Whilst many of us enjoy a good night out there is something really special about being able to relax at home, perhaps with friends, and a have a drink or two surrounded by your own familiar surroundings.
Home bars are getting a bit of a renaissance. With the smoking ban and rising cost of a night out, having a home bar is becoming a common feature in many homes. And home bars can vary from small drinks cabinets, carts to more sophisticated home bars that have nearly every amenity and bar accessories that your local pub provides. There is also a unique way to create a great atmosphere for parties, with the help of a personalized neon bar sign for your drinking station. This has become a must on bars too, whether you choose a popular template or go with a custom sign.
Types of Home Bar
Permanent – Creating a permanent home bar in your home is neither difficult or too costly. The most important thing you need is space, ideally a corner of a room with access to water and electricity (if you want a refrigerator and ice to keep drinks cool) and for the bar, contact a beer gas supplier for your beer pumps
Once a space has been provided the bar itself can either just be a work surface, large trolley with a selection of shelves to store the drinks and bar equipment on. Or, you can go more sophisticated and employ a joiner to create you own bespoke bar.
Cabinets and mobile bars
The most common type of hoe bar tends to be the drinks cabinet. Drinks cabinets can store yourbar equipment, glassware, and drinks and can vary in both price and looks; from antique mahogany to simpler modern designs.
A rolling drinks cart is a good idea if you don’t have much room. Any type of cart will do as long as you can fit a selection of drinks, glasses and bar accessories on there. It can then all be packed away when not required.
Stocking the bar
Whatever type of home bar you go for you will need drinks. If you have a large permanent bar then you may wish to stock a bottle of everything, especially if you do a lot of entertaining.
But for smaller bars just get what you know people will drink, there is no point buying expensive liquors if nobody ever drinks them.
The same thing applies to glasses. There is no need to have a hundred and one different types of cocktail glasses just stick to the basics: beer glasses, wine glasses, short glasses and long glasses.
Bar Equipment
What type of bar equipment will vary on the type of bar and the types of drinks you serve. For a well-stocked bar, ice buckets, corkscrews, measures, stirrers should be bought and if you enjoy cocktails then get a good selection of cocktail accessories, remembering the garnishes, straws and stirrers.