Cocktailhire · Event bar service & planning

Should I book a bartender, mobile bar or stocked cocktail package?

Book a bartender if you have a suitable counter and can arrange supplies; add a staffed mobile bar if you need the structure.

Event services start at £270 for three staff hours, £595 for a staffed bar with glassware available to add, or £29 per guest for a four-hour stocked package (minimum 50 guests / £1,450). Travel is separate.

Get your event quote Explore the cocktail menu Call 07909 421 914

Which booking format fits the counter and supplies I have?

When is staff at an existing counter enough?

Book a bartender if you have a suitable counter and can arrange supplies; add a staffed mobile bar if you need the structure.

Choose a stocked package when you want the bar, staff, cocktail ingredients, ice and glassware together, for at least 50 guests and four hours.

When should I hire a bartender without a mobile bar?

For a house party or equipped venue bar, staff-only hire may be enough.

You arrange the drinks, ingredients, ice and glasses using the shopping list. One cocktail bartender starts at £270 for the first three hours, then £67.50 per additional hour, plus travel.

When do equipment and stock change the choice?

When should I choose a staffed mobile bar?

A marquee, office or retail space may lack a suitable working bar.

Add a 1.5m mobile bar unit at £325 to our staffing. One unit and one bartender for three hours starts at £595; glasses and drinks supplies are separate unless included in your package.

When should I choose a stocked cocktail package?

Packages include the agreed bar, staff, selected drinks ingredients, ice and glassware.

They begin at £7.25 per guest per hour: £29 each for four hours. The minimum is 50 guests and four hours. Your menu tier, guest count, hours and travel determine the total.

What determines the final booking format?

How do guest numbers and floor space affect my choice?

Our initial guide is one bartender per 50 guests and one 1.5m bar unit per 100 guests.

The menu, simultaneous arrivals and duties can change the final plan. A mobile bar must also fit its measured working footprint and delivery route.

What information do I need for my first bar-hire quote?

Start with the date, postcode, guests and service hours.

State whether a suitable bar already exists and whether you want to supply ingredients. You can choose cocktails after establishing the service and initial price.

What is included in each type of bar booking?

Staff-only hire supplies people and tools; staffed bar hire adds the structure. A stocked package also includes the agreed drinks ingredients, ice and glasses.

Cocktailhire starting prices before postcode travel; Gatsby requires at least two units
Booking	Starting price	Cocktailhire supplies	You arrange
Staff-only	£270 / one bartender / first three hours; +£67.50 per extra hour	Bartender, working tools and selected-menu shopping list	Suitable counter, drinks, ingredients, ice and glasses
Staffed mobile bar	£595 / 1.5m bar + one bartender / three hours	Bar, staff, working tools, assembly and removal	Drinks, ingredients, ice; glasses unless added
Bar with two bartenders	£865 / same 1.5m bar / three hours	One bar unit and two bartenders	Drinks, ingredients, ice; glasses unless added
Stocked Tier 1	£7.25 per guest per hour; minimum 50 guests / four hours = £1,450	Agreed bar, staff, ingredients, ice and glassware	Venue access, measured floor space and agreed event arrangements

For longer staff-only service, add £67.50 per bartender per hour. Flair service starts at £500 for four hours, then £85 per additional hour. Compare every supplier’s hours, staffing, bar size, supplies and travel on the same basis.

How many bartenders and bars should I plan for my guest count?

Use one bartender for every 50 guests and one 1.5m bar unit for every 100 guests, rounding each guest-count division up. Confirm the menu, bar positions and supplies before booking.

Exact ratios: one bartender per 50 guests; one 1.5m bar unit per 100 guests
Guests	Bartenders: 1 per 50 guests	1.5m units: 1 per 100 guests	Available service models
15	1	1	Staff-only at your suitable counter, or a staffed bar
30	1	1	Staff-only at your suitable counter, or a staffed bar
50	1	1	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package
80	2	1	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package
100	2	1	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package
150	3	2	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package
200	4	2	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package
300	6	3	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package
500	10	5	Staff-only, staffed bar or stocked package

Choose staff-only where a suitable counter and supplies are already arranged. Choose a staffed mobile bar where the venue needs a service point. Choose a stocked package for at least 50 guests and four hours when you want the cocktail ingredients, ice and glassware included. Separate floors, arrival peaks and additional duties can change the final team and equipment.

