Everything that goes into a container bar — sizes, the fold-up servery, licensing and planning, and whether hiring or buying makes more sense.
A shipping container bar is a steel container converted into a serving bar — usually with a fold-up canopy side that lifts to form a covered servery, a fitted counter, back-bar shelving, under-counter fridge space, lighting and power. They come in 10ft, 20ft and 40ft, are available to buy or hire, and suit mobile event bars, weddings, festivals, pub gardens and venues. The build is quoted individually; the alcohol licence is the operator's responsibility.
It's a standard steel shipping container converted into a working bar. The signature feature is a fold-up canopy: one long side lifts on gas struts to form a covered awning over a serving counter that runs the length of the unit. When it's closed it locks down solid — secure for transport and storage, set up in minutes on site.
Inside goes the back-bar: counter, shelving, space for under-counter bottle fridges, lighting and power. Because it's built from a shipping container, it's tough, weatherproof and moves on a lorry — which is why it works so well for outdoor events. See the container bar conversion page for the full spec and photos of a finished unit.
It comes down to how much serving space and back-bar storage you need:
Not sure which fits your space? The container sizes guide covers the dimensions, or call Phil and he'll talk it through.
Every bar is built to brief, but a typical fit-out covers the fold-up canopy servery, a timber or stainless counter and back-bar shelving, space built in for under-counter glass-front bottle fridges, single or three-phase power, interior and servery lighting, hygienic wall panelling, and plumbing for a bar sink. The exterior can be painted or fully wrapped in your colours and branding.
Phil builds the container and the bar; you supply the equipment and sort the licence. The full breakdown is on the container bar page.
The container build and the licence are two separate things. To serve alcohol you need the right licence from your local council: a premises licence for a permanent setup, or a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) for a one-off event. That's the operator's responsibility, not part of the container.
Apply in good time — local authorities need notice, and you want it in hand before your first trading day. Your council's licensing team will tell you exactly what's required for your event and location.
It depends on how long the bar stays and where it goes. A bar placed temporarily for an event or kept on private land is often fine, but a permanent fixed installation can need consent from your local planning authority. The rules mirror any container siting — our planning permission guide covers temporary use versus permanent siting in more detail. Check with your council before committing to a fixed location.
If you run the odd event — a wedding, a festival weekend, a one-off party — container bar hire is usually the sensible call: you get the unit for the dates you need it, delivered and collected by HIAB, with nothing to store afterwards.
If you trade regularly, run a venue, or want the bar as a permanent fixture, buying works out cheaper over time and the unit is yours to brand and modify. Phil will quote both and tell you honestly which makes more sense for your situation — see container hire for how hire works.
There's no fixed price, because no two bars are the same. The size, the level of fit-out, whether you need three-phase power, fridges, a branded wrap — all of it moves the figure. A simple servery shell is a very different job to a fully kitted 40ft unit.
Phil prices each bar individually and quotes it in writing before any work starts, so there are no surprises. Tell him the size, the spec and whether you're hiring or buying, and he'll come back with a figure.
"A container bar earns its keep because it looks the part and it's built to be moved and locked up. Tell me where it's going, how many you're serving and whether it's a one-off or a regular thing — I'll spec it right and quote it straight. And get your licence sorted early, that's the bit people leave too late."
Phil Cambridge — 020 8226 0007
