For 50 guests, you need 17 bottles of Prosecco for a two-hour reception (two glasses per person), 25 bottles for three hours, or 34 bottles for four hours. Each standard 750ml bottle serves six 125ml glasses. This calculation assumes Prosecco is the primary drink without alternative alcoholic beverages.
Planning drinks quantities prevents running short during your event whilst avoiding excessive waste and unnecessary costs. Many hosts choose mobile bar hire London services, like The Sesh Bars, to handle quantities, chilling, and service professionally.
One-hour drinks reception: 9 bottles (one glass per person)
Two-hour celebration: 17 bottles (two glasses per person)
Three-hour party: 25 bottles (three glasses per person)
Four-hour event: 34 bottles (four glasses per person)
Full evening reception (five hours): 42 bottles (five glasses per person)
The baseline calculation uses one glass per guest per hour. A standard 750ml Prosecco bottle yields six 125ml servings or eight 90ml flute pours.
A standard 750ml Prosecco bottle serves six large glasses of 125ml or eight flutes of 90ml.
The 125ml pour suits drinks receptions where guests sip throughout. The 90ml pour works for champagne toasts and formal celebrations.
Magnum (1.5L): 12–16 glasses
Jeroboam (3L): 24–32 glasses
Methuselah (6L): 48–64 glasses
For 50 guests at a two-hour event, 9 magnums replace 17 standard bottles. Magnums create impressive centrepieces and reduce the number of bottles requiring storage and chilling.
Event duration, guest demographics, alternative drink options, time of day, and weather conditions change your Prosecco requirements.
Weddings: Prosecco consumption peaks during the drinks reception and first hour. Plan for 2–3 glasses per person during reception, then 1 glass per hour during the meal and evening party. Total for 50 guests: 20–25 bottles for a full wedding day.
Corporate events: Professional gatherings see moderate consumption. Plan for 1–2 glasses per person over 2–3 hours. Total for 50 guests: 10–17 bottles.
Birthday parties: Expect 2–4 glasses per person over 3–4 hours. Total for 50 guests: 17–34 bottles.
Afternoon tea or brunch: Daytime events involve lighter drinking. Plan for 1–2 glasses per person. Total for 50 guests: 9–17 bottles.
Mixed age groups: If 20% of guests are non-drinkers, reduce your total by 20%.
Predominantly wine drinkers: Increase estimates by 10–15%.
Business networking events: Moderate drinking is standard; use lower estimates.
Close friends and family celebrations: Expect higher consumption.
Prosecco only: Use full calculations above.
Prosecco plus wine: Reduce Prosecco by 30–40%.
Full bar including cocktails: Reduce Prosecco by 40–50%.
Signature cocktail available: Reduce Prosecco by 30–40%.
With a full bar offering cocktails and mixed drinks, you typically need 12–15 bottles of Prosecco for 50 guests over four hours, as many guests choose alternatives to sparkling wine.
Morning events (pre-noon): Lower consumption; use minimum estimates.
Lunchtime (12pm–3pm): Moderate consumption.
Evening events (6pm onwards): Higher consumption; use maximum estimates.
Late night (after 10pm): Consumption decreases as guests switch to other drinks.
Summer weddings and garden parties: Prosecco is particularly popular; increase estimates by 10–15%.
Winter celebrations: Guests prefer red wine or warm cocktails; reduce Prosecco by 10–15%.
Hot weather: Increase overall liquid consumption estimates.
Indoor climate-controlled venues: Standard estimates apply.
For 50 guests requiring 20–25 bottles, adequate chilling capacity is essential.
Refrigerator space: A standard fridge holds 8–10 bottles.
Ice buckets: Each bucket holds 1–2 bottles; you need 10–12 buckets for 20 bottles.
Cool boxes with ice: A large cool box holds 6–8 bottles.
Chilling time: Prosecco needs 3–4 hours in the fridge or 20–30 minutes in an ice bucket.
Chill bottles in batches. Start with enough for the first hour, then rotate fresh bottles into ice buckets as needed.
Managing this volume of chilling logistics for 50 guests requires significant equipment and coordination. Mobile bar hire London services provide professional chilling equipment and rotation management, ensuring perfectly chilled Prosecco throughout your event.
Prosecco prices range from £7 to £30+ per bottle.
Budget-friendly (£7–£10 per bottle): 25 bottles = £175–£250. Suitable for casual gatherings.
Mid-range (£12–£18 per bottle): 25 bottles = £300–£450. Excellent quality for most celebrations.
Premium (£20–£30 per bottle): 25 bottles = £500–£750. Perfect for weddings and special occasions.
Buy in bulk for discounts.
Consider supermarket own-brands (many win awards).
Purchase magnums instead of standard bottles.
Look for multi-buy offers.
Flutes (traditional): Capacity 150ml (serves 90–100ml). Best for toasts and formal events. Preserves bubbles longer with elegant presentation.
Tulip glasses (modern): Capacity 200ml (serves 125ml). Best for extended drinking and receptions. Allows aromas to develop and comfortable to hold.
White wine glasses (contemporary): Capacity 250ml+ (serves 150ml). Best for food pairing and tastings. Showcases complexity with a more casual feel.
For 50 guests, you need at least 60 glasses (some guests need fresh glasses, and breakages happen).
Hold the glass at a 45-degree angle.
Pour slowly to preserve bubbles and prevent overflow.
Straighten the glass gradually as it fills.
Fill to two-thirds or three-quarters full.
Wipe the bottle to catch drips.