Do the job titles tell me what is included?

Choose by the event and the written scope, not the job title alone. The physical bar, ingredient shopping and glassware depend on the booking format shown above.

Cocktail maker hire focuses on making and serving your selected drinks at home parties and hen dos.
Mixologist hire focuses on existing-menu flavour choices, preparation and presentation for private dining and VIP receptions.
Cocktail bartender hire focuses on busy event service, arrival drinks and coordinating the agreed bar duties.

For each, confirm the full guest count, service hours, working position and who supplies ingredients, ice and glasses. The service pages give the specific booking details; this guide compares the formats.

Which service format should I choose?

Choose staff at your counter, a staffed mobile bar with optional glassware, or a stocked package with the agreed supplies.

What Cocktailhire Does in 45 Seconds · 0:49

Watch Stu explain the service, then compare the options and read the page-specific details below.

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Three ways to book; postcode travel and agreed extras are itemised separately.
Service format	Starting price	What is supplied?	Who arranges ingredients?
Bartender or mixologist at your counter	£270 for 3 hours; £67.50 per extra hour	One bartender, working cocktail tools and your selected-menu shopping list after payment.	You arrange ingredients, ice, glasses and a suitable counter.
Bartender with a mobile bar; glasses available to add	From £595 for 3 hours	One 1.5m unit (£325) and one bartender (£270), with assembly and removal. Eight finishes; LED Gatsby needs two units.	You arrange ingredients and ice. Glassware hire is optional and charged separately.
Full stocked cocktail package	From £29 per guest for 4 hours; minimum 50 guests / £1,450	Agreed bar, staff, selected cocktail ingredients, ice and glassware. Tier 2: £34 per guest; Tier 3: £39 for 4 hours.	Cocktailhire supplies the ingredients and equipment agreed in your package.

How does booking through to the first drink work?

Choose the service and drinks, receive the paperwork after payment, and have the team prepare before service starts.

Step 01
Pick Your Service Format
Choose the support your event needs: a cocktail bartender or mixologist alone from £270 for three hours, a bartender with a mobile bar from £595 with glassware available to add, or a full stocked package including ingredients from £29 per guest for four hours. Postcode travel is separate.
Step 02
Select Your Cocktails
Pick your drinks from the existing Cocktailhire menu, including Espresso Martinis, Pornstar Martinis, Spicy Margaritas, Mojitos, Palomas and Old Fashioneds. Your event menu is built from those selected drinks, with the eligible choices shown for your service or package.
Step 03
Deposit & Instant Paperwork Release (With Direct Shopping Links)
Once your payment is made—even if it is only a deposit to secure the date—your full booking paperwork release is sent straight to you. If you are supplying your own alcohol and mixers, you receive an itemised shopping list with direct clickable links to every ingredient: bottle counts, mixers, garnishes and ice quantities calculated to your guest count and chosen cocktails, for complete clarity about what to buy.
Step 04
Early Arrival & Full Prep Before Service Starts
Your bartender and mobile bar installation team, if booked, turn up early with ample time before your booked service hours. They build the bar and prepare the selected drinks, including chilling glassware, juicing or slicing garnishes, preparing syrups and setting the working station where needed, so they are ready to serve the first drink at your booked start time. Setup and preparation do not use your paid service hours.

How many bartenders and mobile bar units should I book?

Use one bartender per 50 guests and one 1.5m bar unit per 100 guests, rounding each division up. Up to two bartenders work behind one unit.

How many bartenders and mobile bars do I need under the 1:50 & 1:100 Rule?

