Something you want to know and can’t find the answer? Here are some of our most commonly asked questions....

CAN I HIRE JUST THE BARMAN?

Yes! That is what we specialise in. All our barmen are available to hire on an hourly basis.

WHERE CAN I SEE A COPY OF YOUR COCKTAIL MENU?

To see a copy of our current cocktail menu please click here. We will also send you a copy of this menu when you make an enquiry.

HOW MANY COCKTAILS SHOULD I CHOOSE?

You can choose an many as you would like, however we recommend you choose a maximum of six or seven cocktails. This way you do not have to buy a hugely extensive list of ingredients and things are more manageable for the barman on the night of the event.

THERE ARE ONLY GOING TO BE A FEW OF US AT THE EVENT. IS THIS A PROBLEM?

Not at all. We do not have a minimum party size (or a maximum!)

I DON’T WANT COCKTAILS! CAN YOU STILL HELP?

Of course! We have a team of barmen who will serve beers, wines, spirit mixers, soft drinks etc. as well as waiters and waitresses. Prices for these staff members start from £25ph.

CAN YOU PROVIDE THE FULL BAR PACKAGE?

Yes! This is something that we provide on a regular basis. The beauty of our business model is that we can provide as much or as little of the service as you need/want.

CAN I ASK MY BARMAN TO STAY FOR EXTRA HOURS ON THE NIGHT?

If you would like the barman to stay for extra time, just agree this with them on the night. We will invoice you for this time in the days after the event. The hourly rate will be the same as the other hours that you have paid for.

HOW FAR OUTSIDE LONDON DO YOU TRAVEL?

We will travel up to around ninety minutes outside the M25. As our barmen are based all over London and many have a car, we can normally get someone to your event. If you are not sure if we will come to you, please give us a call on 020 8241 4265 and we can let you know!

WHAT IS FLAIR?

Flair is the practice of barmen entertaining and impressing by the ‘juggling’ of bar tools and bottles in tricky, dazzling ways whilst making cocktails, enhancing the guest experience and incredible to watch. Hire The Barman has a team of experienced, world class flair barmen available to hire who will bring their tricks and skills to your event. We can also deliver a ‘flair show’ as a showpiece at your event if needed. To see videos of our flair barmen in action please click here.

HOW MUCH SPACE WILL THE ‘FLAIR’ BARMAN NEED?

Flair barmen need as much space as possible. Ideally a space at least 2m x 2m is best - ceiling height is crucial too (this needs to be ideally at least 2m). The flooring is also something to consider - the softer the better! Although our barmen don’t intend to drop anything they are only human! For hard floor surfaces we can provide rubber floor mats so the flair barman can still show off his skills!

HOW MUCH WILL THE COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS COST ME?

Something we get asked all the time! There is no definite answer to this question however we suggest that a figure of around £1.50 per cocktail (inclusive of the ingredients and ice) is a fairly accurate benchmark. The cost of the cocktails can be affected by lots of things including what cocktails you choose (eg champagne will make it more expensive), where you shop, what brands you buy, any special deals the retailer is offering, what ingredients you already have, etc. Don’t forget that you will also have to factor  in the cost of the glassware you need. As a rule the fewer cocktails you choose, the less the cost per cocktail will be. Cocktail ingredients includes alcohol, juices and mixers, fruit, purees and sundry items.

PLEASE CAN I SEE A SAMPLE SHOPPING LIST?

You can see a sample HTB Shopping List by clicking h ere.

You can see a sample HTB Glassware Guide by clicking here .

WHAT GLASSWARE DO I NEED TO GET?

The glasses you need will depend on what cocktails you choose. We will send you a Glassware Guide outlining what glasses you will require, what ideal size they should be and how many we recommend you get.

DO YOU HAVE GLASSES WE CAN HIRE? IF NOT, WHERE CAN I GET THEM FROM?

Hire The Barman does not have any glassware available to rent. Once booked with us, we will send you a Glassware Guide outlining what glassware we recommend that you need based on the cocktails you have chosen. We will provide you with a number of options for sourcing it including free glass rental companies, catering hire companies we trust as well as where you can get plastic glasses.

DO I NEED TO GET ANY SPECIALIST COCKTAIL MAKING KIT?

No, our barmen will bring all of this with them. This is free of charge - each barman will bring with them the equipment they need as part of the service. They will also supply something to store ice and fruit in while serving.

HOW MUCH ICE WILL I NEED AND WHY SO MUCH?

We will advise you on how much ice you will need once we know the specific details of your event. Lots of people are surprised by how much we require - cocktails need lots of ice! It is crucial to cater for ice to chill glasses, put in shakers, add to drinks as well as taking into account the ice that melts!! We suggest buying your ice from the supermarket or ordering it to be delivered by a specialist ice company.

DO YOU CATER FOR THOSE NOT DRINKING ALCOHOL?

Our cocktail menus contain non-alcoholic cocktails for you to choose from for those not drinking. Our barmen will also be happy to serve other soft drinks alongside making cocktails. We also have a cocktail menu designed for non drinkers and children. To see this menu please click here .

DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE?

All our barmen are insured. Hire The Barman has full employers and public liability insurance. To see a copy of our insurance certificate please click here .