Everything you need to know about bar hire for your wedding, party or event.

Hiring a bar or mobile bar hire for an event or wedding can add fun and theatrical element to your celebration – and means you don’t need to serve the drinks! Whether you’re looking for a traditional bar setup, a trendy mobile bar, a specialised drinks experience, or a cocktail masterclass, there are various options to consider.

We have bar services for every event. You might like to hire a smaller bar service for a Birthday party in your own home. Or, a full larger bar service could be hired for an outdoor wedding. Often your caterer can help with this, but why not see what’s out there for a separate drinks supplier.

Here’s the Events Made Fabulous guide to help you navigate the process of hiring a bar:

1. Define Your Requirements:

Type of Bar:

Traditional Bar: A stationary bar setup with bartenders serving from a designated area.

Mobile Bar: A portable bar that can be set up at various locations within the event venue.

Specialty Bars: Consider themed or specialty bars, such as cocktail bars, wine bars, or craft beer bars.

Drinks Menu:

Determine the types of drinks you want to offer, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.

Consider signature cocktails or personalised drinks that mean something to you. It could be a cocktail you had on holiday or another memorable time. You could even make up a new cocktail for your event.

Capacity:

Estimate the number of guests to ensure the bar can handle the expected demand.

Licensing and legal bits:

Check  with your local council and obtain any necessary permits – these are often called Temporary Events Notices – for serving alcohol at your event if it’s not your home.

2. Cost Considerations:

Packages and Pricing:

Inquire about package options that may include bartenders, drinks, glassware, and setup.

Clarify any additional costs, such as travel fees or overtime charges.

Deposit and Payment Terms:

Understand the deposit requirements and payment schedule.

3. Tasting Sessions:

If possible, arrange tasting sessions to sample the drinks and assess the quality of service.

4. Logistics and Setup:

Space Requirements:

Confirm the space needed for the bar setup and whether it fits with your venue.

Equipment:

Ensure the provider has all the necessary equipment, including bar counters, fridges, and glassware.

Staffing:

Confirm the number of bartenders and support staff provided, nobody wants to wait ages at a bar for drinks.

5. Customisation and Branding:

Discuss options for dressing the bar setup or incorporating your wedding or party theme. 

6. Insurance:

Ensure the provider has liability insurance to cover any incidents during the event. This might sound a bit boring, but important to check the company is properly insured. We always check our suppliers, but we also advise everyone checks this themselves.

7. Contract and Agreement:

Carefully review the contract, including cancellation policies and contingency plans.

8. Communication:

Maintain clear communication with your supplier on the run up to the event.  Make sure they know any changes or important information like set up times or access issues.

9. Day-of Coordination:

Coordinate with the venue and the bar service to ensure a smooth setup and operation on the day of the event. We find many of our bar suppliers know a lot of the local venues and may have worked with them before, you may find they know exactly what to do and where to go, but don’t expect they will.

So what do you think? Ready to find some suppliers? 

Hiring a bar or mobile bar for your wedding or event can totally change the ambiance and overall experience for your guests. By planning ahead and communicating effectively with your supplier you can create the most fabulous event or wedding ever!