Booking The Ginslinger Mobile Bar
If you're here then hopefully you are considering booking The Ginslinger for your next event. While it was the desire to run a mobile gin bar that motivated us to go into business we are so much more than "just" a gin bar.
We can offer whatever range of drinks you are looking for. Of course, with a name like "The Ginslinger" we do specialise in gin and cocktails however, we offer a full range of spirits, from Irish whiskey to Croatian maraschino liqueur, from bourbon to tequila and a whole host of others in-between. We have bottled lager, craft ale and cider, we have mocktails and soft drinks and, at the right time of year, mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate and mulled cider. We also recently provided draft beer on the request of a client. While we don't ordinarily carry draft we certainly can, hit the enquire button and start the conversation.
We are aware that larger events like to limit the numbers of any one type of vendor, we are entirely flexible in this regard. If you already have enough gin bars but you're short on cocktail bars, we can help. If you have everything you need but a prosecco bar, again drop us a line and obviously, if you are desperate for a gin bar to round off your offerings then you know who to call.
We can offer whatever range of drinks you are looking for. Of course, with a name like "The Ginslinger" we do specialise in gin and cocktails however, we offer a full range of spirits, from Irish whiskey to Croatian maraschino liqueur, from bourbon to tequila and a whole host of others in-between. We have bottled lager, craft ale and cider, we have mocktails and soft drinks and, at the right time of year, mulled wine, boozy hot chocolate and mulled cider. We also recently provided draft beer on the request of a client. While we don't ordinarily carry draft we certainly can, hit the enquire button and start the conversation.
We are aware that larger events like to limit the numbers of any one type of vendor, we are entirely flexible in this regard. If you already have enough gin bars but you're short on cocktail bars, we can help. If you have everything you need but a prosecco bar, again drop us a line and obviously, if you are desperate for a gin bar to round off your offerings then you know who to call.
What do we need from you?
- Space - Our horse box is 5.5m long and 2m wide we will require at least this amount of space within which to operate.
- Access - We will require an entry point that is wide enough to accommodate a vehicle towing a horse box. 3m wide with 3m of overhead clearance.
- Electricity - While we do have a generator for sites that cannot provide electricity, it is preferable for there to be a power source on site. This ensures no disruptions due to the noise of the generator and from delays caused by refuelling and restarting.
- Wi-Fi - Access to Wi-Fi is ideal or at least a good, strong mobile signal. As we offer the facility to pay by card one or other of these is essential if we are to be able to take card payments. Not having either is not an obstacle to you booking us but we do need to know for the purposes of having sufficient change for a cash only bar and you will need to advise your guests that we will be operating on a cash only basis in the event that there is neither Wi-Fi nor a strong mobile signal.
- A deposit - A deposit of £250 is required to secure your chosen date. This is of course refundable after the event or deductible from any amounts due for welcome drinks, subsidised bars or open bars.
- A Temporary Event Notice - A Temporary Event Notice (TEN) is a legal requirement for us to serve alcohol on premises that are not ordinarily licensed for the sale of alcohol. TENs can be obtained from your local council and are generally quite inexpensive. We can acquire the relevant licence for your event but it is worth noting that the licence that we obtain allows us to sell on your premises. The licence you obtain, licences your premises temporarily for the sale of alcohol by anyone. The difference being that, in the unlikely event that we had to cancel (it hasn't happened yet, touch wood!) and we hold the TEN, you would not have a licence for your event and another would have to be obtained by whomever took our place. This is very difficult at short notice.
Types of Hire
Cash Bar
A cash bar is exactly what it says on the tin. We attend your event, sell our wares to your guests and, when the event is over and we have said our thank yous and goodbyes, we leave. Depending on the number of guests in attendance and location we may charge a hire fee but it is entirely possible that, as the host, this could cost you absolutely nothing beyond the drinks you buy yourself. Hit the "enquire" button and we can discuss how little it could cost for you to have us ensure your guests don't go thirsty.
Subsidised Bar
Many people want to make sure their event gets off to a good start by buying their guests a drink or two. We can do this in different ways. We have a welcome drinks package that starts at just £4.00 per head. After that "first round" the bar reverts to a cash basis and your guests pay for their own drinks. This helps keep your costs well managed and, though as previously mentioned there could be a hire fee, this could cost you no more the price of your drinks package. Simply multiply the number of guests you have by the quote price per head and that's your bill. Simple.
