Portable Bars

Portable Bars on Wheels for Events

Portable bars allow caterers and event planners to serve drinks anywhere, such as ballrooms, patios, and even outdoor festivals. With options for storage, ice, and mixing stations, portable bars make beverage service smooth and professional at weddings, banquets, and casual events.

Highlights

• Serve cocktails and beverages anywhere guests gather
• Portable designs for indoor and outdoor use
• Built-in storage, mixing, and ice wells
• Great for weddings, banquets, and corporate events
• Easy to transport and set up for catering teams

FAQ: Portable Bars

What is a mobile bar for?

Mobile bars give operators a portable method for storing and serving drinks. They come in a variety of styles, but their most common feature is an ice sink, which holds ice and bottled beverages to keep them cool before serving. With an ice sink, you can keep your drinks cold on a hot summer day and serve chilled beer, soda, or water to keep your guests refreshed. Ice sinks are insulated to keep heat out and ensure ice lasts as long as possible. Not all bars provide an ice sink, as some allocate more space to storage, drink systems, and wastewater sinks.

An ice sink is only one potential facet of a movable bar, as most models come with accessories that improve the operator's ability to serve drinks. Some have, among other things, freshwater tanks, pumps for syrups, speed rails/racks, wastewater bins, and drink guns that can dispense either pre-mixed or post-mixed sodas. Consider which accessories would be most beneficial to your purposes and then find the bar that fits those needs.

What size ice sink do I need?

Your ice sink's size should be based on how many drinks you plan on chilling. If you mostly host events with a dozen guests and a limited drink menu, a small ice sink will suffice. However, if you want to cater to a hundred-person wedding or offer a wide variety of beverages, consider a larger ice sink. Also consider how long you plan on using the portable bar in a single instance—larger ice sinks will keep your drinks cold for longer periods of time than small ice sinks without needing their ice replenished.

What are pre- and post-mix drink systems?

Many portable commercial bars come with drink guns that can dispense either pre-mixed or post-mixed drinks. A pre-mixed drink refers to a carbonated beverage that's constituted before entering the drink system. Pre-mixed beverages are the same as ones you might find in a grocery store, already bubbling and delicious. Post-mixed beverage systems take the component pieces of a carbonated drink and reconstitute them into the final product. Post-mixed systems are more complicated, as they need carbon dioxide cartridges, more tubing, and an apparatus for the drink concentrate. Pre-mix systems are best for low-volume occasions, while post-mix systems can supply a substantial amount of end product.

What are the differences in drink guns?

Drink guns are differentiated by the number of functions they can perform. Simple versions might dispense only one or two options without changing the tanks beneath the bar, while more complex ones offer five or more.

What sort of hook-ups do movable bars need?

Many movable bars, especially ones that make use of drink guns, require electrical power to be fully functional. Depending on the unit, you may need a standard outlet or larger to make full use of the bar. On the other hand, many of their features function independently of power, which frees you to move further from an outlet than most power cords would permit.