. Your own rates, fees and terms are always set out clearly before you sign. Card rates from 0.3%, rates vary by card type and business and are confirmed at setup. The free card machine offer applies when taken with an EPOS till system.
Frequently asked questions
What does an EPOS and card machine setup for a UK event cost?
Is there a long contract or lock in?
How fast does the money from card payments reach my account?
Which cards and payment types do the card readers accept?
Can self-service kiosks really cut the queue at the gate?
Is my data handled safely and in line with GDPR?
Is the support team based in the UK?
Plan the rest of your stack
Industries we serve
See how the same joined up setup works for other sectors we support across the UK.
View industriesIntegrations
Connect your till, card payments and platform to the tools you already use.
See integrationsAbout First Essential
Meet the UK team behind the kit and the support you get on the day.
About usReady to keep the crowd moving?
Book a free, no obligation demo and we will help you plan the right setup for your next event. Real UK people, seven days a week.
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