
Contactless Pay

Competitive Prices

Best Machines

Best Products

Hot Drink Machines
From large, freestanding hot drinks machines to table-top coffee makers and vending machines that dispense both hot and cold beverages, we stock it all. We even supply paper cups and other hot drinks accessories to meet your every need.

Traditional Espresso Machines
Everyone appreciates a good coffee. We sell, rent and lease a range of quality espresso and coffee machines, whether you need to make hundreds of cups per day or just need enough for a small office. View our full range at our sister company at Teknomat.co.uk (part of the Arrow group ...

Cold Drinks Vending Machines
We stock a range of chilled drinks machines, whether you are looking to sell cans, bottles or a mixture of both. One of our most popular cold drinks vending machines is the BevMAX Media, which can be customised with bespoke graphics and multiple language options on screen.
Snack machines
At Best Vending Ltd, we offer solutions that work for you. That’s why we supply a range of differently sized snack and confectionary machines to fit any commercial environment, big or small. We also stock combination food and drink machines for when space is tight.
Water Coolers
Water is absolutely essential no matter what industry you work in. Best Vending Ltd stocks a wide variety of water dispensers, water coolers and drinking fountains, ensuring that you will always have fresh water available, regardless of budget or location.We believe it is our mission to support our customers with an end-to-end, professional service, from the installation to the maintenance of their vending machine, which in turn helps to create spaces where wellbeing and productivity can thrive.
What are Vending Machines?
Vending machines are like large, refrigerated cabinets that you plug into the mains. Newer models are designed to consume very little electricity, whilst keeping the drinks and snacks inside them cold.Often found in public spaces like hospitals, train stations, airports, shopping centres and schools, vending machines can be used to dispense a variety of products like hot drinks, cold drinks, crisps, chocolate and confectionary. Each product inside the machine will be numbered or listed on the menu and customers must simply select the item they want using the touchpad or screen. Once payment has been completed, either by inserting the right amount of coins or via card or contactless payment, the machine’s dispensing motor will activate, causing the machine to retrieve the requested item and deliver it to the customer.
Different types of vending machines have different types of keypads or touchpads and will accept different kinds of payment methods. It’s important to choose a modern machine that enables convenient usage and payment.
Vending machines can be used to generate additional income but can equally be set to ‘free vend’, should you wish to provide certain products for free. Speak to the experts at Best Vending to discuss your options further.
Vending machines are incredibly convenient, which explains their popularity. Available 24/7, they provide people with easy access to the drinks and snacks that they want whilst they’re on the go, ensuring that they don’t have to go hungry or thirsty just to get things done. But what other benefits do vending machines provide?
- They’re versatile: Vending machines can be filled with all kinds of snacks and drinks, from fizzy cans and bottles to water, teas and coffees, crisps, chocolate and cereal bars. You could even use them to dispense non-food items like toiletries and headphones, depending on the essential items that people on your premises might need.
- They’re easy to manage: When you have vending machines, you won’t need to keep your café open beyond regular operating hours, meaning you won’t have to pay staff or consume electricity and other resources to provide people with the catering options they need. What’s more, when you choose a fully managed vending provider like Best Vending, you won’t even need to restock your machine, as we’ll monitor stock and refill them for you.
- They’re profitable: Vending machines require minimal maintenance and operating costs, allowing you to generate a steady stream of income with relatively little effort. This makes them a great decision for business owners looking for a low-risk, high-return investment. You can even rent our machines, allowing you to turn an immediate profit for a small monthly price.
To learn more about how vending machines could benefit you, why not read our blogs?
Vending machines are incredibly convenient, ensuring that people have constant, reliable access to the drinks and snacks they need at any time – day or night. Indeed, they’re a great way to boost your regular income from money that would otherwise be spent elsewhere, without having to run a costly café around the clock. As such, you’ll want to make sure they remain in good condition, making any necessary repairs as quickly as possible to avoid unhappy customers and potential profit loss.
At Best Vending, we only supply the highest quality vending machines to help to prevent breakdowns. Indeed, coupled with our service and maintenance plans, your vending solutions should continue to function fault free for years to come. Nevertheless, sometimes, things can still go wrong.
