· Lunar Events Group
Manchester knows its bars, so a half-hearted drinks setup gets noticed. The best mobile bar hire in Manchester gives you three things: a bar that looks like part of the event, a team that keeps the queue moving, and a quote with no surprises.
That's exactly what we built Lunar Bar to do. We're Lunar Events Group, and every booking is served from one restored Rice horsebox, rebuilt by hand in reclaimed timber and blackened steel, with its own running water and warm amber lighting.
This guide covers how mobile bar hire in Manchester works with us, what it costs, and the questions worth asking any bar supplier before you book.
Why a horsebox bar suits Manchester venues
Manchester's converted mills and Northern Quarter warehouses often arrive as empty shells, and that's where a self-sufficient bar earns its place. Our horsebox carries its own running water and lighting, so you don't have to build a bar into a room that was never designed for one.
It needs roughly 5m x 3m of reasonably level ground, plus access to tow it into position. We're set up and pouring within around 90 minutes of arriving, and we leave the space clear at the end of the night.
Outdoors, it's just as at home on a marquee lawn out towards Wilmslow, in a farm courtyard or on a festival field. Unlike a cocktail van, it positions easily on grass. Unlike a folding counter, it doesn't rely on the venue's water or lighting, and it looks like a centrepiece rather than catering kit.
Mobile bar hire for every kind of Manchester event
Every booking gets the same horsebox and the same care; what changes is how we run the bar. We regularly quote across Manchester city centre, the Northern Quarter, Salford, Stockport, Altrincham, Bolton and Wilmslow.
- Weddings. Industrial-style city weddings in mills and warehouses, or country-house and marquee weddings towards the Cheshire border. We plan arrival drinks, the toast and the evening bar around your running order, with signature cocktails named after you both. See wedding bar hire.
- Corporate events and brand launches. Launches, conferences and staff parties, with branded menus, hosted tabs and clean invoicing. See corporate bar hire.
- Private parties. Birthdays, engagements, anniversaries and garden parties, where a proper bar turns a gathering into an occasion. See party bar hire.
- Cocktail and gin bars. Signature serves with fresh citrus and house syrups, or a gin bar with a proper tonic and garnish list. See cocktail and gin bar hire.
- Pop-ups and festivals. Markets, launches and private land with no venue at all. See pop up bar hire.
- Dry hire. Hire the horsebox and supply your own drinks, ideal for venues with their own licence. See dry bar hire.
What's included when you book Lunar Bar
A staffed booking is the full service: we arrive, build, pour and leave the site clear. Good bartending is as much about reading the room as making drinks, so our team keeps the queue moving and still has time for your guests.
- Two uniformed bartenders as standard, scaled up for larger guest numbers
- A bespoke cocktail and drinks menu, built around your event and the season
- Delivery, setup, styling, breakdown and collection
- Public liability insurance
- Licensing handled for staffed hire
- Ice and garnish, with plastics as standard and glassware on request
More than a bar
Lunar started with one horsebox and grew into five in-house services, so you can book the bar and the atmosphere from one team:
- Lunar Sound: PA hire, DJ playlist systems and live acoustic sets
- Lunar Rig: dancefloor lighting, uplighting and festoon
- Lunar Lights: LOVE letters, monogram initials and light-up birthday numbers
- Lunar Studio: invitations, RSVP and flyer design, plus photography and videography
Fewer suppliers means fewer phone calls in the run-up and one familiar team on the day.
How much does mobile bar hire cost in Manchester?
Staffed horsebox bar hire starts at £300 for up to 4 hours, plus a minimum spend on drinks set by your guest numbers.
| Service length | Hire fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 4 hours | £300 |
| Up to 8 hours | £500 |
| Up to 12 hours | £750 |
| Guests | Minimum spend on drinks |
|---|---|
| Under 50 | Custom quote |
| 50–79 | £900 |
| 80–119 | £1,500 |
| 120–149 | £2,000 |
| 150+ | Custom quote |
Every drink bought at the bar counts towards the minimum spend, whoever pays for it; the hire fee sits on top. For 80+ guests on a booking of 8 to 12 hours, meeting the minimum spend takes 30% off the £750 fee, and beating it by 30% waives the fee entirely.
