Are you planning to start a trendy summer bar? This is the way to do so!

Is your business, club or organization launching a cool summer bar next summer? Go for it! Pop up bars are on the way up! Creating a cool spot where friends and family can come together to escape the daily struggle.

1. Be prepared

Everything sets off with a suitable spot. A green or cosy spot right outside or hidden in the middle of town will do the trick. You can also think of a theme or concept which makes your bar 100% unique and assures that your bar will be the hotspot of next summer.

If your plan is completely finished, you’ll have to apply for a licence to the municipality. By the way, the tourist department often is quite enthusiastic about summer bar stories. Summer bars keep the inhabitants in town and tourists can also enjoy staying there – the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone. At least you can present your idea like this to the municipality ;-)

2. Chill & Relax zone

The ideal spot to forget about all business and work-related stress requires a super chill setting. Convert the inland into a beach or create a garden of peace.

Make a cosy lounge corner where your guests can enjoy a cocktail. Think about trendy beach chairs, picnic tables, seating pillows and poufs. And if you’re a handyman (or handywoman, of course), you can get to work with pallets (also discover our personalizable cushions for standard pallets). Super creative and low-budget!

3. (Belgian) weather proof

The Belgian weather is unpredictable, so make sure you have a plan B in case of rainfall next summer. A tent is what you need in this case. Think about a folding tent you can install in no time, a cool star tent, a spacious PVC party tent or a stylish stretch tent. In case of rainfall, your guests can find shelter under the tent and they have no reason to leave.

Not only rain can ruin your business, also cold temperatures can ruin the game. Luckily there are numerous solutions for this problem as well. Because this is where our patio heaters come to the rescue. But also a fire pit can help - fire does not only create warmth, but also adds a bit of cosiness. And fleece blankets are the icing on the cake.

4. Summer vibes

Every perfect experience is the result of a combination of all senses. With the above tips, you make sure your visitors are not cold. But also think about music, the smell of delicious food, the taste of the famous home-made cocktail...

Create the right atmosphere for your guests with a summery lounge tune in the background. But pay attention to the volume! People usually visit summer bars to enjoy spending time with family or have a chit-chat with friends. It’s frustrating if they constantly have to yell at one another.

5. Fingerfood

Make sure your guests stick around! After some home-made cocktails or other drinks in the sweet summery sun, hunger always kicks in. Make sure your guests don’t have to leave for food, but feed the hungry and offer them a (small) range of snacks.

Think of an assortment of tapas, presented on a wooden plate (to avoid having loads of dishes to do afterwards). Tapenades with freshly baked baguette, home-made hummus, Parma ham, cheese... (And maybe the local butcher, baker or shop can do their part.) Or go for the 100% convenient option and check if you can rope a food truck into offering food in your bar. Fresh pasta, French fries, pizza or hamburgers are always a good idea! Make your own pasta sauce or pizza topping, or think of an original hamburger to serve, that can only be found in your summer bar.

6. Cool cocktail

Launch a cool cocktail that is unique to your summer bar. Lack of inspiration? Take an existing cocktail and add a personal touch! Invest in small extra accessories to make your cocktail completely summer proof. A nice glass, colourfull straws and fresh ingredients (mint, cucumber, ginger, red fruits, cirtrus fruits...) will turn your cocktail into a bestseller.

7. Kids' corner

When the kids are enjoying themselves, the parents will always have one “last” drink. If your summer bar has a kids corner, you make sure everyone (read: the entire family) has a nice time. Think about a small swimming pool, a bouncy castle, outside games, install a swing in a tree, install a mobile climbing fence or provide children’s animation.

Are your nieces or nephews looking for a fun summer job or does the local youth movement want to be involved? Ask them to take care of the kids’ corner and to keep an eye on the children. In the meanwhile, the parents can catch up.

8. Staff

With our tips, your summer bar is guaranteed to be successful. But it is impossible to realize all of this without staff members.

We suggest you to obtain more information about your rights and duties as an employer. This way, you avoid having to cope with problems at a later stage.

9. Publicity

And last but not least: you can think of a brilliant concept, but if no one knows about it, it doesn’t make sense. Advertising is thus also crucial for the success of your summer bar.

Social media is an outstanding example of a way to promote your summer bar. You can create a page for your bar and publish a weekly update with pictures. If you organize theme nights, it’s also a good idea to create an event on Facebook.

But nothing works like word-of-mouth advertising. Create a hashtag and make sure everyone can see it anywhere (the menu, beer mats, posters in the toilets and at the bar...). This way, your visitors unintentionally promote your summer bar with their numerous selfies. You can even launch a contest. Ask your visitors to tag their friends and randomly draw a winner for a free tapas assortment or free drinks.

Are you planning on launching a summer bar? Take a look at our range of tents and promo tools.