Whether your machine has stopped vending or refuses to turn on, there’s no need to panic! There are plenty of understandable reasons why you may be experiencing problems and they don’t necessarily mean long periods of downtime. Here’s what to do if your vending machine has broken down.
First of all, you’ll need to identify the problem. Don’t forget the more obvious things like checking whether your machine is plugged in and turned on. You’d be surprised how many people have found themselves surprised by a faulty machine, only to realise they’d been hit by a tripped switch or power cut!
Still not working? Perhaps there’s a coin trapped in the payment system or your fans have stopped cooling, causing your machine to overheat? In the first instance, you’ll simply need to grab some tools, attempting to prise the offending currency out of the slot to begin vending again. The same applies to products that may be stuck in the dispensing mechanism. Provided that you can reach without causing damage with your tools, you should be able to address the problem yourself.
If you’re struggling to succeed or the issue is a bit more complex, however, you may need to ask for help. It’s important to take care not to damage your machine as you work – and gaining access by removing the front panel can be a daunting task.
If you’re not feeling confident or lack the skills of a knowledgeable electrician, we therefore recommend getting in touch with the professionals. They’ll be able to access the inside of your machine and assess the problem easily, checking for loose connections and replacing faulty parts as required. Plus, it’s always best to assess the cause of the breakdown, even if you did manage to remove that stubborn KitKat yourself! At Best Vending, the team carries most regular replacement parts in the van, allowing us to complete most repairs on the same day as our visit.
Whichever course of action you choose, please remember to switch your machine off and unplug it from the power supply prior to proceeding. This step protects you from electrical hazards and is therefore essential. Once again, if you’re unsure, it’s best to trust the professionals. You’ll save time and money in the long run.
School vending machines are a great way to supply staff and students alike with the drinks and snacks they need to get them through the day. Plus, when everything they need can be found on site, there’s less need for people to leave campus, resulting in fewer minutes lost and fewer dangers associated with pupils venturing unsupervised into the outside world.
If you think your school could benefit from a hot drinks machine, cold drinks machine or snack machine, there are several things you’ll need to do to ensure that installation is fully compliant.
Firstly, if you’re not in charge, you’ll need to check with the school administrators or head teacher. They might have certain policies regarding the use of vending machines and you’ll need to familiarise yourself with these, perhaps even pushing for change if they’re not convinced of the benefits of use . It might also help to present them with a breakdown of the costs they could save by installing vending machines, rather than keeping the school cafeteria open throughout the day, beyond the standard lunchtime hours.
Once you’ve obtained any necessary permissions, you’ll need to work out what kind of vending machines your school needs. Do you already have any vending machines installed? What kind of products could pupils benefit from? What other catering services do they currently have access to? If you’re still not sure, you can always contact the experts at Best Vending – we are always willing to provide free, impartial advice.
Next is acquiring your vending machines. We recommend using a fully managed vending service like Best Vending, as this ensures that you get high-quality school vending machines that are filled, cleaned and maintained for you, taking the stress and hassle out of providing drinks and snacks. The only thing you’ll need to do is develop your school’s vending machine policy, in order to determine the kind of products you would like us to supply and how much you would like to charge for each item. We even offer the option to ‘free vend’, which would mean that students could access essential items like bottled water for free, should you wish.
In addition to exploring the cost-effective purchase and rental options we have here at Best Vending, it might be worth finding out whether you are eligible for any funding or grants to put towards the cost. In any case, we aim to keep our pricing competitive and include installation with all orders, whether you prefer to buy or hire our machines.
The final price of your vending machine will depend on the type and size of the machine you choose and the capabilities and functions it comes with. Generally speaking, the larger or more complex your machine, the more it will cost. Nevertheless, choosing the right sized machine will save you money in the long run, as you won’t have to invest in additional machines to meet capacity later down the line. Likewise, choosing a machine with more modern functions, such as dual temperature control and a touchscreen, make it easier to stock the products you want and you won’t have to worry about replacing your machine when the technology becomes obsolete. For instance, people expect all vending machines to accept multiple payment methods rather than just coins nowadays, making a coin-only machine a poor choice, despite the lower cost.