Book 1 cocktail bartender for every 50 guests and, when hiring a mobile bar, 1 mobile bar unit (1.5m) for every 100 guests.

Up to 2 bartenders can work side-by-side behind each 1.5m unit.

1 bartender for every 50 guests: £270 per bartender for the first 3 service hours, then £67.50 per additional hour per bartender.
1 mobile bar unit (1.5m) for every 100 guests: £325 per unit, with up to 2 bartenders working side-by-side behind each unit. Add a second unit once your guest count passes 100.

Exact guest-count scaling: staff and staffed-bar examples cover three service hours; stocked-package examples cover four hours. Postcode travel and agreed extras are separate.
Guest Count	Bartenders Needed (1 per 50 Guests)	Mobile Bar Units Needed (1 per 100 Guests / up to 2 Staff Per Bar)	Bartender-Only Price (3 Hours)	Mobile Bar + Bartenders Price (3 Hours)	Full Package Including Ingredients (4 Hours from £29 per Guest)
Up to 50 Guests	1× Bartender	1× Bar Unit (1.5m total) 1 bartender across 1 bar unit; up to 2 per unit	£270 +£67.5 per extra hour	£595 £270 staff + £325 bar	£1,450 50-guest minimum at £29 per guest
51 to 100 Guests	2× Bartenders	1× Bar Unit (1.5m total) 2 bartenders across 1 bar unit; up to 2 per unit	£540 +£135 per extra hour	£865 £540 staff + £325 bar	£1,479 to £2,900 £29 per guest for 4 hours
101 to 150 Guests	3× Bartenders	2× Bar Units (3.0m total) 3 bartenders across 2 bar units; up to 2 per unit	£810 +£202.5 per extra hour	£1,460 £810 staff + £650 bars	£2,929 to £4,350 £29 per guest for 4 hours
151 to 200 Guests	4× Bartenders	2× Bar Units (3.0m total) 4 bartenders across 2 bar units; up to 2 per unit	£1,080 +£270 per extra hour	£1,730 £1,080 staff + £650 bars	£4,379 to £5,800 £29 per guest for 4 hours
201 to 250 Guests	5× Bartenders	3× Bar Units (4.5m total) 5 bartenders across 3 bar units; up to 2 per unit	£1,350 +£337.5 per extra hour	£2,325 £1,350 staff + £975 bars	£5,829 to £7,250 £29 per guest for 4 hours
251 to 300 Guests	6× Bartenders	3× Bar Units (4.5m total) 6 bartenders across 3 bar units; up to 2 per unit	£1,620 +£405 per extra hour	£2,595 £1,620 staff + £975 bars	£7,279 to £8,700 £29 per guest for 4 hours
Every +50 / +100 Guests Above 300	+1 Bartender per 50 guests	+1 Bar Unit (1.5m) per 100 guests	+£270 per 50 guests +£67.50 per additional bartender per extra hour	+£270 per 50 guests +£325 per 100 guests	£29 per guest (Tier 1) £34 per guest (Tier 2) £39 per guest (Tier 3)

Divide the guest count by 50 for bartenders and by 100 for bar units, rounding each result up. Staff-only bookings use your suitable counter. The staffed-bar examples exclude ingredients, ice and glasses; glassware hire can be added. Stocked packages include the agreed bar, staff, cocktail ingredients, ice and glassware for at least 50 guests and four hours. Tier 2 is £34 per guest and Tier 3 is £39 per guest for four hours. Postcode travel is itemised separately. LED Gatsby requires at least two bar units, so the one-unit starting examples apply to other eligible finishes.

The total lengths shown are straight 1.5m modules. Allow the measured working depth and guest circulation for your selected straight, horseshoe or island layout; confirm separate bar positions and venue access in your booking.

What should I know before booking: watch or read?

Watch the short answers, then read the full written booking questions below.

Who Buys the Cocktail Ingredients? · 1:07

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When do I receive my shopping list?

Stu explains that staff-only and non-package mobile bar bookings leave ingredient shopping with the client, with the list available after a deposit.

