Running a mobile bar requires the right kit. From shakers and strainers to glassware and garnish tools, here is every piece of equipment a professional mobile bar carries — and everything that is included when you book The Sesh Bars for your event in London.
Two-piece tin-and-glass shaker. Industry standard for speed and seal. Used for cocktails that need hard shaking — margaritas, daiquiris, sours.
Three-piece shaker with built-in strainer. Easier to use for simple serves. Good for events where guests want to try shaking their own drinks.
Heavy-bottomed glass for stirred cocktails — negronis, martinis, Manhattans. Stirring (not shaking) keeps the drink clear and silky.
Long twisted-handle spoon for stirring, layering, and measuring (one barspoon equals roughly 5ml). Essential for any stirred serve.
Spring-coiled strainer that fits over a shaker tin. Catches ice and large pulp while pouring. The workhorse strainer behind every bar.
Small mesh sieve used for double-straining. Catches ice chips and herb fragments for a clean pour into a coupe or martini glass.
Wooden or plastic pestle for crushing fruit, herbs, and sugar. Used for mojitos, old fashioneds, and anything requiring fresh-pressed ingredients.
Double-ended measuring cup. UK standard single measure is 25ml, double is 50ml. Accuracy matters — over-pouring kills margins and consistency.
Metal or plastic spouts fitted to bottle necks for controlled, consistent pours. Speed up service and reduce spillage at busy events.
For batching cocktails ahead of service. Pre-batching popular serves (like espresso martinis) means faster service during peak hours.
Small, sharp paring knife for slicing citrus, cutting fruit wedges, and preparing garnishes. A dull knife is the most dangerous tool behind the bar.
Compact, food-safe cutting surface. Colour-coded boards prevent cross-contamination — white for citrus, green for herbs.
Creates thin citrus peel twists for martinis and spritzes. A small tool that makes a visible difference to presentation.
Y-peeler for wide citrus ribbons and garnish strips. Used for old fashioneds, negronis, and any drink finished with an expressed peel.
Metal or bamboo picks for skewering olives, cherries, and garnish. Functional and decorative — they keep garnishes out of the drink while adding a professional finish.
Insulated container that keeps ice accessible behind the bar. We use commercial catering-grade buckets that maintain ice for 8+ hours.
Dedicated scoop for hygienic ice handling. Never use hands or glassware to scoop ice — a chipped glass in the ice well shuts a bar down.
For placing ice into individual glasses and handling garnishes. Tongs give precise control and meet food hygiene standards.
Wall-mounted or handheld opener for crown-cap bottles — beers, ciders, tonics. Every bartender carries one.
Waiter's friend corkscrew for opening wine bottles. Double-hinged models are faster and less likely to break the cork.
Flat bar blade for rapid bottle opening. Experienced bartenders can open 30+ bottles per minute with a speed opener — essential at high-volume events.
The right glass changes how a drink looks, smells, and tastes. Here is every glass type we carry at events and what each one is used for.
| Glass | Capacity | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Coupe | 180-240ml | Espresso martinis, margaritas, champagne cocktails |
| Highball | 300-350ml | Gin & tonic, mojitos, Tom Collins, rum & Coke |
| Rocks / Old Fashioned | 200-300ml | Old fashioneds, negronis, whisky on the rocks |
| Flute | 180-200ml | Prosecco, champagne, Bellinis, Kir Royale |
| Wine Glass | 350-450ml | Red wine, white wine, Aperol spritz, sangria |
| Shot Glass | 25-50ml | Shots, shooters, tequila, Jagermeister |
| Martini | 200-250ml | Classic martini, cosmopolitan, lemon drop |
Every piece of equipment listed above is included when you book The Sesh Bars. No hidden equipment hire fees, no surprise add-ons. Here is exactly what turns up at your venue:
See our full service breakdown, explore packages and pricing, or read the dry hire guide if you are supplying your own drinks.
If you are considering buying all this kit yourself, here is what the numbers look like. A basic home bar setup — shaker, jigger, strainer, spoon, muddler, a few glasses — runs between £500 and £800 for anything decent. Cheap Amazon sets look the part but fall apart after a few uses.
| Factor | DIY Setup | The Sesh Bars |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment cost | £500-800 upfront | Included in hire |
| Glassware (50 guests) | £150-300 | Included |
| Ice | Buy + transport yourself | Included |
| Garnishes | Source + prep yourself | Included |
| Bar unit | DIY or hire separately | Included |
| Staff | You + willing friends | Trained bartenders |
| Cleanup | Your problem | We pack down everything |
| Insurance | Not covered | Fully insured |
When you factor in the trained bartenders, the portable bar unit, insurance, and the fact that you actually get to enjoy your own event — hiring makes more financial sense than buying equipment you will use once. Our mobile bar hire London service includes every piece of equipment on this page at no extra cost. Read the full mobile bar hire cost breakdown or see how a mobile bar compares to a venue bar.
A professional mobile bar carries over 20 essential tools across four categories: shaking and mixing (Boston shaker, cobbler shaker, mixing glass, bar spoon, strainers, muddler), measuring (jigger, pour spouts), cutting and garnishing (bar knife, chopping board, channel knife, peeler, picks), and service (ice bucket, scoop, tongs, openers, wine key). Add seven types of glassware — coupe, highball, rocks, flute, wine, shot, and martini — and you have the complete equipment list for any event. The Sesh Bars includes all of this in every London booking: portable bar unit, LED lighting, full tool kit, glassware, ice, garnishes, trained bartenders, setup, and pack-down, with no hidden equipment hire fees.
Hire Our Bar
Based in Reading, serving all 32 London boroughs and Berkshire. Reading events — no travel fee. View all areas.
Share your event details and receive a mobile bar hire quote within 24 hours. No obligation.