Key takeaways
- In the UK it’s normal to host welcome drinks, wine with the meal, and a toast, then run a paid evening bar. Full open bars are rare but possible with controls.
- Benchmark prices: the average pub pint is around £5–£5.20 in early 2025 (venues can be higher). A 175ml glass of wine is tracked separately by the ONS.
- Dry-hire barns/marquees may need a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) (England & Wales) or an occasional licence (Scotland).
- Licensed bars must provide free potable water on request; Challenge 25 age checks are standard.
- Many venues are cashless — flag card/contactless only on your invites.
Bottom line: The most guest-friendly and budget-savvy plan is to host the key moments (welcome, table wine & water, toast), then run a card/contactless pay bar — or a short, rule-bound open-bar window with a hard cap.
Looking for more than just venues? Explore our wedding bar hire services to see how we can complement your celebration.
1) What do “open bar” and “cash bar” mean in the UK?
Open bar (fully hosted): You cover drinks during some or all of the reception. Because UK venues rarely offer unlimited packages, this usually means putting money behind the bar with rules (no doubles/shots, house brands only) and a cut-off. Cash (pay) bar: Guests pay for their own drinks beyond what you host (welcome, meal wine, toast). This is widely accepted at UK weddings.
2) What UK guests typically expect
A common flow:
- Welcome drink (e.g., Prosecco/Pimm’s)
- Wine with the meal (≈ ½ bottle per guest is standard in packages)
- A toast drink (sparkling)
- Evening: pay bar
Non-drinkers: Provide good alcohol-free options (mocktails/softs) throughout — including for the toast.
Planning your big day in Hampshire? Here are Hampshire wedding venues that work perfectly with a mobile bar.
3) Costs: realistic UK benchmarks (2025)
Bar prices to watch
- Pint of draught beer: national pub average ~£5–£5.20 in early 2025 (venues may price higher; London hotels can be notably more).
- Wine by the glass (175ml): tracked by the ONS as a separate series — check the latest release when negotiating with venues.
Typical “drinks package” inclusions
Most packages include two reception drinks, ½ bottle of wine pp with the meal, and a sparkling toast. Always confirm exact drinks, sizes, and upgrades.
Typical UK wedding drinks package (2025)
| Stage | What’s usually included | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome/Reception | 1–2 drinks per guest (Prosecco, Pimm’s, bottled beer, softs) | 2 drinks pp is common |
| With the Meal | ~½ bottle wine per guest + still/sparkling water on tables | ≈3 glasses each, 100 guests ≈ 12 bottles Prosecco |
| Toast | 1 glass of sparkling (Prosecco/Champagne) | 100 guests ≈ 12 bottles Prosecco |
| Evening Bar | Guests pay for additional drinks | Venue prices vary by location |
4) Quick budgeting framework
- Guest count × package inclusions (two reception drinks + ½ bottle wine + toast).
- Open-bar window (if any): estimate ~1 drink pp per hour for average crowds; more for heavy drinkers; apply the venue price list.
- Evening paid bar: you’re not paying for drinks, but check service charges/minimum spends in your contract.