Some people prefer to put an amount of money "behind the bar" for free drinks and once that kitty has run out we, again, go back to your guests paying for their drinks. We prefer to do this via a token system. You tell us how much you want to spend, we work out the amount per head and issue you with tokens to distribute to your guests that they can then exchange for drinks. Once they run out of tokens...it's back to buying their own.
Some people prefer to put an amount of money "behind the bar" for free drinks and once that kitty has run out we, again, go back to your guests paying for their drinks. We prefer to do this via a token system. You tell us how much you want to spend, we work out the amount per head and issue you with tokens to distribute to your guests that they can then exchange for drinks. Once they run out of tokens...it's back to buying their own.
Free bar
We often get enquiries about having a free or open bar. This allows your guests to stroll up, get a drink and stroll away again, content in the knowledge that somebody else is picking up the bill. That "Somebody else" is you, dear host. While we have no issues with providing this service, we do insist that you be realistic in your budgeting.
The issue we encounter is that many people seem to do their budgeting based on how much alcohol they can buy from a supermarket for a given amount. Requests for a free bar for 50 guests on a budget of £10-£15 for 6-7 hours are common. While £500 can buy you a lot of drink from a supermarket and 50 people might well take 6-7 hours to get through it, you have to remember that we are not a supermarket and while we may not be as expensive as pubs and bars, we are certainly unable to charge supermarket prices.
Your £500 will not last long in the hands of your guests. We find that drinking habits change when somebody else is getting the tab. Guests will opt for a full bottle of prosecco instead of queuing for five separate glasses of prosecco while this is slightly cheaper in the long run it does mean they will drink it faster and come back for another, they may or may not finish the second bottle but either way, you have to get the bill. Four bottles of beer becomes a considerably more expensive trip to the bar when they decide to add a round of shots to your bill. We've seen customers come to the bar three times for a bottle of cider only to upgrade to a cocktail when somebody else offered to buy them a drink and at one recent event the host set up a tab for a select few of his guests, one of his guests spent over £100 on his own. This is the reality of "free drink".
When budgeting for a free bar we would suggest throwing any notions you have of what your guests would spend on a night out out of the window. If you aren't budgeting at least £10 per head per hour then the money is entirely likely to run out and we don't want to hit you with an additional bill any more than you want to be hit with it. Of course, we refund any unspent funds at the end of the event.
The issue we encounter is that many people seem to do their budgeting based on how much alcohol they can buy from a supermarket for a given amount. Requests for a free bar for 50 guests on a budget of £10-£15 for 6-7 hours are common. While £500 can buy you a lot of drink from a supermarket and 50 people might well take 6-7 hours to get through it, you have to remember that we are not a supermarket and while we may not be as expensive as pubs and bars, we are certainly unable to charge supermarket prices.
Your £500 will not last long in the hands of your guests. We find that drinking habits change when somebody else is getting the tab. Guests will opt for a full bottle of prosecco instead of queuing for five separate glasses of prosecco while this is slightly cheaper in the long run it does mean they will drink it faster and come back for another, they may or may not finish the second bottle but either way, you have to get the bill. Four bottles of beer becomes a considerably more expensive trip to the bar when they decide to add a round of shots to your bill. We've seen customers come to the bar three times for a bottle of cider only to upgrade to a cocktail when somebody else offered to buy them a drink and at one recent event the host set up a tab for a select few of his guests, one of his guests spent over £100 on his own. This is the reality of "free drink".
When budgeting for a free bar we would suggest throwing any notions you have of what your guests would spend on a night out out of the window. If you aren't budgeting at least £10 per head per hour then the money is entirely likely to run out and we don't want to hit you with an additional bill any more than you want to be hit with it. Of course, we refund any unspent funds at the end of the event.
Dry Hire
Dry hire is the hire of our bar and staff only. The host provides everything else, drinks, mixers, garnishes, glasses and pricing. While we can provide this service the cost will depend on the location and duration of your event and how many staff we would require to keep things moving along. We do not offer a "bar only" option.
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