Bar Refrigeration Equipment Buying Guide


Every pub and par needs specialist refrigeration equipment to keep the drinks at the correct temperature. At Alliance Online, you will find everything you need to refrigerate your drinks effectively and attractively. 

Bar coolers and frosters are an essential to keep drinks chilled in pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars. To make sure your bottles and cans are kept at the perfect temperature for serving, you’ll need reliable and high-quality refrigerators.

There are a number of different options to consider when looking to equip your establishment. Between back bar coolers, frosters, and chillers in a variety of materials, it can be tricky to choose. 

Have a read of our bar refrigeration buying guide for advice to help you find the best fit. We’ll take you through the uses and benefits of each refrigerator to ensure you make the right choice.

Types of Bar Refrigeration

There are a number of different refrigerating units for beer and cold drinks and most come with additional components such as bottle openers and cap catchers for convenience:

  • Glass back bar coolers
  • Solid back coolers
  • Glass frosters
  • Wine chillers

Glass Bar Back Coolers

A glass option for bar back coolers allows your bottled beers and soft drinks to be clearly visible. This is great both for visual appearance, and ease of use. There are plenty of options to suit your space, including single door, double door, and triple door models. You can even purchase upright bottle coolers, stylish and practical for a narrower space.

We’d recommend looking for a glass back bar cooler which has either thermal doors or triple pane glass doors. This will mean they’re robust enough to prevent cold air escaping from the refrigerator, keeping your drinks perfectly cooled. They’ll also be durable and strong, helping to avoid cracks and shattering.

Also, go for a refrigerator with adjustable shelves. This is the case for most glass bar back coolers and will allow you to organise your drinks as best suits you. Glass bar back coolers are available with both hinged and sliding doors. Sliding doors may be a better option if your refrigerator will be placed in a more compact space.

Solid Bar Back Coolers

The other option you have when purchasing a bar back cooler is a solid door bottle cooler. This is a good choice if your cooler will be kept behind the scenes, perhaps used for extra storage. Bottles and cans are kept out of view as the doors are solid, opaque glass. The biggest benefit of solid back back coolers is that they are better equipped at keeping the cold air inside than the glass door varieties. 

We’d therefore recommend stocking up on a glass door and solid door bar back cooler. The glass door cooler can show customers the drinks in store, whilst the solid cooler keeps the rest of your supplies cool for a longer period of time. Choose between single and double door models, depending on the volume of bottles your restaurant keeps in stock.

Glass Frosters

To ensure your customers are receiving the best service, invest in a glass froster for your bar or restaurant. Look for a froster with a highly-efficient cooling system, to allow access to frozen glasses in just a few minutes. These units are ideal for anywhere serving cold drinks and are also popular for outdoor use in the summer months. They’ll keep glasses cool for a long period of time even on the warmest days.

Like back bar coolers, glass frosters are available with both transparent and solid doors. Make your choice depending on whether you’d like your glasses on display to customers and bartenders. A glass froster will come with adjustable shelving for easy organisation. Choose between pint glass fosters, or fosters suitable for multiple glass shapes. 

Wine Chillers

We all know that to enjoy the delicious flavours of a white or rose wine, it must be served chilled. If you stock a good volume of wine, it’s wise to invest in a wine chiller as its temperature setting is specially set for professional storage of wine. A wine chiller will also double up as a great storage unit for your wine bottles.

There are many size options available, suitable for any space you’re looking to equip. Select from undercounter wine chiller models, upright units, and double sliding door chillers. There are also a range of styles - select a wooden finish for a more rustic bar area, or a smoked glass door for a contemporary look. We’d recommend investing in a dual temperature wine cooler as this will allow for both long-term wine storage and bringing wine to serving temperature quickly.

With this buying guide in hand, you’re now well prepared to choose the best-suited bar refrigeration for your establishment. Keep your customers happy with perfectly chilled drinks and glasses to ensure they return time and time again.

For any further information on back bar refrigeration visit our Pub and Bar Equipment pages or contact the friendly Alliance customer care team.

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