Does Bartender Setup Time Cost Extra? · 1:14

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Does setup time come out of my booked hours?

Stu explains that the service price allows for preparation, and the bartender aims to arrive before service starts.

What Is Included When You Hire a Cocktail Maker? · 1:36

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What is included when I hire a cocktail maker?

Stu explains the working tools included with staff hire and how mobile bars and glassware relate to the items selected on the booking.

What should I know before booking?

Confirm the date, postcode, guest count, service hours and who supplies the bar and drinks. The answers below cover the remaining practical booking details.

How many bartenders and mobile bars do I need for my guest count?

You need 1 cocktail bartender for every 50 guests (£270 per bartender for 3 hours, then £67.50 per additional hour per bartender) and, when hiring a mobile bar, 1 mobile bar unit (1.5m) for every 100 guests (£325 per unit). Up to 2 bartenders can work side-by-side behind one unit. Up to 50 guests need 1 bartender and 1 bar (£595); 51 to 100 guests need 2 bartenders behind the same single bar (£865). Round each guest-count division up: add 1 bartender per 50 guests and 1 bar unit per 100 guests. Postcode travel, glassware hire and other agreed extras are separate.

One professional for every 50 guests · 0:55

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How many mobile bar units do you need? · 2:57

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When do I receive my shopping list?

Once a payment has been made, even a deposit, your full booking paperwork is released. If you are arranging the ingredients, the itemised shopping list shows the quantities for your selected Cocktailhire drinks and direct ingredient buying links.

Booking, payment and receiving your paperwork · 1:22

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Does setup time come out of my booked hours?

Preparation is arranged before the booked service starts. Your bartender arrives early enough for the agreed setup and preparation, so those tasks do not use your paid cocktail service hours. Confirm venue access and arrival arrangements in the booking.

What is included when I hire a cocktail maker?

Staff hire includes the bartender and working cocktail tools. You provide a suitable counter, ingredients, ice and glasses. A mobile bar and glassware can be added, or a stocked package can include the agreed equipment and supplies.

What staff-only hire includes · 1:06

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Can I choose the cocktails?

Choose up to five drinks from the existing Cocktailhire menu. The event menu is built from those selected drinks; stocked-package tiers show their eligible menu choices in the booking system.

Is postcode travel included in the starting prices?

Postcode travel is itemised separately in your quote, along with any agreed extras. Review the service, supplies and final total before confirming.

Does the £595 staffed-bar price include glassware?

The £595 starting example covers one 1.5m mobile bar unit and one bartender for three service hours. Ingredients, ice and glasses are separate; glassware hire can be added. A stocked package includes the agreed glassware.

Adding glassware to a mobile-bar booking · 0:41

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What is the minimum for a stocked cocktail package?

Stocked packages have a minimum of 50 guests and four hours. Tier 1 is £29 per guest for four hours, Tier 2 is £34 and Tier 3 is £39. For 50 guests, Tier 1 starts at £1,450 before postcode travel and agreed extras.

Can I choose LED Gatsby for a single bar unit?

LED Gatsby needs at least two units. The one-unit £595 staffed-bar starting example therefore applies to other eligible finishes.

What information do I need for an event quote?

Start with the event date, full postcode, full guest count and service hours. Choose staff at your counter, a staffed mobile bar or a stocked package, then review the itemised total and responsibilities.

Watch Stu explain: Booking, payment and receiving your paperwork

Get your instant price & lock your date

Where can Cocktailhire supply the service?

Compare the regional guides and provide the full event postcode so travel and access can be included in your quote.

Where in the UK can I book cocktail bartenders and staffed mobile bars?

Cocktailhire provides cocktail bartenders and staffed mobile bars across the UK from Bury. Choose your regional page below; the full event postcode sets the separately quoted travel. Listed postcode districts are examples. Postal spans show broad coverage bounds, not a continuous list of valid districts; adjacent-guide links identify districts handled in another regional guide. Each linked regional guide contains its complete district list; the postcode index also accounts for districts requiring a full venue address.

