Cocktail Party Hire: Glassware, Furniture and Bar Setup

A cocktail party is a standing event built around drinks, conversation, and a degree of theatre. The right furniture and glassware hire makes the difference between a gathering that looks considered and one that looks like it was assembled at the last minute.

Poseur Tables

Poseur tables define the layout of a cocktail party. They give guests somewhere to put down a drink, rest an arm, and settle into a position in the room. For 60 guests, 10 to 14 poseur tables provides good coverage without the room feeling crowded.

Arrange tables in loose clusters of 2 to 3 rather than a single line around the walls. This draws guests into the centre of the space and prevents the wall-hugging that happens when there is nothing to anchor people away from the perimeter.

Linen for Poseur Tables

A poseur table without linen looks like an office canteen. Expo Hire's linen range includes covers sized for poseur tables in white and ivory. White gives the cleanest look and works with almost any colour scheme or brand palette.

Fitted poseur table covers with a floor-length drop hide the table legs and create a more finished appearance than a cloth loosely draped over the top.

Glassware

The glassware requirement depends on what is being served:

\n
• Martini glasses: classic format, holds 3 to 4 oz, used for martinis, cosmopolitans, and gimlets
\n
• Highball glasses: tall tumbler, used for long cocktails including gin and tonic, mojito, and Aperol spritz
\n
• Coupe glasses: shallow bowl shape, used for Champagne cocktails, daiquiris, and sidecars
\n
• Wine glasses: for guests who prefer wine over cocktails
\n

For a 60-person cocktail party running two hours, order 100 to 120 of your primary glass style. Guests routinely pick up a fresh glass rather than tracking down the one they put down earlier. Expo Hire's glassware range covers martini, highball, coupe, and wine glass formats.

Bar Setup

A cocktail party bar is a dressed table rather than a freestanding unit in most cases. A 6ft trestle table with a white linen cloth, positioned against a wall, handles the service point. If you have a hired bartender, they will prefer a table to a freestanding structure as it gives more workspace.

For 60 guests, one bar station is enough. Add a second for 80 to 100 guests to prevent a queue forming. Essential bar equipment includes 4 to 6 ice buckets with tongs, cocktail napkins, and a jug for pre-batched cocktails. For ice buckets and serving accessories, see Expo Hire's catering equipment range.

Lounge Area as a Break-Out Space

Cocktail parties of 2 to 3 hours benefit from a lounge zone where guests can sit down briefly for a longer conversation. A corner setup, one sofa and two armchairs around a low table, gives guests that option without shifting the room toward a seated dinner format.

One lounge cluster for a 60-person event is enough. Two works for 100 guests. Beyond that, the balance tips too far toward seated and away from standing circulation.

Quantities for 60 Guests

\n
• 12 poseur tables with linen
\n
• 100 to 120 glasses (primary style)
\n
• 60 wine glasses
\n
• 1 to 2 bar tables with linen
\n
• 6 ice buckets
\n
• 1 lounge cluster
\n

Check delivery charges for your postcode before confirming your order.

See also: drinks reception setup guide and networking event hire guide.