Welcome Bar: make the first drink part of the first impression
A fast and visually considered welcome-drink service for the moment your guests arrive. Drinks are ready in advance, the station reads at a glance, and a queue never becomes the first impression.
01Welcome Bar
Why a separate welcome format
At the start of an event guests arrive almost all at once. So a welcome service is planned differently from a regular cocktail bar: drinks are prepared for fast hand-out, the station sits in the natural flow of arrivals, and the menu is short. Everyone gets a clear first drink straight away and feels the mood of the event.
A welcome bar is not necessarily a separate counter. It can be a compact station, a table, tray service, or part of the main counter that turns into a regular bar after the first wave. Its length is set by the arrival window, not by the whole event. Choose an option
Works well for
- corporate and client events
- weddings: greeting guests before the ceremony or the dinner
- conferences and launches
- openings and private celebrations
02Welcome Bar
Choose a welcome option
The shorter the arrival window, the shorter the menu. One alcoholic and one alcohol-free option usually work better than a long list.
- Option 1
Sparkling wine
The classic fast welcome: pre-poured glasses, hand-out from the first minute. Right when everyone arrives together.
- Option 2
Signature cocktail
One reliable drink that builds quickly and looks good, tied to the colour, theme, names or brand of the event.
- Option 3
Alcohol-free welcome
A proper mocktail instead of “water or juice”. Especially handy for conferences, daytime events and mixed audiences. The alcoholic and alcohol-free versions can look identical.
- Option 4
Welcome + main bar
After the first wave the same counter turns into a regular mobile bar. The switch of menu and stock is planned in advance.
How we hand drinks out
- pre-poured drinks on display: the fastest option
- personal coupons: one drink guaranteed for everyone
- a shared limit: we fix what happens once it is reached
03What's included
What we organise
The line-up for the full format. The drink can be yours or ours; the quote says which.
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Station or counter
A compact station, a table, our modular counter or trays, to suit the space and the flow. See the counters
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Drinks ready to hand out
Sparkling wine, a signature cocktail or a mocktail. Sensitive components are added close to hand-out so the drink keeps its quality.
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Team
Sized not only by the number of guests but by how many minutes they arrive in.
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Glassware and garnish
Glasses for the chosen drink, with spares. See the glassware
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Ready before the first wave
Area and drinks are ready before the first guest walks in, so hand-out starts without delay.
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Hand-out scenario
Drinks on display, coupons or a limit: the counting method and the collection of empty glasses are agreed in advance.
Agreed separately
- the drink itself: yours or purchased by us
- a glass pyramid as a ceremonial welcome
- branded menus, signage, counter or signature drink
- the main bar after the welcome block
- photo mirror, DJ and equipment hire from partners
04Welcome Bar
How it looks
Counters from our fleet, team outfits and glassware. The choice is fixed in the quote.
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wine -
highball cut crystal -
coupe
05How much does it cost
How much a welcome bar costs
The main parameters: number of guests, number of welcome serves, the recipe, glassware, staff and whether a bar follows.
What affects the price:
- Guests and arrival window How many guests and how many minutes they arrive in: this sets the team and the preparation.
- Drink and serves Sparkling, cocktail or mocktail, the number of serves and whose drink it is.
- Glassware and station A counter or a compact station, the glass set, garnish.
- What follows Welcome only or a switch to the main bar, a pyramid, branding.
- Venue and logistics City, access, indoors or outdoors.
The exact price is fixed in your personal quote. The date is secured once the deposit invoice is paid.
Example configurations
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Compact welcome
from 165 €
- Bartender visit and work
- Glassware for the welcome station
- ~10 drinks for all guests
This is an estimate
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Medium welcome
from 220 €
- Bartender visit and work
- Glassware for the welcome station
- ~25 drinks for all guests
This is an estimate
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Large welcome (with drinks)
from 305 €
- Bartender visit and work
- Glassware for the welcome station
- ~50 drinks for all guests
This is an estimate
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Large welcome (client's own drinks)
from 145 €
- Bartender visit and work
- Glassware for the welcome station
- Drinks are yours
This is an estimate
07Portfolio
What greeting the guests looks like
Frames from real Bartender’s events: the first drink handed out, glass towers and welcome areas. The gallery keeps growing.
08How it works
How booking works
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Request
Guest count, expected arrival time and how wide the arrival window is, where the welcome area sits and the drink you have in mind.
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Quote
We propose the station, drink, glassware and team and send a quote with the fixed part and the drinks shown separately.
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Confirmation
The paid deposit invoice secures the date. Then we agree the hand-out scenario, the exact spot and what happens after the welcome block.
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Event
Ready before the first guest, fast and good-looking hand-out, then we fold the station or switch to the main bar.
09FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the welcome bar
Can we book welcome drinks only?
Yes. It is a self-contained short block around the arrival of guests; a main bar is not required.
How is a welcome bar different from a regular mobile bar?
It is built for a short arrival peak and a fast first drink rather than several hours of regular service: drinks prepared in advance, a short menu, the team on hand-out.
Does everything have to be made in front of the guests?
Not necessarily. For a welcome, speed and consistency matter more. When everyone arrives at once, pre-poured drinks are better; when guests trickle in, we build part of the drinks as they come.
Do pre-poured drinks lose quality?
We choose the recipe and timing so the drink holds up to a short wait. Sensitive components are added close to hand-out.
Can the alcoholic and alcohol-free versions look alike?
Yes, that is designed into the menu: same glass, colour and presentation, different contents.
How do we guarantee one drink per guest?
Best with personal coupons or controlled hand-out. A shared limit does not guarantee the distribution.
Can it be combined with a glass pyramid?
Yes. The pyramid works as a ceremonial welcome, with a fast station beside it when guests arrive in a big wave.
Can we use our own drink?
Yes, as long as quantity, temperature, glassware and the way it is served are agreed in advance.
Can the same counter become the main bar afterwards?
Yes, a practical scenario. The switch of menu and stock is planned in advance.
When is a separate welcome bar not needed?
When guests arrive very spread out and the main bar already sits conveniently near the entrance, a separate station may add little. We will say so honestly in the quote.
Why might the actual price differ from the reference figure shown?
The reference figure doesn't include possible discounts. A manager may apply an additional discount — for example during the low season, for repeat clients, agencies, or very large orders.
10Get a quote
Get a quote for a welcome at your event
Date, venue, guest count and their arrival time are enough. Leave an e-mail and a phone number so a manager can reach you quickly. You will get a quote with the station, drinks and team shown separately.