UK regional coverage for cocktail bartenders and staffed mobile bars
Regional service area	Towns, cities and areas covered	Postal bounds and example districts	Regional booking information
Manchester & Greater Manchester	Greater Manchester, Manchester, Salford, Bury, Unsworth, Whitefield, Prestwich, Bolton, Stockport, Altrincham, Hale, Bowdon, Sale, Didsbury, Chorlton, Oldham, Rochdale, Wigan, Trafford, Tameside	Postal bounds and markers: M1–M90. Example districts: M1, M2, BL9.	Manchester & Greater Manchester service page
Cheshire	Cheshire, Alderley Edge, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Prestbury, Macclesfield, Chester, Nantwich, Crewe, Tarporley, Congleton, Warrington, Northwich	Postal bounds and markers: CW1, SK9, WA16. Example districts: SK9, SK10, CH1.	Cheshire service page
London & Greater London	London, Greater London, Central London, Westminster, Mayfair, Marylebone, Soho, Covent Garden, City of London, Canary Wharf, Shoreditch, Hackney, Islington, Camden, Kensington, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Belgravia, Fulham, Putney, Wandsworth, Clapham, Battersea, Richmond, Wimbledon, Greenwich, Dulwich	Postal bounds and markers: SW1–SW20. Example districts: WC2R, W1K, W1H.	London & Greater London service page
Liverpool & Merseyside	Merseyside, Liverpool, Wirral, Southport, St Helens, Birkenhead, Formby, Knowsley, Sefton	Postal bounds and markers: L1–L40. Example districts: L1, L2, CH41. The L1–L40 span crosses guide boundaries: L39 and L40 use the Lancashire guide. For nearby CH1, use the Cheshire guide.	Liverpool & Merseyside service page
Leeds, Yorkshire & the North East	Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds, York, Harrogate, Sheffield, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield, Halifax, Ilkley, Skipton, Wetherby, Ripon, Hull, Beverley, Doncaster, Barnsley, Rotherham, North East England, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Durham, Darlington, Northumberland	Postal bounds and markers: LS1–LS29, YO1. Example districts: LS1, YO1, HG1.	Leeds, Yorkshire & the North East service page
Birmingham & the West Midlands	West Midlands, Birmingham, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield, Edgbaston, Harborne, Wolverhampton, Coventry, Walsall, Dudley, Worcestershire, Bromsgrove, Kidderminster, Hereford, Shropshire, Shrewsbury, Telford, Staffordshire, Stafford, Lichfield, Cannock, Stoke-on-Trent, Warwickshire, Warwick, Royal Leamington Spa, Stratford-upon-Avon	Postal bounds and markers: B1–B98. Example districts: B1, CV1, WV1.	Birmingham & the West Midlands service page
Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire	Surrey, Guildford, Woking, Farnham, Cobham, Weybridge, Esher, Epsom, Reigate, Dorking, Camberley, Berkshire, Windsor, Ascot, Reading, Maidenhead, Newbury, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Marlow, Beaconsfield, Amersham, Aylesbury, Oxfordshire, Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Banbury, Bicester	Postal bounds and markers: GU1, KT1, SL1. Example districts: GU1, GU2, KT13. For nearby KT1, use the London guide.	Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire service page
Kent & Sussex	Kent, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks, Maidstone, Canterbury, Whitstable, Ashford, Margate, Folkestone, Dartford, Medway, Rochester, Dover, West Sussex, East Sussex, Brighton, Chichester, Horsham, Crawley	Postal bounds and markers: TN1, ME1, CT1. Example districts: ME14, CT1, TN1.	Kent & Sussex service page
Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire & East Anglia	Essex, Chelmsford, Brentwood, Shenfield, Loughton, Chigwell, Epping, Billericay, Colchester, Southend-on-Sea, Saffron Walden, Hertfordshire, St Albans, Harpenden, Watford, Hertford, Bishop's Stortford, Stevenage, Cambridgeshire, Cambridge, Ely, Newmarket, Huntingdon, Peterborough, Bedford, Norfolk, Norwich, Suffolk, Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds	Postal bounds and markers: CM1, AL1, CB1. Example districts: CM1, CO1, AL1.	Essex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire & East Anglia service page
Lancashire & Cumbria	Lancashire, Clitheroe, Ribble Valley, Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Chorley, Lytham St Annes, Blackpool, Lancaster, Cumbria, Kendal, Windermere, Lake District	Postal bounds and markers: PR1–PR26, BB1. Example districts: PR1, BB1, LA1.	Lancashire & Cumbria service page
Nottingham & the East Midlands	East Midlands, Nottingham, West Bridgford, Mansfield, Newark, Derby, Chesterfield, Bakewell, Peak District, Leicester, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Rutland, Oakham, Northampton, Towcester, Kettering, Lincoln, Grantham, Stamford	Postal bounds and markers: NG1, DE1, LE1. Example districts: NG1, DE1, LE1.	Nottingham & the East Midlands service page
Bristol, the South West, Wiltshire, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight	South West England, Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Amesbury, Wilton, Wiltshire, Swindon, Devizes, Marlborough, Chippenham, Andover, Winchester, Southampton, Portsmouth, Basingstoke, Romsey, New Forest, Fordingbridge, Ringwood, Verwood, Lymington, Petersfield, Farnborough, Fleet, Hampshire, Somerset, Taunton, Frome, Glastonbury, Yeovil, Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cotswolds, Gloucester, Stroud, Dorset, Bournemouth, Poole, Dorchester, Christchurch, Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Cornwall, Truro, Isle of Wight	Postal bounds and markers: SP1–SP11, SO14–SO53, BA1, BS1. Example districts: BS1, BA1, SP1, SP6, SP10, SO23.	Bristol, the South West, Wiltshire, Hampshire & the Isle of Wight service page

