Running a bar is not as easy as it looks. Think of the number of varieties of glasses, tools, accessories that you need on the other side of the bar – and that should give you a good idea of how challenging it would be to run a bar.
Setting up a bar is not merely about glasses and table mats. The amount of bar equipment you would need to get is huge and is far too much to go into detail here. However, it also depends on the kind of bar you want to set up. Firstly, section off the area where you intend to place the bar and then list down the items you need to set it up.
The Bar
The bar itself should not be cluttered. It would be a good idea to invest in some good beer mats – otherwise you and your staff will be endlessly wiping up spills, etc. Buy a few bowls for snacks. Besides the mats and the snacks, keep the bar clear of any other clutter. A good place for storing glasses would be under the bar. Ensure that the bar trays you get are big enough so that they catch whatever spills could occur from the taps and pumps.
Back Bar
You will need another area at the back which is essential – because that it really where all the action happens. Here you will need all the accessories needed for making and mixing drinks. This includes stirrers, ice buckets, thimble measures, spirit measures, corkscrews and the list goes on. If cocktails are on the menu, then you would also need to have a fabulous selection of garnish for the glasses too.
Cellar Equipment & Back room
The backroom would need to be equipped well enough to hold beer barrels and other alcohol reserves that any good bar will have. You also need to invest in good equipment to wash glasses quickly enough otherwise you run the risk of running out of clean glasses.