The three main service types for wedding bar hire in London are open bar, cash bar, and dry hire — each defines who pays for the drinks on the night.
Open bar: All drinks are included in the hire fee. Guests drink freely throughout the evening at no additional charge. This is the most popular option at London weddings. Couples pay a flat fee or per-head rate from £15–£35 per person in advance.
Cash bar: Guests purchase their own drinks at the bar. The Sesh Bars provides staff, equipment and glassware. A minimum booking fee of £500 applies.
Dry hire: The couple supplies all drinks. The Sesh Bars provides the bar unit, glassware, ice, staff and all equipment. Dry hire starts from £800.
Tab or hybrid bar: A spend limit is pre-loaded by the couple. The bar switches to cash once the tab runs out. The open bar option simplifies budgeting — one flat fee covers all drinks and removes uncertainty for the couple and their guests.
The Classic Collection suits receptions of up to 80 guests where the priority is a reliable professional bar service. Each Classic Collection package includes:
The Luxe Experience suits larger weddings and couples who want a cocktail masterclass option and a premium bar aesthetic. Each Luxe Experience package includes:
A Bespoke Wedding Package is available from £1,500 for any guest count — completely customisable around your venue, drinks preferences and budget. Visit our packages and pricing page for full details, or contact us for a custom quote.
Many of London's most sought-after wedding venues don't have permanent bars. Whether the celebration is in a Hackney warehouse, a Westminster townhouse, or a Greenwich park marquee, The Sesh Bars provides a fully functional mobile bar that requires no permanent bar infrastructure. The team handles all logistics from load-in to breakdown.
Chosen a dry hire venue in East London or South London? The Sesh Bars specialises in dry hire spaces — bringing the bar unit, glassware, ice, cocktail equipment, card machine and all staff. The couple supplies the drinks. Dry hire starts from £800 and suits couples who have sourced alcohol from a wholesale supplier.
Wedding bar menus from The Sesh Bars include prosecco welcome drinks, a signature cocktail menu, wine, spirits, beer, soft drinks and mocktails — with a bespoke menu created for each couple.
Welcome drinks are the first drinks guests receive on arrival. Standard options include prosecco, Champagne, elderflower pressé and a personalised arrival cocktail. Welcome drinks are included in all three packages.
Browse our cocktail menu for events for inspiration, featuring:
All bar staff are fully licensed, DBS-checked and trained in formal event service. Staff arrive 90 minutes before guests for setup and handle complete breakdown after the event.
The standard ratio is 1 bartender per 50–75 guests. Every member of The Sesh Bars team is:
Bar setup options include a white wooden bar (formal and hotel venues), rustic or vintage bar (barns and garden marquees), LED bar (warehouse and evening receptions) and custom-branded bar with personalised signage. Setup takes 90 minutes. Equipment includes the bar unit, cocktail tools, ice, garnishes, card machine and all glassware.
Welcome drinks are the first drinks guests receive on arrival. Standard options include prosecco, Champagne, elderflower pressé and a personalised arrival cocktail. The Sesh Bars coordinates welcome drinks timing with your ceremony and photography schedule to ensure smooth transitions between service periods.
Wine service covers house white, red, rosé and sparkling wine for the wedding breakfast. The Sesh Bars team works alongside your catering team to ensure each course is correctly served. Sommelier recommendations are available in the Luxe Experience and Bespoke packages.
As the evening begins, the bar becomes the focus of the celebration. Choose from:
From the historic guildhalls of the City to boutique hotels in Marylebone, our Central London mobile bar service brings sophistication to the capital's most prestigious venues.
The warehouses and galleries of Shoreditch and Hackney demand bars with personality. Our LED bars and creative cocktail menus perfectly complement these East London venues.
From Clapham's elegant period venues to Dulwich's parkland settings, our South London wedding bars enhance the area's unique character.
Servicing affluent areas from Chelsea to Richmond, our West London mobile bars meet the highest standards of presentation and service.
Booking wedding bar hire with The Sesh Bars follows a straightforward process:
Wedding bar hire in London costs between £1,200 and £4,000 for most receptions. The main cost variables are guest count, service type, hours of service and drinks selection.
A general budgeting guide is to allocate 10–15% of the total wedding budget to bar hire. The average bar hire spend for a 100-guest London wedding is £1,500–£2,500.
For couples planning corporate events or private party bar hire, special rates apply for repeat bookings.
For more detailed information, visit our comprehensive FAQ page.
Phone: 020 8087 4269
Email: hello@theseshbars.com
WhatsApp: 0790 175 1337
Instagram: @theseshbars
Address: London, UK
Monday-Friday: 9am-6pm
Saturday: 10am-4pm
Sunday: By appointment