How do I get an itemised quote for my event?

Enter your date, full postcode, guest count and service hours. Review the service, supplies and total before confirming.

Calculate your instant quote Call 07909 421 914

Should I book a bartender, mobile bar or stocked cocktail package?

Which booking format fits the counter and supplies I have?

When is staff at an existing counter enough?

When should I hire a bartender without a mobile bar?

When do equipment and stock change the choice?

When should I choose a staffed mobile bar?

When should I choose a stocked cocktail package?

What determines the final booking format?

How do guest numbers and floor space affect my choice?

What information do I need for my first bar-hire quote?

What is included in each type of bar booking?

How many bartenders and bars should I plan for my guest count?

Do the job titles tell me what is included?

Which service format should I choose?

Where can I see client feedback and completed event work?

What do clients say in Google reviews?

What did we supply for Claridge’s, London?

What did we supply for Amazon Manchester?

What did we supply for Represent Manchester?

How does booking through to the first drink work?

Pick Your Service Format

Select Your Cocktails

Deposit & Instant Paperwork Release (With Direct Shopping Links)

Early Arrival & Full Prep Before Service Starts

How many bartenders and mobile bar units should I book?

How many bartenders and mobile bars do I need under the 1:50 & 1:100 Rule?

What should I know before booking: watch or read?

When do I receive my shopping list?

Does setup time come out of my booked hours?

What is included when I hire a cocktail maker?

What should I know before booking?

How many bartenders and mobile bars do I need for my guest count?

When do I receive my shopping list?

Does setup time come out of my booked hours?

What is included when I hire a cocktail maker?

Can I choose the cocktails?

Is postcode travel included in the starting prices?

Does the £595 staffed-bar price include glassware?

What is the minimum for a stocked cocktail package?

Can I choose LED Gatsby for a single bar unit?

What information do I need for an event quote?

Where can Cocktailhire supply the service?

Where in the UK can I book cocktail bartenders and staffed mobile bars?

How do I get an itemised quote for my event?