Setup
Guest count and peak service periods
Provide the expected guest numbers and the times when delegates will order together, including arrivals, networking and scheduled intervals.
Commercial | Conference Centres & Exhibition Venues
Conference and Exhibition Bar Hire
Cocktailhire supplies event bartenders and staffed mobile bars for conference receptions, exhibitions, delegate hospitality and awards events. Outside drinks suppliers must be permitted by the venue and organiser.
Plan the bar location, staff numbers and service hours around the running order, arrival periods and intervals. Confirm the selected drinks, supply responsibilities, exhibitor rules and delivery access before booking. You can request an initial quote before choosing cocktails.
Staff from £270 One cocktail bartender for the initial three hours; extra hours £67.50 per person. Travel is quoted separately. You supply ingredients, ice and glasses.
Bar structure £325 Each 1.5m mobile bar unit is added to our staff booking. Labour, travel and agreed extras are separate; glassware hire is available with the staffed bar.
Supplied packages £7.25, £8.50 or £9.75 per person per hour; minimum 50 guests and four hours. Includes staff, bar, selected cocktails, ingredients, ice and glasses. Travel and extras are quoted separately.
Commercial proof point
Conference and exhibition bar staffing and access
Plan guest arrivals, networking breaks and sponsor hospitality against the staff count, selected drinks and service-point layout. Confirm outside-supplier approval and loading rules before booking.
Event scheduleArrivals, interval peaks, service start and finish, and any required preparation or removal windows.
Bar and staffAn agreed existing counter or a mobile bar delivered, assembled and operated by Cocktailhire staff.
Documented workThe linked case studies describe particular past event services; they are not claims of approval by a new venue.
Office eventAmazon ManchesterThree-metre wooden bar frontage for an after-work team event.Retail launchRepresent ManchesterTwo-floor bar planning, glassware and launch service support.Hotel eventNobu HotelRead the event bartender page and requirements for a new hotel booking.London hotelClaridge’sA 4.5m mirror bar and two cocktail makers at an independently commissioned wedding.London hotelThe SavoyCompare staffed bars and bartender hire for a new event at The Savoy.
Private parties, venues and brand events
Brands, venues and events from our work
These are venues where we have worked, brands that have commissioned us and events we have supplied. Bookings may have been arranged by independent organisers rather than the venue or brand shown. The logos do not imply endorsement or an approved-supplier relationship.
Why conference clients use this route
Conference bar layout, staffing and service plan
Service requirements
Bar position and working space
Confirm the bar position, staff working area and separate guest circulation. Check the bar footprint and delivery route against the venue plan.
Event coordination
Menu, supplies and running order
Select the drinks and confirm who supplies the ingredients, ice and glasses. Record setup, service and pack-down times alongside the event schedule.
Mobile bar installations
Mobile bars for conference and exhibition events
View mobile bar finishes and installed layouts. The ordered footprint and access requirements must be checked with the venue team.
Bartenders in service
Conference event bartenders in service
Our team prepares the working area and serves the agreed drinks during the booked hours, coordinated with the event running order.
Browse venue regions
Start with the part of the country the venue sits in
Region
London 20 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Region
South East and Home Counties 20 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Region
Midlands 20 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Region
North West and Lake District 18 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Region
Yorkshire and North East 12 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Region
Scotland 10 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Region
Wales and Northern Ireland 10 named conference-centre and exhibition-venue pages covering halls, foyers, hotels and event spaces in this group.Featured venue pages
Conference and exhibition venue pages worth opening first
London
ExCeL London
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
London
QEII Centre
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
London
Olympia London
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
London
Central Hall Westminster
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
London
Business Design Centre
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
Midlands
ICC Birmingham
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
Midlands
NEC Birmingham
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
North West and Lake District
Manchester Central Convention Complex
Conference and exhibition bar services: agree the counter, staff, delegate numbers, service windows and show requirements.
Compare the service formats
Compare conference bar service options
Bartenders only
Hire an Event Bartender
Hire bartenders to prepare and serve drinks from your existing bar or suitable surface. We bring working tools; you provide the drinks, ingredients, ice and glasses.
Mobile bar
Mobile Bar Hire
Add a delivered and assembled mobile bar to our staffed service. Choose its finish and layout, check the floor space, and add glassware if required.
Mixologist service
Mixologist Hire
Hire a cocktail professional to make drinks selected from our existing menu. Staff-only bookings include working tools and a shopping list for the supplies you provide.
Flair service
Flair Bartender Hire
Book a flair bartender for cocktail service with bottle and shaker skills. Check the performance space and the separate flair-hire rate before booking.
Broader drinks package
All-In-One Packages
Book the staff, mobile bar, selected drinks, ingredients, ice and glassware together. Compare the package tiers, guest minimum and service hours.
Planning answers
Conference and exhibition bar planning questions
How do you serve cocktails at a trade show exhibitor party? What is the best bar setup for a sponsor lounge or VIP hospitality suite? How do you keep queues down at a large exhibition centre bar? Can a conference centre event use a branded or themed bar front? How do access, lifts and load-in affect an exhibition centre bar setup? What should be agreed about glass collection and clearing in large event halls?
Request a conference or exhibition bar quote
Provide the venue postcode, date, guest count and service window. Include the event running order, required bar or drinks supply and any exhibitor or loading restrictions.