At Best Vending, we take great pride in offering the highest-quality vending machines at competitive prices. We have both purchase and rental options available, meaning it’s easy to find the right vending machines for both your needs and your budget.
Vending machines can be found in a number of public places, from train stations and schools to shopping centres, hospitals and workplace offices. They’re an incredibly convenient way to purchase drinks and snacks when on the go, benefiting both customers and company owners, given that they can be operated easily without staff.
Indeed, the vending machine process is incredibly simple. Each machine will have a product selection panel, which may consist of a touch-button keypad or a touchscreen. Likewise, each product in the machine will have a number or code, along with the relevant pricing information. To purchase a product, the customer must simply insert the right amount of money – be it with coins, card or contactless – then enter the code of the product they want into the keypad. Provided that the right amount of money has been provided, the machine will then dispense the customer’s chosen product.
The exact way in which your vending machine dispenses products will depend on the type of machine you choose. Nevertheless, most operate on a conveyor system, driven by motors that push and rotate the selected item from the storage area inside. Your machine will also have sensors, which serve to detect whether or not the item has been successfully dispensed.
Vending machines are usually powered by electricity and must therefore be connected to the mains in order to work. In addition to powering the dispensing motor, this also provides energy for refrigeration, keeping perishable goods fresh and bottles and cans cold. There are now many energy-efficient vending machine models on the market, meaning there’s no need to worry about energy costs or environmental impact.
When you choose a vending machine from Best Vending, your machines will be cleaned, filled and maintained by us, meaning you won’t have to worry about restocking or repairs. We’ll also collect any funds from your machine and pay them into the bank on your behalf, should you wish. Conversely, if you opt for another service that isn’t fully managed, you will have to take care of all these things yourself and it’s essential that you don’t skip cleaning or regular inspections, as this could severely shorten your vending machine’s useful life.
There are many different vending machine companies throughout the UK. Nevertheless, not all vending machines are made equal and not every vending machine company provides the same level of service.
We highly recommend looking for a company that only sells top-quality vending machines with the latest specs, best energy ratings and competitive prices. It’s also a good idea to look for a company that will deliver and install your machines for you.
Vending machines are designed to be convenient solutions, which is why you should also find a company that makes them convenient for you, as well as for your customers. At Best Vending, we offer a fully managed vending service, which means that, in addition to delivering and installing your chosen machines, we also clean, inspect, service and maintain them for you. What’s more, we’ll monitor stock levels for you, filling your machines up with your chosen drinks and snacks whenever required.
In addition to selling high-quality vending machines at competitive prices, we also offer several different long-term and short-term vending machine hire packages, allowing customers who don’t wish to purchase outright to access the latest machines – and turn an immediate profit from them – without the initial investment.
Yes. Most of the modern vending machines we supply here at Best Vending are Apple Pay enabled. In fact, provided that your chosen vending machines support contactless payments, people should be able to pay with all kinds of mobile wallets, from Apple Pay to Google Wallet. We highly recommend that all of our customers opt for this kind of machine, as it makes payment much more convenient for people using the machine, making it more likely that they will turn a higher profit from a greater number of transactions.
Apple Pay and other digital wallet services work using near-field communication (NFC) technology, which allows people to make contactless payments using their iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and other portable devices.
To use Apple Pay or a similar payment service on a vending machine, simply hold your device close to the contactless reader to complete the transaction. You should receive a notification once your payment has been processed. Certain machines may have a limit on the amount you can spend in one transaction, although this isn’t usually a problem with vending machine purchases, which tend to consist of low-ticket items like food and drinks.
Yes. Many companies allow you to rent their vending machines, rather than purchasing them outright. At Best Vending, we offer both long-term and short-term vending machine hire, allowing you to turn an immediate profit from your vending machine without having to make a large initial investment. We offer flexible contract terms, allowing you to upgrade or downgrade your machines easily as your requirements change. This also allows you to take advantage of the latest technology without having to invest in a new machine each time a new model is released – plus you won’t need to store your machines when not in use.