Standard pour sizes:
Prosecco serves best at 6–8°C (43–46°F).
Too cold mutes flavours. Too warm causes bubbles to dissipate quickly and wine tastes flat.
Service timing for 50 guests:
Open 3–4 bottles at a time.
Refresh ice buckets every 30 minutes.
Have helpers to ensure efficient service.
Pre-pour for toasts (fill just before serving to maintain bubbles).
Planning Prosecco for 50 guests involves multiple failure points: under-ordering leaves guests disappointed, inadequate chilling ruins the experience, poor timing wastes opened bottles, and wrong glassware affects presentation.
Running out of Prosecco is the most common error. Guests remember an empty bar more than leftover bottles. Always purchase 10–15% more than your calculations suggest.
For 50 guests requiring 20 bottles, buy 23 bottles. Most retailers accept returns of unopened bottles.
Twenty-five bottles require significant space. Don't assume your standard fridge will suffice. Invest in ice buckets, cool boxes, or hire additional chilling equipment.
Many hosts choose mobile bar hire London to eliminate these common mistakes entirely, ensuring professional execution without the stress of managing multiple logistics simultaneously.
Always provide quality alcohol-free alternatives. For 50 guests, expect 10–15% to prefer non-alcoholic options:
Prosecco served too early goes flat; served too late disappoints arriving guests.
Create a serving schedule:
Serving Prosecco in inappropriate glasses affects the experience. Standard wine glasses are too large (leading to over-pouring), whilst shot glasses are insulting. Invest in proper flutes or tulip glasses.
| Event Duration | Glasses Per Person | Total Glasses | Bottles Needed | Bottles (with alternatives) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | 1 | 50 | 9 | 6–7 |
| 2 hours | 2 | 100 | 17 | 12–14 |
| 3 hours | 3 | 150 | 25 | 17–20 |
| 4 hours | 4 | 200 | 34 | 23–27 |
| 5 hours | 5 | 250 | 42 | 30–35 |
Calculating quantities, chilling 20+ bottles, managing service logistics, and ensuring supplies never run short requires significant planning. Professional mobile bar hire London services eliminate these challenges completely.
What professional bar services provide:
Accurate quantity calculations based on your specific event type and guest profile. No guesswork.
Professional chilling and storage equipment. No refrigerator space panic or warm Prosecco disasters.
Efficient service with trained bartenders. No queues, no guests pouring their own drinks.
Proper glassware provided and managed. No breakage concerns or washing-up afterwards.
Backup stock on hand. Never run short, even if consumption exceeds estimates.
Complete logistics handling from delivery through chilling, serving, and clearing up. You enjoy your event stress-free.
For 50-guest events, professional bar hire transforms Prosecco service from a logistical challenge into a seamless experience.
Cava (Spanish): Similar style to Prosecco. Often better value at £6–£15 per bottle. Calculate same quantities.
English Sparkling Wine: Premium option at £20–£40 per bottle. Excellent for special occasions. Use same serving calculations.
Champagne: Most expensive option at £25–£100+ per bottle. Reserved for toasts (needs fewer bottles). 50 guests for toasts only: 7–8 bottles.
For variety, offer:
This approach caters to different preferences whilst keeping Prosecco as the primary option.
Twenty-five bottles create significant waste. Plan for:
Choose organic or biodynamic Prosecco.
Select producers with sustainable practices.
Consider refillable options if available.
Use real glassware instead of plastic.
For a toast only, you need 7–8 bottles of Prosecco for 50 guests. This assumes smaller 90ml pours in flute glasses, yielding 8 servings per bottle.
Yes, always purchase 10–15% more than your calculations suggest. For 50 guests requiring 20 bottles, buy 23 bottles. Most retailers accept returns of unopened bottles. Having excess is better than running short during your event.
Typically, 15–20% of guests do not drink alcohol. Reduce your Prosecco quantity accordingly and invest those savings in quality non-alcoholic alternatives like alcohol-free sparkling wine, elderflower cordial, or premium soft drinks.
Prosecco cocktails are increasingly popular. Classic options include Bellinis, Aperol Spritz, and French 75s. These cocktails require additional ingredients and typically use less Prosecco per serving (75–100ml instead of 125ml). For 50 guests having Prosecco cocktails, you need 12–15 bottles of Prosecco plus mixers.
Prosecco doesn't improve with age. Buy it 1–2 weeks before your event. This gives you time to chill it properly without risking quality degradation. Store bottles in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
For larger gatherings, opt for mid-range Prosecco (£10–£15 per bottle) which offers excellent quality without breaking the bank. Look for DOC or DOCG designations which guarantee quality. Popular reliable brands include Mionetto, La Marca, and Zonin.
For 50 guests drinking over 2–3 hours, you need 8–10 ice buckets. Each bucket holds 1–2 bottles, and you rotate approximately 20 bottles through chilling during service.
Calculating how many bottles of Prosecco for 50 guests uses the one-glass-per-person-per-hour rule, adjusted for your specific event type and duration, factored for alternative drinks, and always rounded up.
For most occasions with 50 guests, 17–25 bottles serves comfortably. Purchase generously rather than conservatively—your guests appreciate flowing drinks far more than they judge leftover bottles, and modern return policies mean you rarely lose money on unopened bottles.
Whether you're planning an intimate wedding reception, a corporate celebration, or a milestone birthday party, getting your Prosecco quantities right ensures your event runs smoothly and your guests leave with happy memories. For hassle-free execution with professional service, guaranteed supply, and expert logistics, mobile bar hire London handles every detail from calculation through cleanup.
