format
Mobile bar hire
Mobile bar hire costs £15 to £30 per head for a staffed bar with drinks included, rising to £30 to £50 for cocktails and premium spirits. A cash bar, where guests buy their own drinks, often costs the host between nothing and £600, because the operator earns from sales.
What this covers
What it costs. A staffed mobile bar with drinks included costs £15 to £30 per head for a mixed bar of beer, wine, prosecco and spirits, and £30 to £50 with cocktails and premium spirits. Full cost breakdown.
What the job covers
- A horsebox bar serving a wedding drinks reception and evening
- A cash bar for a village hall birthday party
- A cocktail bar with two bartenders for a corporate launch
- A prosecco van for a garden party of 60
- A dry-hire bar and staff serving drinks the host has bought
What is involved
There are three ways to run it. A cash bar sells to guests, and the host pays a small hire fee or guarantees a minimum level of takings. A pre-paid bar is a package or a tab: the host pays for a set drinks list, per head or up to an agreed amount, and guests do not pay. Dry hire is the bar, the staff and the glassware, with the host supplying the drinks. The bar itself might be a counter, a converted horsebox, a vintage van or a prosecco trailer.
Selling alcohol needs a licence. In England and Wales, a bar at a site without a premises licence usually runs under a Temporary Event Notice, which costs £21, covers up to 499 people at any one time, and must reach the council at least ten working days before the event. The bar operator normally gives it, often as a personal licence holder. Scotland uses an occasional licence from the local licensing board. Venues with their own licence may not allow an outside bar at all, or may charge for it.
The practical check is the venue. Ask whether it allows an outside bar, where it can go, and whether there is power and a water supply nearby. Ask the operator how the licence is handled, how many bartenders they bring for your numbers, and whether glassware and ice are included. caterers.trade lists only caterers rated 3 or above, or Pass in Scotland.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask which model they are quoting for: cash, pre-paid or dry hire. Ask who gives the Temporary Event Notice or holds the licence, and who is the personal licence holder on the night. Ask how many bartenders they bring for your numbers, how long they serve, and what the drinks list includes. Ask what they need from the venue, including space, power and access. And ask what happens if the tab runs out, so the answer is agreed before anyone is thirsty.
Read next
Common questions
Do you need a licence for a mobile bar?
Selling alcohol needs one. In England and Wales, a bar at a site without a premises licence usually runs under a Temporary Event Notice, which costs £21, covers up to 499 people and must be given at least ten working days before the event. In Scotland it is an occasional licence from the licensing board. A bar operator should arrange this and tell you how.
How much is a mobile bar for a wedding?
A staffed bar with drinks included costs £15 to £30 per head for beer, wine, prosecco and spirits, and £30 to £50 with cocktails. A cash bar, where guests buy their own drinks, may cost the couple nothing or a hire fee of up to about £600.
What is a dry hire bar?
Dry hire is the bar, the staff and usually the glassware, with you supplying the drinks. It suits hosts who want to buy their own wine and beer, and it is often the cheapest way to have staffed drinks service.
Will my venue allow a mobile bar?
Some will and some will not. Venues with their own bar licence often make their money from drinks and may refuse an outside bar or charge a fee for it. Marquees, barns and private land are the usual homes for mobile bars.