Our range of industry-leading shipping container conversion bars for hire provides a standout mobile bar solution ideal for all events.
The corrugated exterior of the shipping container bar lends itself to outdoor events while providing an incredible visual impact. The branding and customisable options will ensure your mobile bar stands out, makes an impact and is memorable.
Shipping container bars are practical, boasting a six-metre counter and two under-counter fridges ideal for food and drink, a back bar for hiding stock and integrated lighting and electrics. With multi-deck options available, they offer efficient space too.
Fully customisable, shipping container conversion bars for hire provide the perfect environment to serve, engage and sell to customers - but does that make them the right mobile bar for your event?
This article breaks down the pros and cons of hiring a shipping container bar, enabling you to see if they’re the best-fit pop-up bar option for your brand.
The Design
If you want an event structure for your mobile bar that's iconic and practical, you can't go wrong with a shipping container conversion.
Pros
Invented in 1956 to carry cargo by sea and rail, shipping containers have an iconic architecture recognised globally.
The acknowledged history of storing goods has given the shipping container a long legacy. Repurposing the intention of the structure as a mobile bar immediately sparks curiosity in audiences.
As a historic structure, shipping containers endear themselves to audiences who love seeing the familiar build given a second lease on life. It's also a way for brands to show audiences they care about the environment.
Cons
All our event structures attract attention, but each has its allurement. If a shipping container conversion doesn't fit well with your brand, we have plenty of alternative options.
The Airstream exhibition trailer is also easily recognisable, whereas the Expandable mobile showroom has a more sleek and modern design. Make sure you analyse your options to find which solution is best for your pop-up bar.
The Size
With an internal floorplan capacity of 13.4m², shipping container conversions offer plenty of space for use as a high-capacity bar area.
Pros
The shipping container conversion provides plenty of space to brand your mobile bar internally and externally. This branding opportunity ensures your application attracts attention on-site and in transit.
Each shipping container bar features a 6-metre bar running along the length of the shipping container and ample storage space, allowing for high-capacity serving at events.
With many shipping container bar options available, some of which are multi-deck to provide additional space for guest entertainment, shipping containers boast ample bar space.
As shipping containers are modular buildings, if you find the internal space of a container bar is not big enough, you can adjoin a second one side-by-side.
Cons
If you require more space, our Momentum roadshow truck provides extra space and a terrace for VIP entertainment. Alternative, for a smaller structure, the Explorer event trailer is a good alternative.
The Security
Shipping container conversion bars have a solid steel structure and a built-in sophisticated roller shutter that covers and locks the bar area when closed, ensuring the mobile bar is secure.
Pros
This solid structure ensures container bars are ideal for indoor and outdoor events and festivals that span multiple days, as stock is protected overnight and unattended.
This high level of security ensures that no extra surveillance is needed and eliminates the need to remove stock to and from the mobile bar when the bar is not in use.
Shipping container bars also allow for the cargo of stock in the structure to each destination, should the mobile bar be required over a series of events or locations.
Cons
Shipping container conversions for mobile bar hire are slightly more pricey than other options available on the market, such as marquees, but the level of security is next-to-none.
The Logistics
Despite being sturdy in design and weight, shipping containers were designed to be transported around the world. As such, container bars are easily transportable between locations.
Pros
As shipping container conversions for mobile bar hire are easily transportable, the structure is ideal for all event types, including event series where multiple locations and short deadlines may be required.
Transported by a Hiab truck before being off-loaded onto location, the typical shipping container bar takes approximately one hour of installation time with one person. The short set-up time allows more time on-site serving customers.
The Events Structure always try to minimise the number of trailers used for deployment to ensure each project is as cost-effective and eco-friendly as possible.
Cons
As shipping container bars require Hiab truck entry, some locations and venues may not be adequate for the event structure. An alternative would be the self-drive promotional vehicle Ranger, which has more logistic flexibility and does not require a specialist to set up.
For more information on shipping container conversions for mobile bar hire or any other exhibition trailer or temporary structure for an event, contact The Events Structure team on (0161) 821 1010.