Renting is incredibly beneficial, as maintenance and repairs are included, saving you both time and money when it comes to fixing potential breakdowns. In fact, at Best Vending, we also fill our vending machines for our rental customers, for the ultimate service and convenience. This is also something we offer to customers who buy from us, making both rental and purchase great options.
Some vending machines have cameras, but this is not a universal feature and it really depends on the specific machine and what it will be used for.
In some cases, vending machine companies may install cameras for security reasons – for instance, to deter theft or vandalism. They may also do so to monitor the machine’s inventory levels remotely, allowing them to restock the machines before they run low. These cameras may be visible or hidden, depending on why they were installed and where the machine is located.
It’s worth noting, however, that using cameras in vending machines may breach certain UK privacy laws and regulations. Generally speaking, camera use must be disclosed and consent must be obtained from the individuals being recorded. It’s therefore a good idea to check with your vending machine provider to see whether they have any camera-usage policies and procedures in place.
At Best Vending, we do all we can to ensure your machines are fully compliant, whilst going above and beyond to meet your every requirement.
Whilst the ideal location for your vending machines will vary depending on the type of business or establishment you run, we have a few general tips on placing your vending machine for maximum results.
First of all, you’ll want to make sure your machines are placed in a busy location. For instance, it’s much better to leave them in waiting areas, busy halls or busy platforms than it is to place them in quiet corridors, where it may be difficult for people to find them. The more people that pass your vending machine, the more likely it is that you will make a profit.
You will also need to ensure that your chosen location is safe and secure. If possible, choose a well-lit area that’s monitored by security cameras (provided that the use thereof is legal). It’s also a good idea to position your machines in such a way that it’s difficult for thieves to tamper with them or steal the products inside.
Having said that, you don’t want to restrict access. It’s important to be able to refill your machines easily – and you’ll also need to be able to open them up without too much trouble should something go wrong. They will also need to be accessible for regular cleaning and maintenance.
Finally, think about the kind of products you’re selling and who you are serving. Gyms, airports and leisure centres with long queues are all great places to put drinks and snacks machines, as people are likely to be hungry and thirsty.
At Best Vending, we have over 40 years of experience supplying and fitting top-quality vending machines. As such, we are perfectly positioned to advise you on both your ideal machine and its placement, assessing the layout of your site before installing your chosen machines for you.
The price of vending machines varies greatly, depending on many factors such as:
- The size of the machine;
- Machine features like touchscreens and dual-temperature compartments;
- Energy-efficiency;
- And the specific make and model.
At Best Vending, we only work with the top vending machine manufacturers to ensure that the products we supply are of the highest possible quality. This ensures longevity, in addition to protecting you against unwanted downtime and breakdowns. Nevertheless, we also pride ourselves on excellent customer service, which includes a commitment to the best possible value for money. As such, we always ensure that the machines you choose are the perfect match for your current needs. We’d never ask you to invest in a feature that we didn’t feel would be beneficial to you.
In addition to offering competitive prices on the vending machines we have for sale, we also offer short- and long-term rental options, allowing you to benefit from the most modern machines on the market, complete with full servicing and maintenance, without having to make a large initial investment.
Yes, of course. It’s perfectly possible to place your vending machines outside. In fact, outdoor vending machines are incredibly common, be it in retail parks or at train stations, airports or local parks. Constructed from durable materials like stainless steel and aluminium, they’re specifically designed to resist water and weather damage, in addition to being able to withstand potential acts of vandalism. Indeed, many outdoor vending machines also boast reinforced glass, security cameras and alarms.
However, it's incredibly important to choose a machine with adequate insulation and temperature control, as this will protect perishable goods like food and drinks from the heat and cold. You will also need to place your machines in accordance with local restrictions and regulations, making sure you’re not creating an obstacle along main pedestrian routes or limiting public access. At Best Vending, we will advise you on the best machine for your needs based on your intended placement, in addition to installing your machine in an ideal location.
