Set the drinks budget. Switch to Cash Bar when it is used.
A Drinks Tab lets you prepay an agreed amount on a pre-approved drinks list. Your guests drink against that balance; when it is used, the bar switches to a guest-paid Cash Bar for the rest of service. It's a way to cap your spend with a known ceiling — not an open-ended per-guest commitment.
Bar Zone is not currently VAT-registered; quoted amounts are not subject to VAT. Travel, venue access, availability and licensing are confirmed in writing.
A unit fee, plus a prepaid tab
Two separate amounts: a unit fee for the bar and team, and a prepaid balance your guests drink against.
Before
You choose a unit and prepay a tab of at least R5 000 on a pre-approved drinks list. The unit fee — R3 500 for the Bar Zone flagship or R2 500 for Nom Bango — covers the trailer, 2 bartenders and the 5-hour service window.
During
Guests order against the tab. You may request tab updates during service. The bar team keeps the agreed list and service times — we don't promise live dashboards or automatic milestone alerts.
After
When the tab is used, the bar switches to a guest-paid Cash Bar for the rest of service. Any unused balance is held as a credit toward additional drinks or a future booking — not refunded in cash. The written quote defines how that credit is used.
A ceiling, or a per-guest treat
Both are host-paid up front. The difference is whether you set a spend ceiling or pay for every guest for the whole window.
| Drinks Tab | Hosted Bar | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays | Host prepays a capped tab, then guests | Host pays per guest |
| Budget shape | A fixed ceiling you set | A per-guest rate × guest count |
| When it ends | Switches to Cash Bar when the tab is used | Runs for the agreed service window |
| Best for | A controlled spend with a known ceiling | Treating every guest for the full window |
| Minimum | R5 000 prepaid tab | 50 guests |
Swipe the table sideways on small screens. Bar Zone is not currently VAT-registered; quoted amounts are not subject to VAT. Exact inclusions, hours and travel are confirmed in your written quote.
What helps us quote a Drinks Tab
These are planning questions — not promised live dashboards or automatic alerts.
Who authorises extra spend
Tell us who may approve a top-up or extend the tab on the day, so the bar team knows when to switch and when to check with you.
As the tab nears its limit
Let us know how you'd like the handover to Cash Bar handled — a quiet word to the host, or an automatic switch. We don't promise live dashboards or milestone alerts.
Permitted drinks
The pre-approved drinks list the tab covers. Brands beyond the list are quoted separately or sold to guests directly.
Agreed service times
When the bar opens and closes — the agreed 5-hour window shapes staffing and stock.
Questions about the tab
Is the unit fee part of the spendable tab?
No. The unit fee (R3 500 for the Bar Zone flagship, R2 500 for Nom Bango) covers the trailer, 2 bartenders and the 5-hour service window. The prepaid tab of at least R5 000 is a separate balance your guests drink against. "Capped" means the tab has a ceiling — it does not cover all event costs.
What happens to an unused tab balance?
Any unused tab balance is held as a credit toward additional drinks or a future booking — not refunded in cash. The written quote sets out how that credit is used; we don't invent an expiry, a cash redemption or an automatic top-up authority. Tell us how you'd like it handled and we'll confirm it in writing.
How does the switch to Cash Bar work?
When the prepaid tab is used, the bar switches to a guest-paid Cash Bar for the rest of the 5-hour window. You can request a tab top-up during service instead. Travel and additional site logistics are itemised separately in your written quote.
Tell us your date, venue and guest count.
We'll confirm which rig fits your event and send a qualified Drinks Tab quote — with the tab amount, permitted drinks, service window and travel agreed up front.