The Bar
DERA runs the bar at your event. DERA has a liquor licence. DERA supplies the bartenders, the drinks, the ice and the mixers. You get one line on your invoice. You choose how your guests pay for drinks. We do the rest.
The drink list
| Drink | Pour | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Beer or cider, domestic or BC craft | 355 ml can | $8.00 |
| House wine, red or white | 5 oz | $8.00 |
| Highball: vodka, gin, rum, whisky or tequila, with a mixer | 1 oz | $8.00 |
| Premium spirit from the top shelf | 1 oz | $11.00 |
| Signature cocktail from our menu | 2 oz | $13.00 |
| Sparkling wine for a toast | 750 ml bottle | $45.00 |
| Soft drink, juice or sparkling water | $3.00 |
The prices do not include tax. Drinks with alcohol have 10 percent PST and 5 percent GST. All other drinks have 5 percent GST. We add an 18 percent service charge to the drink sales. All of the service charge goes to the bar team. Your guests do not tip.
The three ways to run the bar
Hosted bar
Your guests order drinks. You pay for each drink that we pour. We count the drinks with you at the end of the night. We send the invoice on the next business day. Most hosts choose this option for a celebration or a dinner.
Drink tickets
You buy drink tickets before the event. One ticket is one drink. One ticket costs $8. You can buy four, five or six tickets for each guest. We give the tickets to your guests at the door or at the tables. Guests can buy more drinks at the bar. We do not refund unused tickets. Five tickets for each guest is correct for a five hour event.
| Tickets for each guest | Price for each guest |
|---|---|
| Four drinks | $32 |
| Five drinks | $40 |
| Six drinks | $48 |
Cash bar
Your guests pay at the bar. They can pay by card or by cash. You do not pay for the drinks. The bar minimum still applies. Many hosts use a mix: drink tickets first, then a cash bar.
The bar minimum
The bar minimum is the smallest amount of drink sales for one event. The minimum depends on the number of guests. If the drink sales reach the minimum, the bartenders are included. If the drink sales do not reach the minimum, you pay the difference as a bar fee. The bar fee has GST. The bar fee has no service charge.
| Guests | Bar minimum, before tax | Bartenders |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 50 | $750 | 1 |
| 51 to 100 | $1,500 | 2 |
| 101 to 150 | $2,250 | 2 |
| 151 to 200 | $3,000 | 3 |
| 201 to 250 | $3,500 | 4 and a barback |
The minimum includes six hours of service. Each extra hour costs $50 for each bartender. One bartender serves up to 75 guests with beer, wine and highballs. One bartender serves up to 50 guests when cocktails are on the menu. Your guests get their drinks quickly.
The main room and the Listening Room have separate bars. If you book both rooms, the Listening Room bar gets a second bartender. The second bartender costs $45 for each hour, with a minimum of six hours. This cost is in addition to the main room bar minimum.
What is included
Each bar includes:
- Bartenders with a Serving It Right certificate
- The bar
- Ice, mixers and fresh garnish
- Soft drinks
- Clear cups
- The price list at the bar
We serve all drinks in clear cups.
You can add a cocktail menu for your event. The menu has three signature drinks. The menu costs $150.
Events with more than 100 guests must have security. We book the security for you. The security company charges $25 for each guard for each hour.
The rules
- You must confirm your final number of guests 14 days before the event. We bill drink tickets on that number. We bill a hosted bar on the drinks we count at the end of the night.
- You must pay a deposit of 20 percent of the final price. The deposit holds your date. For drink tickets, you must pay the balance 14 days before the event. For a hosted bar, we send the invoice on the next business day.
- We bill the room cleaning with the room. The main room cleaning fee is $400. The Listening Room cleaning fee is $200.
- Last call is 30 minutes before the end of service. The bar closes at the hour that our licence permits. Do not bring alcohol into the venue. Do not take alcohol out of the venue.
- We serve guests responsibly. Our bartenders refuse service when the law requires it. The event host must support that decision.
- You must have event liability insurance of $5,000,000. The insurance must name DERA Collective as an additional insured. The booking terms give the details.
Tell us your number of guests and your hours. We put the bar on your quote the same day. Check your date.