Thinking of turning a horsebox into a mobile bar

[Eyebrows123]

Hi everyone,

Hope I've posted this in the correct area, don't suppose some of you may be able to offer me some advice at all?

I currently have an old horsebox that's not worth selling as it won't sell for much and without front loading it's not much use for horses in modern times. So, I thought I'd take the initiative and turn it into a mobile bar.

The idea would be to run it at events on weekends, not necessarily something to depend on for income but would be quite nice to be able to use the box and I like the idea of building and owning a mobile bar!

So, my question is, aside from building the thing (which I'd love any advice for), what do I need to consider, how do I get a personal licence? How difficult are TENs and then what do I have to do for insurance or any other complications?

Any advice would be much appreciated, especially from any of you who might've run or owned something similar!

[HD Adam]

You could do this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS1oqRFi52Y

NSFW.

[sidekickdmr]

Not run or owned anything but I've used/booked quite a few and its a business that has interested me so ive done some research.

At our wedding we had a land rover defender cocktail bar, this one infact:



And I've recently seen this company looking for franchisee's on facebook

[Europa1]

sidekickdmr said:

Not run or owned anything but I've used/booked quite a few and its a business that has interested me so ive done some research.

At our wedding we had a land rover defender cocktail bar, this one infact:



And I've recently seen this company looking for franchisee's on facebook

Off topic excursion: I remember the George Clarke programme also covered a double decker bus that had been converted into a bar, which looked really good.

[21TonyK]

If you speak with your local council licensing department they will talk you through the process, essentially do a course (local college is normally best bet) when you get the qualification through put in the license application, pay the free and wait a bit.

TENs are dead simple. Just a case of who is running it, what they are doing, when and where it is and how many people will be there.

As for insurance I would have thought public liability but you may find the venue holds that.

[SwanJack]

https://en-gb.facebook.com/thecoffipig/

[48k]

My local pub has done this - landlady bought a new Ifor Williams trailer for her her horse so they turned her old trailer in to a bar. Will try and get some pictures.

[Eyebrows123]

Cheers for all the replies, yeh, seen that double decker bus one, bit bigger than what I was thinking but still shows what can be done. That landy and VW bus are some interesting setups

Thanks for that advice, I might try chat to my local council for some advice on licensing.

Would love to see your local landlady's take on her old horsebox, I guess it's just a case now of finding a week and getting the thing built!

I'm more concerned about ensuring I comply with all the requirements when building the thing. E.g. tap water supplies etc etc.

[48k]

Better late than never - the trailer is finished and the pub have just posted these to their FB page.

[Eyebrows123]

Thanks, enjoyed seeing those. Mind if I ask what your local is? Would be interested in viewing their Facebook post!

Cheers

[hab1966]

Wigan woman transforms horse box into mobile prosecco bar

I particularily like the comment to the opening picutre -

Rachael Buckley pictured with The Bubbly Box which is being launched at her Billinge home. It is a converted horse box from which they now sell Prosecco and Champagne NB The Bubbly Box couldn't be moved and husband didn't want to be on the pictures

[theguvernor15]

Thread revival whilst Googling.
A relative has just booked a cocktail van for a private function, the cost is steep, which got me thinking about a horse-box bar.
OP did you ever convert yours?

I have 0 knowledge on anything DIY, however like the prospect of buying a delapidated horse box & converting it into a bar.
I also like the thought of using as much recycled wood as possible. I have an endless supply of pallett wood for cladding & can get plenty of used scaffold boards for work-tops from a scaffolder friend.

It's all pie in the sky currently, but it's something i've been putting serious thought too & figured it could be fun.
The biggest single cost i can currently see (as long as the frame of the trailer is sound), is a re-spray!

[Batleyred]

We hire a horse box bar every fireworks night, Rice trailers seem to be the most popular for the conversion.

[48k]

theguvernor15 said:

Thread revival whilst Googling.
A relative has just booked a cocktail van for a private function, the cost is steep, which got me thinking about a horse-box bar.
OP did you ever convert yours?

I have 0 knowledge on anything DIY, however like the prospect of buying a delapidated horse box & converting it into a bar.
I also like the thought of using as much recycled wood as possible. I have an endless supply of pallett wood for cladding & can get plenty of used scaffold boards for work-tops from a scaffolder friend.

It's all pie in the sky currently, but it's something i've been putting serious thought too & figured it could be fun.
The biggest single cost i can currently see (as long as the frame of the trailer is sound), is a re-spray!

It's the floors that tend to go in horse trailers rather than the chassis - years of having cope with horse output

Getting an alcohol licence probably isn't cheap either.

Good luck with it though - post the pics / updates.

[Jaypee1972]

Hi I have purchased a horse box which I am converting in to a mobile bar, what I need help with is the size of the serving hatch on the side, plus the height of the bar from the ground outside to the top of the bar counter. If anyone could advise that would be great help with moving this project forward.