The bar that moves to where it is needed: professional trolleys on castors, folding wooden bars and portable sinks for working where there is no plumbing. For events, catering, private parties, pop-ups and bar service at home. Here are the ways to set up a complete bar station you can carry. Below, the guide to choosing the right one.
Portable bar counter: the bar that goes where the work is
Not all service happens behind a fixed bar. Weddings, corporate events, private parties, catering, pop-ups and mobile bartending need a station that goes up, works and comes down quickly, with the order and standards of a real bar counter. The portable bar counter is the answer: you take the bar to the client, and the service stays the same.
Bar counter dimensions: height, width and footprint
A bar counter has two heights. The working surface, where you shake and pour, sits at 85cm on the workstations and at 80cm on the wooden counter. The service top, where the guest picks up the drink, sits between 115 and 120cm and hides the working surface from view. Widths run from 90 to 175cm. Folded, the steel workstations measure 80 x 20cm by their width.
The first thing to check is how it moves. Trolley models on wheels are pulled like luggage and open in a few minutes, for teams that change venue often. Folding wooden counters fold down to a small footprint and combine practicality with looks, for events where the counter is part of the set. Set-up time is a real cost: less time building means more time serving.
The water problem
The real limit of off-site service is almost always water. A portable steel sink with its own tank lets you rinse tools and wash your hands where there is no plumbing, to the hygiene standard proper service needs. It is the accessory that turns a makeshift station into a professional one.
Materials and storage
Wood brings warmth and a formal look, suited to weddings and dressed events. ABS and steel are lighter, tougher and easier to clean, the choice for teams working many events that need a robust unit. Built-in space counts too: compartments, ice wells and working surfaces are the difference between a decorative counter and a working one.
Type
Character
Suited to
Trolley on wheels
Quick to move, quick to open
Mobile bartending, frequent venue changes
Folding wooden counter
Looks the part, folds flat
Weddings and dressed events
Portable sink
Own water supply, hygiene
Venues without plumbing
The pieces that make the serve
The Portable Trolley Bar travels like a trolley case and opens in a few minutes, for teams that take the bar from one event to the next.
The folding Wooden Bar Counter combines practicality with looks: it folds into a small space and works well when the counter is part of the event set.
The Workstation Bar Comfort takes the full station where it is needed: working surface, compartments and a frame built for service on the road, in the version that puts comfort and space first.
On PROBAR portable bars the working surface is at 85cm (80cm on the wooden counter) and the service top between 115 and 120cm. The measurements of each model are in the table in this guide and on its product page.
How wide is a portable bar counter?
From 90cm for the Workstation Bar Smart to 175cm for the Cocktail Workstation Counter. Folded, the steel workstations measure 80 x 20cm by their width.
What are portable bar counters?
Bar stations you can transport, such as trolleys on wheels, folding wooden counters and portable sinks, built to set up full service where there is no fixed bar. They go up and come down quickly, to professional standards.
What are portable bar counters used for?
Mobile bartending, catering, weddings, corporate events, private parties, pop-ups and home bar hire. Any job where the service goes to the client instead of working behind a fixed bar.
How do you work where there is no plumbing?
With a portable steel sink that has its own tank, so you can rinse tools and wash your hands with no water connection. It is the accessory that makes off-site service properly professional.
Wooden portable bar, or ABS and steel?
Wood brings warmth and a formal look, suited to weddings and dressed events. ABS and steel are lighter, tougher and easier to clean, better for teams that work many events and need a robust unit that is easy to move.
Can a portable bar counter be used outdoors?
Yes, that is the job it is built for: weddings, catering and outdoor events, where there is no fixed bar. Where there is no water, add the portable steel sink with its own tank. For teams working many events outside, ABS and steel clean faster than wood. The product pages do not state rain resistance: in a downpour the counter needs cover.
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