Bar bits and pieces – more to it than you might think

In order to ensure the successful running of a business it is imperative that stock demands are met in a cost effective way, whether you run a corner shop or a large UK based company, being able to get hold of stock for a reasonable price is essential. So if you are in the bar business then you are no exception, however it isn’t just stock that will need to be replenished, bar supplies are an essential ordering item when it comes to ensuring the smooth and professional running of a bar, regardless of its size. These products can be anything from branded napkins, stirrers and straws to glasses, ice buckets and optics. All of these elements of bar supplies are integral to the overall experience of the customer in the bar. As mentioned, there are a huge variety of different bar supplies and as such it is good idea to order fast moving items in bulk and others in smaller quantities.

There are a great many items available under the term bar supplies and the ones that are chosen help to provide the finishing touches to your bar service. So let’s have a look at few of them and their uses. First off is the humble bar napkin, this really is an essential item when working in a wet environment, they can be used as temporary coasters when serving a drink from a wet to dry surface, they should always be available on the bar top for customers to help themselves and they can be branded. Good quality, attractive napkin holders are also necessary. Another key member of the bar supplies family is the straw, long or short, black or clear, with or without lights. Only wine and pints and some shorts are served without a straw, so again they are essential to the bar and to service. The same can apply to stirrers especially in a cocktail bar, again very cheap and easy to get hold of they provide the finishing touch to a long drink and keep the flavours mixed once the customer has taken the drink away. Good bar accessory holders are always necessary to keep straws and stirrers tidy.

Moving away from the front bar and focussing on drinks preparation, an essential part of any bar are the pourers and jiggers that are used to pour and measure the spirits, although some bars use optics, free pouring and in a lot of cases jiggers are the preferred method of service as there is a little more skill involved. There are simple pourers that are just that and the use of a long pull back and flick of the wrist measures the drink, there are some that actually decant a set amount once the bottle is tipped past a certain angle, in terms of jiggers, these are generally double ended metal measuring cups used to serve out singles and doubles of the house spirits. So as you can see there are a lot of different pieces to the bar supplies jigsaw - and getting a good supplier who will deliver a quality range for an affordable price is very important.

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