Manchester is more than 30 miles from our Coventry base, so travel appears on your quote as a clear, agreed figure. We plan arrival around city-centre traffic and loading restrictions, so setup is never rushed. For a fuller breakdown, read our mobile bar hire price guide.
Drinks packages
| Package | Per person | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Crescent Moon | £17 | A welcome drink, half a bottle of wine on the table, a toast drink, still water |
| Half Moon | £22 | Unlimited welcome drinks for one hour, half a bottle of wine on the table, a toast drink, still water |
| Full Moon | £45 | Unlimited welcome drinks for two hours including a signature cocktail, unlimited table wine, a Champagne toast option, a bottomless cocktail hour after the wedding breakfast |
None of them quite right? Send your guest numbers, drinks and budget and we'll build a custom package.
Cash, token, hosted, open or dry hire: how the bar runs
The biggest decision is who pays for the drinks, and we offer every option:
- Cash bar. Guests pay by cash or card, and their spend counts towards the minimum.
- Token bar. You pre-buy tokens, from £4 for standard drinks or £7 for cocktails, Champagne and doubles. When they run out, guests pay. It works well as a wedding favour or a team treat.
- Hosted bar. You put an agreed amount behind the bar. Once it's spent, the bar switches automatically to cash or card, so there's no awkward pause.
- Open bar. Guests drink at no charge on a running tab, paid in advance with any extras invoiced after the event.
- A bit of both. Cover the first round with tokens, a tab or reception drinks, then the bar switches to guests paying.
- Dry hire. You supply the drinks and we deliver, set up, style and collect the horsebox. Add our bartenders, glassware and ice if you'd like us to run service.
Questions to ask any Manchester mobile bar company
Get these answered in writing before you book anyone. Here are ours.
| Question | Our answer |
|---|---|
| How many bartenders? | Two uniformed bartenders as standard, scaled to your guest numbers |
| Who sorts the alcohol licence? | We do, for staffed hire; for dry hire it sits with you or the venue, and we'll explain what to ask for |
| Is insurance included? | Yes, public liability insurance |
| What happens when the hosted tab runs out? | The bar switches automatically to cash or card |
| What's the travel charge? | A clear, agreed figure on your quote, never a surprise later |
| How long is setup? | Pouring within around 90 minutes of arrival |
| Will it fit our venue? | It needs roughly 5m x 3m of level ground and towing access; we liaise with the venue directly |
| How fast will we get a quote? | Within 24 hours |
Mobile bar hire Manchester: FAQs
How far ahead should I book a mobile bar in Manchester?
Peak summer Saturdays usually go 9 to 12 months out. Midweek and off-season dates are often free at much shorter notice, so it's always worth asking.
Can the horsebox bar go inside a Manchester venue?
Yes, in barns, warehouses and large function rooms with vehicle access. It needs roughly 5m x 3m of space and room to tow it into position.
Is a horsebox bar different from a trailer bar or cocktail van?
Yes. Ours is a converted horse trailer with a curved roofline and ramp, so it reads as a feature in photos. It also positions more easily on grass than a van.
Do you only serve cocktails?
No. Alongside cocktails, we serve gin, Prosecco and Champagne, beer, cider, wine and soft drinks, including a sparkling elderflower alternative in every package.
Can you provide music and lighting as well as the bar?
Yes. Lunar Sound, Lunar Rig and Lunar Lights cover PA and live music, dancefloor and festoon lighting, and light-up letters, all from the same team.
Book the horsebox for your Manchester event
Send us your date, venue, guest count and roughly how you'd like the bar to run. We'll reply within 24 hours with availability and a transparent quote, travel included, with no hidden extras.
Prefer email? Write to bookings@lunareventsgroup.co.uk. Want to see the horsebox in action first? Follow @lunareventsgroup on Instagram. Planning nearby? We also cover Cheshire and Liverpool.