How much does a mobile bar cost?

It is one of the first questions we are asked, and one of the hardest to answer in a single number: “how much does a mobile bar cost?” The honest answer is that a bar is quoted rather than priced off a list, because two weddings with the same guest count can need very different bars. So rather than give you a figure that turns out to be wrong, here is exactly what moves the number.

Guest numbers

Guest numbers simply help us plan the right level of staff and glassware, so everyone gets served quickly and the bar never feels overwhelmed. With a cash bar, a larger guest list just means more people enjoying the evening — and the more guests buying drinks, the more the bar comes to life. If you would prefer to treat your guests, we also offer a straightforward per-head price for an open or limited bar.

Hours of service

A five-hour evening bar and a bar that runs from arrival drinks through to a midnight curfew are two very different jobs. Tell us your ceremony time and your venue curfew and we will build the hours around them.

How you want the bar to run

There are three usual shapes, and they change the cost in different places:

A cash bar - guests buy their own drinks. Your outlay is the service itself rather than the stock.

A pre-paid tab - you set an amount, we serve against it and tell you when it is running low. You can let it switch to a cash bar after that.

A drinks package per head - a set number of drinks per guest, usually arrival fizz, wine with the meal and a toast drink. Easy to budget for and keeps the evening simple.

The venue

A venue that already has a bar, sink and licence makes life easier, but it is by no means essential. For dry-hire spaces we bring the full bar setup with us — bar unit, glassware, ice, garnishes, refrigeration, trained staff and the right event licensing — and clear it all away at the end. If your venue does not hold its own licence, we simply apply for a Temporary Events Notice on your behalf; it is currently £21 and we include that in the package.

Travel

We are based at South Wootton, just north of King's Lynn. There is no travel charge in and around King's Lynn, and anywhere further is shown as its own line on the quote. We never bury travel inside drink prices.

The bit worth knowing

Evening bar service is generally free of charge when booked with one of our catering packages. That is not a gimmick - it is simply that our team is already on site, already set up, and one team running food and drinks together is how the day flows properly: arrival fizz with the canapés, wine on the table before the first course, toast drinks poured before the speeches, and the bar opening on cue.

What is always included

Trained bar staff, glassware, ice, refrigeration, garnishes, insurance and the appropriate licensing. No hidden extras, no service charge dropped in at the end - just a plain, itemised quote you can read in one go.

If you tell us your date, your venue, rough guest numbers and how you would like the bar to run, Ryan will come back with a drinks plan and a proper figure. You can read more on our mobile bar hire page, or the specifics for wedding bars and cocktail bars.

— Sophie x