Worked example: drinks budget for 100 guests (UK, 2025)
| Stage | Allowance (per guest) | Unit cost (2025) | Total (100 guests) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welcome Drinks | 2 glasses Prosecco | ~£6 each | £1,200 |
| Meal Wine | ½ bottle pp (≈3 glasses) | ~£18 / bottle (house) | £900 |
| Toast | 1 glass Prosecco | ~£6 each | £600 |
| Subtotal (hosted drinks) | — | — | ~£2,700 |
| Optional: open bar window | 1 drink pp / hour × 2h | ~£6 each | £1,200 |
| Grand total (with open bar) | — | — | ~£3,900 |
5) Open bar reality check
Before you decide, here’s how the two models compare. If you choose a true open bar, align budget to your crowd and hours, then cap with rules:
- Hard spend cap behind the bar (switch to cash bar when hit)
- Time-boxed window (e.g., cocktail hour only)
- House list only (beer, wine, single-measure house spirits)
- No shots/doubles
- Per-guest tokens (e.g., two free drinks, then pay)
Open bar vs. cash bar at UK weddings
| Open bar (fully hosted) | Cash / pay bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Guest perception | Feels generous and celebratory; no payment friction. | UK-standard if you host welcome drinks, meal wine & a toast. |
| Cost control | Harder to predict without caps/time windows. | Predictable — guests cover extras beyond hosted moments. |
| Logistics | Often needs rules: house list only, no shots/doubles, spend cap. | Venue runs bar as usual; you confirm hosted inclusions. |
| Pros | Luxurious feel; streamlined experience; curated menu possible. | Budget-friendly; aligns with etiquette; simple to administer. |
| Cons | Expensive at standard venue rates; risk of over-consumption. | Can feel less indulgent if not communicated clearly. |
| Best for | Smaller guest lists, short receptions, experience-first budgets. | Most UK weddings; cost-controlled planning. |
6) Legal & licensing essentials (don’t skip)
England & Wales
TEN (Temporary Event Notice): Needed where alcohol is sold/supplied at unlicensed sites (and/or for regulated entertainment). Valid for <500 people and up to 168 hours per event.
TEN limits: Personal licence holders can apply for up to 50 TENs/year; non-licence holders up to 5; a premises can host up to 15 TENs totalling no more than 21 days per calendar year.
Free water: Licensed premises must provide free potable water on request where reasonably available.
Age checks: Expect Challenge 25 procedures — ID if someone looks under 25 — embedded in venue/bar policies.
Scotland
Occasional licence covers temporary alcohol sales at unlicensed places (mobile bars typically handle this). Requirements and processing times can differ from TENs; apply early.
Insurance: Some venues/mobile bars require public liability cover — confirm early.
7) Etiquette: what’s considerate (and what to communicate)
Cash bar is fine in the UK if you host the key moments and communicate clearly. Spell it out early (invite details/website):
- What you’re hosting: “Two welcome drinks, wine with the meal, and a Prosecco toast provided.”
- How the evening bar works: “Card/contactless bar from 7pm.”
- Any restrictions (no shots/doubles if you’re capping an open bar).
- Consider non-drinkers: Offer quality alcohol-free options throughout.
Still weighing different setups? Our wedding mobile bar guide covers all the models couples choose in the UK.
8) Contactless & cashless bars: planning notes
- Most payments are contactless; a growing share via phones/watches. Many venues are cashless — say so on invites.
- Mobile bars: card readers are inexpensive and run on Wi-Fi/4G — useful for dry-hire sites.
9) Wedding bar compliance checklist (England & Wales, 2025)
- Licensed venue? If not, arrange a Temporary Event Notice (TEN) or hire a mobile bar.
- TEN limits: Personal licence holder up to 50/year; non-licence holder up to 5/year; premises max 15 TENs totalling 21 days/year.
- Mandatory at licensed premises: Free potable water on request; Challenge 25 age-verification with trained staff & signage.
- Bar contract checked: Prices incl. VAT; service charges & minimum spends; glassware; staff ratios; last orders; breakages/spillages; cashless policy.
- Insurance: Confirm public liability cover requirements with venue/mobile bar.
Tip: If the venue is card-only, state this on invites and your website: “A card/contactless bar will be open for additional drinks from 7pm.”
10) Suggested wording you can lift
Cash bar (standard UK)
“We’ll be hosting welcome drinks, wine with the meal and a Prosecco toast. A card/contactless bar will be open for additional drinks from 7pm.”
Time-boxed open bar
“Enjoy our hosted bar during cocktail hour (5–6pm), then a card/contactless bar will run for the rest of the evening.”
Cashless venue heads-up
“Please note the bar is card/contactless only.”
Final pour
Host the set pieces generously, communicate payment & policy details early, keep a compliance checklist, and — if you want a splash of indulgence — offer a short, rule-bound open-bar window with a hard cap. That’s how you nail both etiquette and cost control in 2025.
If you’re tying the knot in Hampshire, here are venues that pair perfectly with a mobile bar.