Vending machines are generally designed to be rain and humidity resistant, meaning that they can be placed outdoors. However, the extent to which they are waterproof depends on the specific make and model. If you’re planning on installing your machine outside, we recommend choosing a durable aluminium or stainless-steel model with excellent insulation and reinforced glass.
Please note that vending machines should never be fully submerged in water, regardless of how waterproof they are. This could cause serious damage to the electrical systems and components inside.
Nowadays, most vending machines do take credit cards, as this is something that people have come to expect. Rarely do we carry spare change, especially when hit by unexpected circumstances like finding ourselves in a waiting room or on a long journey without any food – times when we most need to access public vending machines.
If your chosen vending machine is card enabled, people will simply need to use the payment module next to the keypad or touchpad to complete their transaction. Most of the machines we supply at Best Vending are also contactless enabled, meaning that people can pay with a simple swipe of their phone, card or watch for maximum convenience.
Choosing a card-enabled machine is a great idea, as it drastically increases the number of people who are able to access your machine. It also eliminates the former frustration of coins getting stuck, which often leads to breakdowns.
Yes. In fact, most will accept contactless payments now, too. Not only does this allow people to pay more conveniently using their debit card, but it also opens up options like Google Wallet and Apple Pay.
Cashless options are becoming increasingly popular, with very few people now using cash. As such, if you’re thinking about renting or buying a vending machine, we highly recommend choosing one of our modern models with multiple payment options enabled.
Yes, of course. Provided that it doesn’t go against current policy, vending machines make a great addition to any school or educational environment. In fact, they’re one of the most convenient ways to give students access to drinks and snacks to keep them energised throughout the day.
At Best Vending, we can advise you on the best machine for your school’s needs whilst also ensuring that we comply with the school food standards set out by the government. For instance, we can refill your machine with items that are low in fat, sugar and salt, to ensure they meet certain nutritional requirements.
We recommend placing your school vending machines in areas that can be easily accessed by students, for instance in entranceways or busy corridors. This means that students will be able to easily find and purchase the items they need without having to leave the premises, which saves time, in addition to promoting safety.
Whether you choose to charge for your products to turn a profit or offer them to your students for free, school vending machines are a great way to boost student satisfaction and overall wellbeing. This, in turn, can contribute towards a more positive learning environment.
Yes. Many hotel owners choose to install vending machines in their lobby, in order to ensure that their guests have 24/7 access to drinks and snacks, without having to leave the premises. This means that they don’t have to keep bars, shops and restaurants open during quieter times or during the night, helping them to save money on running costs.
In addition to dispensing hot drinks, cold drinks, snacks and bottled water, some hotels vend essential items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and personal care items. This small gesture helps to make people’s stay more comfortable, potentially leading to better reviews.
Of course, hotel vending machines are also a great way to generate additional revenue, as guests will spend their money at the hotel, rather than venturing elsewhere for basic items.
Yes. Vending machines generally need electricity to operate, unless they have a built-in battery or solar panels, which is rare, as it is difficult to generate the power required for sufficient refrigeration. You will therefore need to plug your vending machine into the mains. With Best Vending, there’s no need to worry about electricity consumption, however, as our modern machines have excellent energy-efficiency ratings, making them relatively cheap and sustainable to run.
There are so many different kinds of vending machines available on the market that it would be difficult to list them all. However, the main types can be broken down into hot drinks machines, cold drinks machines and snack machines.
In terms of hot drinks machines, you have automatic hot drinks machines – which prepare your coffees, teas and hot chocolates for you within the unit – and traditional tabletop espresso makers, which allow you to prepare barista-style hot drinks on your own, in record time.
Cold drinks machines are typically used to dispense bottled water, juices and fizzy pop, be it in bottles or cans. Many have dual-temperature compartments, allowing you to keep your cold drinks refrigerated whilst also stocking snacks as part of a combination offer.
Finally, snack machines can be filled with all kinds of crisps and confectionary, in addition to healthier options, should you wish.Of course, you also have office-style water coolers, among many other options.
To find out more about the machines we supply, visit the ‘Our Machines’ page or contact us to discuss your requirements. We’re guaranteed to have the machine for you.