Christmas is one of the main holidays and a time when spending goes berserk. It’s not just about presents, food and decorations but also the joy of a good old fashioned knees-up. Whether celebrating with family and friends or participating in somewhat messy work parties, bars are the go-to venues.
As a bar owner, you will understand the importance of being prepared for busy opening hours and will already have planned exactly what you need.
Extra stock ✓
More staff ✓
Festive drink menus ✓
Decorations ✓
This is all great but have you considered all the little bits and bobs that are typically neglected until it’s too late?
Scenario #1 - Glassware
There’s nothing more stressful for bar staff under pressure than being faced with a waiting crowd all demanding service and no glasses. Even when glasses are clean, they are still warm and can’t be used to serve drinks. What to do? Tell people they have to wait? Try to cool the glasses quickly which may lead to damage? Serve substandard drinks in warm glasses? All of these options reflect badly on your business. The only sensible choice is to make sure you have plenty of glassware, including pints, halves, high balls, tumblers, wines, flutes and shots, to cope with the demand, not only of service but also to substitute when dirties are washing and cooling.
Scenario #2 - Ice
Staff are racing around putting together large drinks orders while still being friendly and composed but when they manage to get to the front of the queue for ice, the bucket is filled with nothing but water. The customer has to wait while the pail is refilled which can take up valuable time. A steady supply of ice is vital for happy customers and consistent quality drinks. Not having enough ice buckets can severely hinder operations as can a lack of ice tongs which can easily be misplaced when experiencing a rush. Make sure your bar is prepared and that there is plenty of equipment to go round, ensuring service is efficient and streamlined.
Scenario #3 - Wine
Wine – red, white and sparkling is always a favourite and can mean big business, especially around Christmastime when everyone is in the mood to celebrate. Making sure that glasses are kept topped up is vital and can only be achieved with the presence of a few bottle openers and corkscrews. Obviously having a corkscrew in attendance is a bar basic but when experiencing a rush one may just not be enough. Multiple tools are essential to keeping waiting times short and service quality high.
Scenario #4 - Garnishing
Putting the finishing touches to drinks can propel an average glass to an attractive showstopper. Garnishes are the perfect way to do this and every bar will have one at their disposal. In the middle of a busy service staff want to deliver the best product but don’t want to be queuing to finish off the job. Having multiple garnish trays to keep your oranges, lemons and limes organised and in the freshest condition can reduce customer waiting times, ensure that staff stress levels are kept to a minimum and that drinks are always looking their best. Around Christmastime you may want to extend your average garnish range to include more festive decorations.
Other things to consider;
- Can your ice machine produce enough ice to keep up with demand? Is it performing to its full capacity? A routine maintenance and in-depth clean will make sure that your equipment is ready for the rush.
- Can your glass washer deal with the quantities of washing required? Again, maintenance and cleaning are vital to ensure the best results and the most efficient operation.
With spending predicted to increase this Christmas it is vital that your bar is prepared, not only in relation to the main areas such as stock and product choice but also the little things that are very often overlooked. Don’t take the small stuff for granted; stock up now to guarantee a premium service and memorable experience for all customers this Christmas.