Choosing the Right Portable Bar for Your Event
We hand build all of our portable bars ourselves here at Boss Bar Hire, with the aim to make each one unique and different from the last, so we are sure that one of your mobile bars is going to suit your event! However, it is important to consider your specific needs. What kind of space is available? What colour scheme is going to suit the space best? How many different keg taps (if any) do you need? Below, I’ll go over some of our most popular mobile bars for hire and hopefully make your decision of choosing which bar for your event easier.
1. Event Type and Theme
The type of event you’re hosting plays a significant role in choosing the right bar. Whether it’s a wedding, corporate event, or casual gathering, the theme and style should align with the bar you choose. Do you want bartenders serving your guests drinks from behind the bar? Or are you looking for a self serve option where your guests can enjoy the novelty of pouring their own drinks?
Garden Bar: This sleek timber bar with a hanging garden is perfect for outdoor or garden-themed events. Its natural design blends seamlessly into green environments, adding a touch of elegance to your setting. We have also made the hanging garden removable, which opens up endless options when choosing the styling. You can either hang or attach your own items to the black frame, or remove the frame completely.
Rustic Boss Bar: If you're planning a rustic or vintage-themed wedding or event, this bar's rustic vibe will provide the perfect backdrop, enhancing the overall ambiance. Perfect for self catered events, or with our Rustic Service Bar setup in front, this mobile bar is versatile as it can be used as a bartended bar as well.
2. Guest Size and Drink Selection
The number of guests and the variety of drinks you plan to serve are crucial in determining which bar will best meet your needs. Some of our abrs are suited to lower volume events. When we say this, this means that usually only 1-2 kegs are being used, & additional ice may be required. Some larger events might require bars with multiple taps and greater serving capacity (larger chilling systems installed underneath the bars)
The Quaddy (Available in black or white): With four taps, this bar is ideal for large events where a variety of drinks are on offer. Whether it’s a corporate gathering or a festival, The Quaddy ensures your guests have plenty of options. We’ve used this bar for alongside breweries for beer festivals, music festivals and even weddings. We recommend adding a Black or White Service Bar next to the Quaddy if you are planning on serving other drinks. This gives you a larger bar frontage, and more workspace.
Mini Boss: For smaller, more casual gatherings, this compact mobile bar offers flexibility and convenience, perfect for events where space is at a premium. Underneath the bar will fit your 2 kegs, chilling system and gas bottle, meaning that this bar can be pushed right up onto a wall and is completely self contained. Your guests will love pouring beer straight from the tap!
3. Venue and Space Considerations
The space available at your venue will influence your bar choice. You want to ensure the bar fits comfortably within the area without crowding the space or making it difficult for guests to move around. Some venues have an existing bar, with plenty of space, but no taps! Don’t stress, we have an option for that too.
Countertop Tap Bar: This bar is an excellent choice for venues with limited space. Its compact design doesn’t compromise on quality, offering a small yet efficient two-tap system that still delivers ice cold cocktails, beers, ciders or wines on tap. Simply plug this portable bar in, wait for 5 minutes while it chills down, and then start pouring. It’s super easy, saves on space and packs a punch.
Triple Boss: If you have more room to work with, this merbau portable bar is a fantastic option. With three taps, it’s well-suited for medium to large events and provides a stylish focal point. The Triple Boss has the largest benchtop space out of our bars. Perfect for laying out glassware ready for service or adding champagne buckets & prepping garnishes too. The greenery is also removable if preferred, and you can replace it with something to suit your theme.
4. Practicality
When speaking with clients throughout the quoting stages, I always mention about keeping this practical. This is relevant when choosing your mobile bar, as well as drink selections. Think about the space you have and decide what’s going to be practical. Do you have access to power? If so, where is the nearest power outlet? Are their stairs/other obstacles like grass that some of our bars may not be able to get across?
Boss Bar: This is our first mobile bar, hence the name! This bar has literally been to every kind of event I can think of. Weddings, Baby Showers, 80th Birthdays & everything in between. This bar is practical. 2 Taps, Powered Chilling system and self-contained. Add a message to the chalkboard sign and have a bartender serve you your drinks from behind the bar.
White Ripple Bar: Our newest addition, perfect for when you want a crisp modern look and the benefits of 2 taps. This portable bar would like great inside a beautiful white marquee, or under one of our market umbrellas out in the sun.
White/Black/Pink Service Bar: Service Bars. We call our mobile bars that don’t have taps Service Bars. These are great for any kind of event where you are not using kegs. Perfect for mixing drinks, serving wine and customizing – we’ve used these bars for trade shows, weddings and corporate events.
Timber Esky: This bar offers a basic one-tap setup with a chiller plate system, making it a practical choice for smaller events. Think backyard birthdays, where you just want the basics – beer on tap. This portable bar has a lower output capacity than the larger powered bars. You will need to add bags of ice to the Esky to keep the beer cold, and on hot days we recommend chilling the keg itself down in a tub which we provide.
Customization and Flexibility
One of the great advantages of portable bar hire is the ability to customize the setup to match your event’s needs. At Boss Bar Hire, many of our bars can be tailored with additional features or decorations to align with your event’s theme. Whether it’s adding signage, customizing the drink menu, or incorporating lighting, our team is here to ensure that your portable bar is as unique as your event.
For example, the Hampton Service Bar with its crisp white timber paneling, can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion. Its versatility makes it suitable for everything from elegant weddings to casual backyard parties. We can work with your stylist, florist or best mate on the day to ensure you get the bar looking exactly how you want.
What I think.
Portable bars do more than just serve drinks; they help create the atmosphere and set the tone for your event. People love to gather around the bar, it’s the place where you can have a quick chat or meet someone new.
Yes, you can go to Dan’s and buy slabs and sort out Eskys and ice and continually top up everything throughout the night – you will save some money. Plastic trestle tables can do the trick, and people grabbing cans from an esky does work. But it’s not something that people will remember after the event. Selecting your mobile bar and personalizing it suit your taste will have people talking about it for months to come.
The main benefit of hiring us is making your event less stressful. Our team will deliver, setup and then collect your items, leaving you to enjoy the party. Who wants to wash hundreds of glasses after an event? …. Well we don’t particularly want to do that either, but that’s part of our service to you!
Conclusion
Choosing the right portable bar for your event involves balancing a few things, whether you’re aiming for a stylish garden party, a sleek corporate gathering, or a laid-back wedding, there’s a perfect portable bar waiting to be chosen. Explore our full range of portable bars to find the one that best suits your event.
As always, we are here to help, so if your unsure of which mobile bar to choose, just shoot us a message and we will guide you to the mobile bar of your dreams.
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