What equipment do I need for a mobile bar?

Opening an event bar business could becomes a lot easier when you have all the information and equipment in the beginning. If you are planning to set up a cocktail mobile bar for an event, then you must have the right equipment. 

A mobile bar is a great alternative to traditional bars which provide all the services of a traditional bar with more flexibility. 

Setting up a bar is easy and doesn’t take much time. But it’s really frustrating when the event starts and you realise that you forgot some important equipment. 

In this article, I am going to share a list of all the crucial equipment that you need to set up a cocktail mobile bar in London. So just go through this checklist before buying equipment for your cocktail bar. 

Licenses and Plans

Before starting a mobile cocktail bar you must have a business plan that you are going to follow and a premises license from the local council.

Many businesses close within the first 2 years because they don’t have a business plan. Having a business plan will definitely help your business to get success in a short period. 

Your Business plan must include all the necessary details like who are your targeted customers, in what areas you are going to serve, and what type of venues and events you want to serve.

Also, set up a Bank Account for financial transactions.

And must get the information about the legal process to set up a bar and serve alcohol in your area and obtain the required licenses from the local council.

Selling alcohol for a mobile bar does require licenses from the local authorities, and sometimes apply for a TEN which stands for Temporary Event Notice. Find more info about mobile bar licenses here.

Having all the licenses and permits is necessary to avoid fines and legal issues in the future. so take time to familiarise yourself with legal processes to set up a mobile bar in your area.

The Basic Equipment

• Mobile Bar
• A bid sized van to transport all the equipment
• Cocktail glasses
• Bin for broken glasses and empty bottles and a bin for rubbish
• A bar blender: this will help you to make complicated drinks like daiquiris and margaritas.
• A few bottle openers
• Knife and chopping board
• Cloth for mopping up
• A cocktail shaker and a good corkscrew
• Blue roll or kitchen towels
• Decoration items for the top of the bar and a display behind the bar staff/on the back bar
• Drink napkins
• Electricity and extension boards for electrical equipment, blender, till, and lighting
• Different kinds of glasses (Rocks glasses, Shot glasses, Pint glasses, Martini glasses
• etc)
• Many ice buckets for crushed ice and ice cubes
• Containers for garnishes
• Jugs
• Long spoon
• Menus and signs
• Pens and pad
• Stirrers, Strainer & Straws
• Payment system / Till with money and spare change – this is required to make cash and credit card payments and make changes. 
• Trays
• Business cards and marketing material

Stock Your Warehouse

Have all the popular brands and a variety of beers, liquors, and wines to cater to different types of customers. Here is a list of popular liquors and ingredients that you must have:

• Vodka
• Tequila
• Whiskey
• Gin
• Scotch
• Amaretto
• Dry and sweet vermouth
• Irish cream liqueur
• Lemon and lime juice
• Coffee Liqueur
• Orange juice
• Simple syrup
• Cranberry juice
• Grapefruit juice
• Pineapple juice
• Tomato juice
• Bitters

Other Equipment

Fridges and Coolers: having a refrigerator or buckets of ice cubes and crushed ice is a must to chill the drinks and serve chilled cocktails to your guests.

A refrigerator is important to keep perishable fruits and garnishes that cannot be left outside.

You can use coolers for beer bottles, champagne, and chilled wine as well.

Glasswasher(s):  This will help you to clean glasses quickly.

Juicer: It’s better to use freshly squeezed juice rather than bottled one. So you must have a juicer for your portable bar.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right equipment for your bar business is not easy. The right equipment is very crucial for any business and builds a strong foundation. 

Just follow the above checklist to get the right equipment for your new mobile cocktail bar, so you can save a lot of time and don’t forget anything important. 

After buying the right equipment, you are free to focus on other important things for starting your business. Spin and Shake Mobile Bar Hire London can help with consultations for new businesses.

If you have any questions, then leave a comment in the comment section below.