Pop-up container bars are more popular than ever, as more brands are opting for a shipping container bar over conventional mobile bar solutions, due to their aesthetic and practicality appeal.
Boasting a durable, standout structure with alluring cargo walls, while offering complete customisation and maximum branding opportunity, container bars demand attention at events.
Hosting a container bar is a fantastic opportunity to encourage people to socialise with and enjoy your brand. Therefore, you want a visit to your container bar to be memorable for all the right reasons, no matter how many glasses of wine or tequila shots guests may have had.
At The Events Structure, we have supplied and set up many shipping container bars around the UK, from traditional cocktail and quirky wine container bars to completely bespoke and branded container bar creations. Below we share our top tips for styling your shipping container conversion bar.
What is the container bar's purpose?
Bars are a place to go and drink, but what's your event or occasion? A wedding for 100 guests will require a different container bar solution to an outdoor street parade for 10,000 visitors. Likewise, the perfect bar for a corporate gathering will not be the same as that for a festival.
Knowing what container bar solution is best for your event or occasion lays the foundations for the styling of the bar. For more information on finding the right container bar for your event, read Container Bar Conversions: A Guide to Container Bar Dry Hire at Events.
Theming your container bar
It's a fair assumption that almost everyone at the event will want a drink at some point. Whether you're the only pop-up bar at the event or competing against several vendors for custom, you will need to make an impression. Getting the styling of your container bar right will attract customers and make your event unforgettable.
Container Bar has graced several indoor and outdoor events over the years, providing a practical bar solution for events expecting high footfall, as guests can come, get a drink quickly and leave the area crowd-free. But there are circumstances this would not be the best option.
A themed container bar gives the unique opportunity to maximise space and resources while leaving a lasting impression. From our entry-level Container Bar to our multi-deck Impact Premium Container Bar with upper-deck terrace, our range of shipping container conversion bars are fully equipped and completely customisable for maximum styling and branding opportunity.
Here are a few of our most creative container bar solutions we have created for clients over the years for bar styling inspiration:
Wines of Germany
When Wines of Germany brought their travelling Berlin Bar to Latitude Festival in 2019, they did so in style. Designed by Partridge Events using two customised Gallery event shipping containers, the container bar was inspired by Berlin Wall graffiti art and featured a wine tasting area, pay counter, gazebo and outdoor seating area.
With container bars, location is key.
Located near the picturesque Latitude lake, the Wines of Germany shipping container Berlin Bar offered festival-goers a chance to snap Instagram-worthy images. The brand also encouraged the sharing of these appealing images on social media using hashtags #GermanWinesOnTour and #BerlinBar, increasing their online reach and brand awareness.
Hennessy
When Hennessy partnered with UK festival Demon Dayz, they hosted a pop-up cocktail container bar offering festival-goers a chance to experience its Cognac through innovative mixology. Labelled 'Blend the Unexpected', the cocktail bar utilised a Statement event container cluster and boasted a daring cocktail menu, including a vinegar-based and a colour-changing cocktail.
With container bars, styling is paramount.
The Hennessy container bar was styled bold and daring, reflecting the brand and the Cognac cocktail menu on offer. The shipping container bar featured a large LED screen, two bar areas, a photo-booth, upper deck terrace and outdoor seating area. The two bar areas were styled to look like a contemporary cocktail bar, lined with Hennessy bottles, with mixologists suited and booted to fit the part.
Huawei
To mark the release of the latest Nova 5T handset, Huawei partnered with Battersea Park for their annual Bonfire Night fireworks display. As part of their celebrations, Huawei hosted a VIP area for invited guests using two Impact Premium event shipping containers. Fully customised and branded, the event shipping containers hosted a bar, seating area and viewing deck.
With container bars, positioning is crucial.
The Huawei activation with container bar was positioned as VIP invitation-only. VIP invites could enjoy incredible views of the fireworks display while enjoying drinks from the shipping container bar. The exclusivity of the container bar created a memorable and personal experience for invited VIP guests.
For more information on shipping container conversion bars for dry hire at events and styling container bars, contact The Events Structure on 0161 821 1010 or download our container bar brochure here.