Bar refrigeration isn’t just for advertising drinks; they’re for practical and functional purposes, too. They need to be placed in convenient spaces for customers to see and staff to use, as well as keep your beverages at the correct temperature to serve.

Every pub, restaurant, and bar will require fridges, coolers, and frosters to keep their drinks cool, but it’s essential to pick the equipment that will handle the demands of your business and help maintain high customer service.

With so many bar refrigerators, including different sizes, features and materials, our guide walks you through everything you need to know about purchasing the correct bar refrigerator.

Why is it important to choose the right commercial bar refrigeration?

A bar refrigerator is in constant use and crucial to serving chilled drinks to aid excellent customer service. No one wants a warm cider on a hot day! It plays a huge part in the success of your bar, restaurant or cafe, so you must ensure you’re investing in a bar fridge that will support your business for years to come.

By figuring out the best refrigerator to meet your current and future demands, you’ll establish a robust foundation for your bar set-up and save yourself time, money and stress later on by not having to replace your bar fridge. Choosing the right commercial bar refrigerator can be a fantastic return on investment and create a better experience for colleagues and customers.

The different types of bar refrigeration

The good news is that there are several refrigeration options to suit the size of your establishment and the beverages you’re selling. For example, wine bars may prefer tall bar fridges with glass doors to advertise their selection. Meanwhile, pubs might prefer small bar fridges that can double up as countertops.

Some may even come with additional components like bottle openers or cap catchers, but the main types of bar refrigeration include:

  • Glass-door bar coolers
  • Solid-door coolers
  • Glass frosters
  • Wine chillers
  • Keg coolers

What should you consider when investing in new commercial bar refrigeration?

To get the most from your bar refrigeration set-up, there are certain factors you need to consider.

Expected footfall and demand

You need to forecast your daily demands and increased traffic during peak times. With this, you can calculate how much of your stock needs to be refrigerated and keep it in reaching distance for your staff. Furthermore, how often will the fridge be in use? Different models can retain their temperature better than others, even with the doors constantly being opened and closed. These considerations will help you determine the desired bar fridge size and style.

Bar area size

Bars can often be the smallest part of an establishment, but they require the most equipment, especially refrigeration! For practical reasons, you’ll want your fridge in a convenient spot in your bar. First, you need to determine which products you want in your fridge and what space you have available. These two factors will determine the size and style of the refrigerator to enhance your bar setup.

Noise output

Different models of bar refrigerators generate various levels of noise, which can be due to their age, material, or components. The noise will not impact the efficiency of your fridge, but it can have an impact on the atmosphere of your establishment, A busy pub might not notice a dull hum, but for a quiet wine bar, it might not be the acoustic vibe you are looking for and could ruin your customers’ experience.

Available budget

Due to the significance of bar refrigeration, we wouldn’t recommend skimping on this piece of bar equipment. However, there are ways to find a solution within your budget by choosing second-hand refrigeration equipment or refrigerators that provide dual purposes, such as under-counter fridges that can provide extra surface tops.

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Get in Touch With Our Experts Today

At Inox, we are commercial bar and pub refrigeration experts. We understand that every pub has different requirements, and we can help you meet them. If you’d like more advice or information about how we can help, contact us today.

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