Mobile bar equipment from Expo Hire is supplied on a dry hire basis. Equipment arrives clean and in tested working order. Expo Hire does not provide setup, gas line connection, keg connection, or bar operation services.
Beer dispense equipment -- including font systems, beer coolers, and CO2 or mixed gas regulators -- must be connected and operated by someone with direct experience of commercial draught beer systems. Expo Hire does not provide phone guidance on gas pressure settings, line cleaning, or keg changeovers.
If a beer font or dispense unit cannot be operated by the customer due to a lack of experience, the equipment will not be replaced or the hire refunded on those grounds. If you are unsure whether this equipment is right for your event, speak to us before ordering.
Mobile bar hire covers the physical equipment needed to run a temporary bar: fridges, glassware, ice buckets, bar accessories and the furniture to build the bar itself. Expo Hire provides the equipment; customers supply their own drinks, staff and entertainment licence. This arrangement suits wedding couples taking over a barn or marquee venue, event organisers setting up a corporate bar, festival producers running a licensed bar, and anyone else who needs a working bar setup without permanent fixtures.
The bar equipment hire range covers everything from the fridge to the front of bar.
Fridges: Counter fridges with integrated work surfaces double as the bar top itself, reducing the need for separate furniture. Triple-door bottle fridges, wine fridges and cabinet display fridges give further cold storage options. For high-volume events, double-door and triple-door gastronorm fridges hold several hundred bottles.
Ice: Octagonal stainless, neon-lit club buckets, barrel-end tubs and large oval party tubs are available alongside stainless steel ice tongs. Ice buckets work behind the bar and on guest tables for self-service wine and Champagne.
Glassware: The glassware range covers pint and half-pint beer glasses (tulip, icon and Berlin tumbler styles), hi-ball tumblers (10oz, 12oz, 13oz), crystal wine glasses from 8.5oz to 16oz, champagne flutes in 6oz and 7oz, brandy glasses, shot glasses and cocktail glasses. Available in large quantities for events of any size.
Bar accessories: Boston cocktail shakers, a cocktail muddler, bar spoon, bar caddy, stainless steel ice tongs, and a waiter's friend corkscrew and bottle opener. A commercial glass washer is available for longer events where glasses need washing in rotation.
Bar furniture: Poseur tables are available in Bonetti leather (black, brown, white), Dial style (black or white), metallic silver and LED colour-changing versions. Bar stools in Beechwood and Chester styles pair with poseur tables. The LED Bar Package includes bar sections, stools and an ice bucket as a complete unit.
Glassware quantities: For a three-hour event, two to three glasses per guest is a workable starting point. For 100 evening guests, order 200-300 glasses across the mix of beer, wine and spirit glasses. If you hire a glass washer, fewer glasses can be washed and reused throughout the event.
Fridge space: A standard counter-top fridge holds roughly 70-80 bottles. For 100 guests at a three-hour event, one counter fridge plus a separate bottle fridge gives enough capacity for wine, beer and mixers. Larger events benefit from a double or triple-door gastronorm fridge.
Glass or plastic: For formal indoor events (weddings, awards evenings, corporate dinners), glass is the right choice. For outdoor festivals and events where breakage is a concern, CE-marked reusable plastic pint glasses are available as an alternative.
The bar top: A poseur table works for smaller setups. For a more structured bar area, a counter fridge with an integrated work surface creates a bar top with cold storage underneath. The LED Bar Package adds bar sections that clip together to form a longer bar front.
Weddings: A typical wedding bar hire order covers the drinks reception (champagne flutes, wine glasses), the dinner service (wine glasses, tumblers), and the evening bar (pint glasses, hi-balls, wine glasses). Bar stools and poseur tables create a bar area in a marquee or function room, giving guests somewhere to gather away from the dance floor.
Garden parties and marquee events: Ice buckets on tables let guests serve themselves from chilled wine or Champagne, reducing pressure on bar staff. Poseur tables outdoors pair well with outdoor furniture hire. Hi-ball tumblers suit Pimm's, jugs of cocktails and soft drinks.
Corporate events: Awards evenings, product launches and networking events need a clean, functional setup. A counter fridge, poseur bar table, wine and champagne glasses, and a basic set of bar accessories cover most corporate bar requirements.
Festivals and outdoor events: CE-marked reusable plastic pint glasses are available alongside the glass range. Barrel-end tubs work well at festival bars selling bottled drinks. A walk-in fridge or double-door gastronorm fridge provides the volume needed behind a high-throughput bar.
All bar equipment is available to check and order online, with live stock availability shown at the time of booking. Delivery covers England and Wales, with charges from £40 depending on location; see the delivery charges page for details. Equipment is delivered to the venue before the event and collected afterwards. The minor damage waiver scheme is available for orders where accidental breakage of glassware is a concern.
