The Complete Mobile Bar Equipment Checklist

A mobile bar is only as good as what you put behind it. This is the full list of what belongs at a working bar, grouped so you can check it off before a job.

One thing to be clear about first, because it changes how you read the list. Cartssify supplies the bar itself: the counter, the storage shelf, the mobility and the branding surface. Everything else on this list is equipment you bring. Our carts have no ice well, no speed rail and no refrigeration, and the standard cart has no lock. Knowing where that line sits is the difference between a checklist that works and one that leaves you short on the day.

What the cart gives you

  • A worktop of 1800 x 750 mm, made up of a 1000 mm centre and two 400 mm sides that fold out for service
  • Worktop load capacity of 120 kg, or 180 kg on the Heavy-Duty
  • One shelf inside the body, 80 kg capacity, in one of three height positions
  • Working height of 950 mm on the wheels
  • A front panel that takes your branding, either permanently or as a printed insert you can swap
  • Four wheels, two with brakes, and a safety belt and handlebar for moving it packed

Storage inside the standard cart is open shelving. It is fast to reach into from either side and there is nothing to jam, but it is visible and it does not lock. If stock stays on site overnight, either order the carts with lockable hinged or sliding doors, which are available on request, or plan your security around a separate container.

Bartender tools

  • Shakers, Boston or three piece, at least two
  • Hawthorne and fine strainers
  • Jiggers in two sizes
  • Bar spoons
  • Muddler
  • Channel knife and peeler for garnish
  • Cutting board and a sharp paring knife
  • Pour spouts and a spare set
  • Bottle opener, corkscrew, can opener
  • Ice scoop, never a glass
  • Tongs for garnish

Service equipment you bring

  • Ice well or insulated ice bin. Sized to guest count and event length. This sits on or beside the worktop.
  • Speed rail. If you want one, it clamps or sits on the counter. Our carts do not have a built-in rail.
  • Cooler or fridge for beer, wine and mixers. There is no refrigeration in the cart, so this stands separately and needs its own power.
  • Glassware, plus roughly twenty per cent spare for breakage
  • Glass racks or crates for transport
  • Pre-batch containers and dispensers
  • Garnish trays with lids
  • Waste bin and bin liners
  • Bar mats and a pour mat

Water and waste

If your menu needs a working sink, the Sink Edition cart comes with a pre-cut sink box and routing for fresh water in, waste water out and cables. The sink fixture itself is not included, and neither are the tanks. You supply a fresh water container and a grey water container sized to your service length, and you plan where the grey water goes at the end of the night. Venues vary enormously on this, so ask before you arrive.

Power and technical

  • POS terminal and a charged backup
  • Card reader, charged, plus a paper receipt fallback
  • Extension leads and a surge protector
  • Gaffer tape for cable runs across walkways
  • Battery pack or generator access if the venue has no supply
  • Lighting if you are working after dark

Stock and security

  • Spirits, beer, wine and mixers, plus backup for the busiest hour rather than the average one
  • Ice, roughly twice what you first estimate
  • Garnish, prepped and covered
  • Napkins, straws and coasters
  • A lockable container for spirits, cash and POS hardware. A standard cart does not lock, so this is not optional if anything stays on site overnight, unless your carts were ordered with lockable doors.

Setup and breakdown

  • The tool that came with the cart, plus a spare
  • The spare bolts from the original set
  • Cleaning cloths and a mild detergent, not abrasives
  • First aid kit
  • A copy of your licence and any venue paperwork

Assembly takes about 3 to 5 minutes for a single cart and 5 to 10 minutes for a multi cart bar, which means the bar is rarely what holds you up. It is the equipment list above that decides whether you are ready.

One practical limit

The finish is water resistant, not waterproof. These carts are built for indoor use or under cover, so if you are working outdoors, either use the canopy version or make sure the bar sits under something.

The Cartssify modular event bar range

Prices are shown on each product page and are converted to your own currency at checkout. See the whole range.

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