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9 Essential tips for opening your summer bar

It's almost summer and that means many hospitality businesses are already preparing their summer bar. Everyone is looking forward to getting back to enjoying a nice cocktail in a cool location. As a business owner, you naturally want people to choose to relax at your place. With these 9 tips, your summer bar will be the place to be!

#1 A cozy location

A green or cozy spot outside the city (or just hidden in the city) will do the trick. To top it off, you can always think about a theme or concept. A cool location is one of the most important elements of your summer bar. You can add so many decorations or have a great offering, but if your location is hard to get to or unsociable, all that effort will have been for nothing.

Got a lot of ideas for your venue? Top! Once your plan is all set, you need to file a permit application with the municipality before you can start your bar.

#2 Provide a chill & relax spot

People visit a summer bar to:

  • Totally unwind.
  • To forget all work stress.
  • To be enjoyed with friends or family.
  • To experience a vacation feeling.

They will certainly appreciate a cozy lounge area then! So create a chill setting by incorporating the beach into your summer bar, for example, or create an oasis of calm.

Trendy beach chairs, picnic tables, cozy outdoor lighting, seat cushions and poufs are essential elements in your chill & relax spot if you ask us. Are you a bit handy? Then you can even experiment with Europalettes as benches. A creative and budget-friendly idea!

#3 Cocktails are indispensable!

The most ordered drinks in a summer bar are, of course, cocktails. Both with and without alcohol, they charm the hearts of many guests. A nice presentation makes for an Instagram ready drink and let that be the key to attracting more guests. With Craftails cocktails, you can choose from a wide range of cocktails and mocktails for your summer bar.

Are you considering our ready to serve cocktails? Then be sure to take a look at our blog "5 reasons why ready to serve cocktails belong on your drink menu" or check out our offerings.

#4 Provide finger foods

Good food = a good mood.

How do you make your guests stick around? Right, with good food! After a few summer cocktails or drinks in the sun comes the inevitable hunger. Prevent people from leaving by providing a range of tasty snacks.

Consider a tapas assortment to share, fry snacks, nachos or invest in a fun food truck! Fresh pasta, fries and pizza always score. To top it off, provide a small dessert menu. Moms and dads will thank you!

#5 Make it cozy with cool decorations

The ideal experience is created by appealing to all the senses. The eye wants something too, of course, so bring out those cool decorations. Play with different decorations such as plants, lights, garlands, candles, ...

A fun idea is to incorporate animals into your decorations, for example. Think of those typical inflatable flamingos and crazy rubber ducks.

Craftails Blog | Light string for outdoor summer bar

#6 Be prepared for the weather!

And especially for the Belgian weather! Make sure you have a good backup in case of rain and bad weather. A tent is ideal in this case! You can also choose to permanently stretch a tarp over your summer bar. That way an unexpected rain shower can't ruin the atmosphere.

#7 Music sets the tone

The right atmosphere is created by the right music.

Get real summer vibes with tropical music. Want to be completely unique? Then work with themes. Think house, Ibiza style, salsa, ...
You can also choose to hire a DJ on certain evenings. Nothing is more fun than dancing together in the open air on a warm summer evening.

Do pay attention to the volume of the music! People come to your summer bar to enjoy themselves with family or catch up with friends. So it goes without saying that your guests should not have to shout to understand each other.

#8 Helping Hands

Setting up a summer bar on your own is unfeasible. Therefore, staff is more than welcome. It is wise to start looking for some helping hands now to guarantee good service. Do you opt for our ready-made cocktails? Then you already save some costs on personnel! You do not need a bartender with knowledge about cocktails because everyone can make a delicious cocktail quickly and easily with our concept.

#9 Let the world know!

People who don't know anything about your summer bar won't stop by either. It is important to get people excited about your super chill summer bar well in advance. So start advertising in time and consider outsourcing to an agency if necessary.

Apply these 9 tips and you are sure to make your summer bar the hot spot of the summer!

Are you a Craftails partner and opening a summer bar soon? Let us know and get featured.