CLEARMASTERS
Why venues are different
A big day puts a big load on private drainage
Most venues are in the countryside, on their own drainage, and a single wedding can bring hundreds of guests in an afternoon.
Sudden peaks
A quiet midweek, then 200 guests eating, drinking and using the toilets in a few hours.
Caterers
Visiting caterers don’t always know the venue is on private drainage. Fat and food waste go straight down the sink.
No room for problems
A smell on the lawn or a blocked toilet can spoil someone’s big day, and your reviews.
Permits
Busy venues often discharge more than the general binding rules allow, so they need a permit.
Interactive
Getting ready for an event
Choose a stage to see what we do, and what you can do, to keep the drains out of the story.
Plan ahead
Send us your events diary. Big weekends, back-to-back weddings and festivals are booked in so the system is ready.
- Check the treatment plant has capacity for the numbers
- Book any extra emptying of holding tanks
- Agree visit times that avoid set-up days
- Brief caterers on fat and food waste
Get the system ready
A visit a few days before the event, when nobody is setting up.
- Empty the grease separator
- Check the pump station and test the alarms
- Check the treatment plant and sludge levels
- Empty holding tanks and cesspits
Out of sight
We stay away on the day itself unless something goes wrong, and our 24/7 line is there if it does.
- Our 24/7 number with the duty manager
- Guests reminded what not to flush with discreet signs
- Caterers scraping plates before washing
- Rainwater kept away from foul drains
Reset for the next one
An early visit once guests have left gets the site ready for the next event.
- Empty holding tanks and portable toilets
- Empty the grease separator after a big event
- Check for blockages before the next booking
Interactive
How much does a big event add?
How much extra does an event add?
A rough guide to the extra waste water from a day event, compared with what a typical family home produces.
Assumes about 25 litres per guest for meals, drinks and toilets over a day, and 50 litres per member of staff. A family home uses roughly 600 litres a day. A guide only: tell us about your venue and we’ll advise.
What we offer
How we look after venues
Planned maintenance contracts
A schedule for every drainage asset on site, booked and confirmed by our office, with a written report after every visit.
Portable toilet and holding tank emptying
Emptied with our own tankers, including the morning after an event.
Effluent sampling
Samples taken as part of your maintenance plan, with the records kept ready for your permit and the Environment Agency.
Jetting and CCTV
Planned jetting of problem drain runs before they block, and camera surveys to find the cause of repeat problems.
A named contact
One person who knows your site, your access arrangements and your preferences.
24/7 emergency cover
One number, answered day and night. Tankers to stop an overflow, engineers to fix the cause.
One contractor
Everything your venue relies on
Out of sight
Working around your events
Planned around your diary
Visits booked for empty days, never during an event unless it’s an emergency.
Tanker out of sight
Long hose runs keep the tanker away from lawns, terraces and photo spots.
Agreed routes
Service roads and back-of-house routes agreed with you.
Early visits
The morning after an event, before your team starts the turnaround.
Briefed crews
In uniform, polite and quick, and the site left clean.
Getting started
How it works
Site visit
On a quiet day, we record every drainage asset and check it against your guest numbers.
A plan around your diary
Visits before and after big events, plus routine servicing and emptying.
Visits and reports
Our own crews carry out the work, with a written report after every visit.
Support on the day
Our 24/7 line is there if anything goes wrong during an event.
What our customers say
Checkatrade
From 134 reviews · Read them
From 63 reviews · Read them
Scores as of September 2026
Questions answered
Questions from venue managers
Can our treatment plant cope with a big wedding?
It depends on what it was designed for. A large event can add the equivalent of many homes’ worth of waste water in a few hours. Tell us your typical and maximum guest numbers and we’ll check the plant and advise whether you need extra emptying or changes.
Can you visit when there are no events on?
Yes. Send us your events diary and we’ll plan visits for quiet days, away from set-up and the event itself.
Do you empty portable toilets and holding tanks?
Yes. We empty portable toilets, welfare units and holding tanks with our own tankers, including the morning after an event.
How do we stop caterers blocking our drains?
Ask caterers to scrape plates into the bin, collect used oil separately and never pour fat down the sink. Make sure your grease separator is emptied before and after big events.
What if something goes wrong during an event?
Call our 24/7 line on 03333 233577. We can send a tanker and an engineer, and we’ll keep it as discreet as we can.
Does our venue need an environmental permit?
If your treatment plant discharges more than 2 cubic metres a day to the ground or 5 cubic metres a day to a watercourse, you will usually need an environmental permit rather than relying on the general binding rules. Many busy venues do.
Do you work at barn and marquee venues?
Yes. We look after drainage at barn venues, country houses, marquee sites and farms that host events, from septic tanks to treatment plants.
Can you take effluent samples for our permit?
Yes. We take effluent samples as part of a maintenance plan and can help you keep the records your permit asks for.
Got a different question? Call 03333 233566 or send us a message.
Let’s get your venue ready
Send us your events diary and tell us about your site. We’ll arrange a visit on a quiet day and plan the work around your bookings.
Useful guides for venue teams
Other sectors we work with: Golf clubs · Care homes · Schools and colleges · Farms and rural estates · Property managers · all sectors
Fully accredited & compliant
We're independently vetted and certified so you can trust who you're letting onto your site.
SafeContractor
Health & safety pre-qualification accreditation, verifying our processes meet recognised safety standards.
RISQS
Railway Industry Supplier Qualification Scheme — approved to work safely within the rail industry supply chain.
Achilles UVDB
Utilities Vetting Database membership, confirming we meet the utilities sector's supply chain standards.
Trading Standards Approved
Vetted and approved under the local authority's trusted trader scheme for honesty and fair dealing.
NADC Member
Members of the National Association of Drainage Contractors, the UK trade body for the drainage industry.
Registered Waste Carrier
Registered with the Environment Agency, so your waste is handled and disposed of fully within the law.