The short answer
Typical£35per guest, ex VAT
A fully staffed Mr Flavour wedding bar with five hours of service and three cocktails per guest. For 100 guests, that is around £3,500 ex VAT.
- Bars from
- £1,000 ex VATThe starting point for a fully staffed bar
- Mixologists
- 1 per 50 guestsFull cocktail menu. Up to 1 per 75 for a simpler serve
- How we charge
- Per event, not per hourSet up and breakdown included
- Awards
- Winner, The Nations Wedding Awards 2026Regional Winner, The Wedding Industry Awards 2023, North West
The drinks at a wedding work harder than at any other event. They greet guests, carry the toast and keep the evening moving.
This guide sets out wedding bar hire prices for 2026: typical budgets by guest count, how the drinks are paid for, and what to settle with your venue. For event pricing in general, see our mobile bar hire cost guide.
Budgets
Wedding bar hire prices by guest count
Our typical wedding package is £35 per guest ex VAT: a fully staffed bar, five hours of service and three cocktails per guest.
| Guests | Cocktails served3 per guest | Mixologists1 per 50, rounded up | Typical budget£35 per guest, ex VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 180 | 2 | £2,100 |
| 80 | 240 | 2 | £2,800 |
| 100 | 300 | 2 | £3,500 |
| 120 | 360 | 3 | £4,200 |
| 150 | 450 | 3 | £5,250 |
| 200 | 600 | 4 | £7,000 |
Champagne towers, printed serves, bespoke bar builds and travel beyond Greater Manchester are quoted on top. VAT is added at the standard rate.
The day
The wedding day, drink by drink
A wedding asks four different things of the bar. Plan the five hours around them.
01Arrival
The drinks reception
The busiest twenty minutes of the day. A welcome serve ready as guests arrive, so the first queue never forms.
02The toast
The toast
Champagne or a signature sparkling serve, poured to time. A champagne tower turns it into a moment.
03The meal
The wedding breakfast
Wine with the meal often sits with the venue or caterer, so agree early who pours what.
04The evening
The evening bar
Where the cocktail menu does its work, and where a late espresso martini earns its place.
Drinks
Open bar, tab or cash bar
The first decision that shapes a wedding bar budget.
Open bar
You cover every drink. For 100 guests at £35 per guest, that is around £3,500 ex VAT for five hours and three cocktails each.
SuitsCouples who want no wallets at the bar
Tab
You fund the drinks reception and toast, or a set amount, then the bar moves to guest paid.
SuitsLong days with a late evening crowd
Cash bar
Guests buy their own drinks. The lowest outlay for you, and it needs a licence to sell at the venue.
SuitsLarge evening receptions
Dry hire
You supply the alcohol; we supply the bar, glassware and team. Often the route when a venue only permits its own licence.
SuitsA cellar of your own, or a licensed venue
Worth knowing. Ice, mixers, garnish and wastage still need costing on dry hire, so it is not automatically the cheaper option.
Included
What every wedding package includes
The £35 is a finished bar, not a starting kit.
- A designed and dressed bar, delivered, built and cleared
- Professional mixologists, one per 50 guests for a full cocktail menu
- A cocktail and mocktail menu designed around the two of you
- Glassware, ice and garnish
- A named event manager, from first call to the last song
- £10 million public liability insurance and personal licence holders
- Local delivery within Greater Manchester
Extras
Where to spend more
Put extra spend into one or two moments guests will photograph. Each is quoted on top of the package.
Printed serves
Your initials, date or rings printed onto every drink.
Signature cocktails
Two or three serves named for the couple keep service quick and the menu personal.
Cocktail barsPlanning
Settle these with your venue
Most wedding bar problems are venue problems, and all of them are cheaper found early.
Licence
A licensed venue may insist on its own bar or licence, in which case dry hire is the route. A marquee or private estate needs a Temporary Event Notice: £21, with the council at least 10 working days ahead, for up to 499 people at a time. We can apply for you.
Corkage and fees
Some venues charge corkage or a fee for outside bar suppliers. Ask before you compare quotes.
Access and timings
Set up has to finish before guests arrive. Confirm loading, lifts and the turnaround between ceremony and reception.
Power
A 13 amp socket covers most builds. Marquees usually need a generator, which we can arrange.
Staffing
Mixologist numbers set against guest numbers and your running order.
Glass and clearing
Who clears glass through the evening, and what leaves site after the last song.
FAQ
Questions, answered
How much does wedding bar hire cost in 2026?
Our typical wedding package is £35 per guest ex VAT, covering a fully staffed bar, five hours of service and three cocktails per guest. Bars start from £1,000 ex VAT, and extras such as champagne towers are quoted on top.
How much is an open bar at a wedding?
For 100 guests, an open bar with five hours of service and three cocktails each comes to around £3,500 ex VAT at our typical rate of £35 per guest. A tab that covers only the drinks reception and toast costs less.
How many bartenders do we need for 150 guests?
Three mixologists for a full cocktail menu, at one per 50 guests. For a simpler serve we work to up to one per 75, so two. A single bar comfortably serves up to 200 guests.
Can we supply our own alcohol?
Yes. Dry hire gives you the bar, glassware and team while you supply the drinks. Ice, mixers, garnish and wastage still need costing, so it is not automatically the cheaper option.
Do we need a licence for a marquee wedding?
Usually, yes. An unlicensed site needs a Temporary Event Notice: £21, with the council at least 10 working days before the wedding, for up to 499 people at a time. We can apply on your behalf.
Are glassware and ice included?
Yes. Glassware, ice and garnish come with every package, along with a named event manager and £10 million public liability insurance.
How far ahead should we book our wedding bar?
We recommend four to eight weeks, and earlier for summer Saturdays and December. For peak dates, book as soon as your venue is confirmed.
Are your prices inclusive of VAT?
No. All Mr Flavour prices are quoted ex VAT, with VAT added at the standard rate.
Our approach
The Mr Flavour approach to wedding bars
One quote, itemised by element, with travel and logistics built in. Send your date, venue and guest count, and we will design a bar around the day.