🍸 From One Cocktail Shaker to Four Brands: My Journey Building the UK’s Most Creative Bar Experience Network
THE
TEAM
🌱 It All Started With a Single Event
I still remember the first time someone paid me to make a cocktail. It was a family birthday — nothing fancy, just a kitchen, a few bottles, and a lot of laughter.
What struck me wasn’t the drink itself, but the feeling it created. The way people connected, relaxed, celebrated. That spark became the seed for what would later grow into Cocktails With Mario — a full-service experience built around that same sense of joy.
At the time, I didn’t have a team, a van, or a logo. I had a shaker, a folding table, and a belief: if I can make people feel something, the business will take care of itself.
By Mario Baciu
Founder of Cocktails With Mario, Hire a Cocktail Bartender, Hire a Private Bartender, and Mixology Insider
Some Of Our Clients
What Our Happy Clients Are Saying ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
✨ “The Pimms bike was a showstopper!”
“We booked the Pimms tricycle for our garden wedding in Guildford, and it was a massive hit. The staff were so friendly, the drinks were beautifully presented, and our guests couldn’t stop taking photos. It added such a unique touch to the day.”
— Sarah & Tom W., Surrey Wedding Couple
✨ “Professional, stylish, and absolutely delicious!”
“We used Cocktails with Mario for our corporate summer launch in Woking. The Pimms bike was such a cool concept – it got people talking and mingling instantly. Our branded cups and signage looked amazing. We highly recommend this service.
— Danielle H., Event Manager, Tech Startup
✨ “A highlight of our birthday party!”
“We hired a Pimms bar with bartenders for my 40th birthday in Ascot. Mario and his team were incredible – so attentive and fun. The drinks were ice cold, perfectly balanced, and the setup looked beautiful in our garden.”
— James K., Ascot
🚚 The Road (and Coffee Bike) to Growth
One event led to another. A friend booked me for a wedding, a company called for a Christmas party, and soon I found myself loading bars into vans and criss-crossing Surrey every weekend.
We introduced mobile bar hire for weddings, cocktail-making classes for team-building, and coffee bike hire for exhibitions and corporate launches.
Then came the tricycles — bright orange Aperol Spritz bikes, Pimm’s bars, and even milkshake stations that made guests stop, smile, and pull out their phones.
Before I knew it, Cocktails With Mario was appearing at activations for Samsung at The O₂, Russell & Bromley, and Wembley Stadium.
Those moments taught me something: creativity scales — but only if you build the systems behind it.
🥂 Building “Hire a Cocktail Bartender” — The Engine Behind the Events
As inquiries grew, I realised people weren’t just booking me anymore. They were booking a process.
That’s when I launched Hire a Cocktail Bartender — a way to offer the same standard of service across multiple cities, venues, and brands.
We expanded into:
Corporate events and conferences
Each setup came with trained staff, logistics, and branding — turning simple events into mini experiences.
We weren’t just bartenders anymore. We were brand storytellers with shakers.
🏡 The Private Side of Mixology
But there was another audience calling: people who wanted that same experience at home.
That’s how Hire a Private Bartender was born — a service dedicated to house parties, weddings, and intimate celebrations.
From cocktail-making hen parties to garden party bar hire, we created ways for people to transform their living spaces into unforgettable nights.
Every booking reminded me of why I started: people gathering, laughing, connecting — with a drink that means something.
☕ A New Chapter — From Events to Insight
After years of serving drinks, I wanted to share the stories behind them.
So I launched Mixology Insider — a digital home for articles, trend reports, and brand spotlights that celebrate the culture of cocktails.
We’ve written guides like:
And more reflective pieces, like From Mobile Bars to Global Movements — What Mixology in 2026 Says About Humanity.
It’s not just about drinks anymore. It’s about culture, design, sustainability, and connection — all through the lens of what we pour into a glass.
🌐 The Ecosystem Today
Each brand now plays a role in one connected story:
Cocktails With Mario — creative events & hospitality activations
Hire a Cocktail Bartender — nationwide professional staffing & logistics
Hire a Private Bartender — intimate celebrations & personal service
Mixology Insider — education, trends, and authority content
Together, they create a trust network — backed by verified experience, published case studies, and consistent quality signals across our digital platforms.
🎬 Explore our YouTube shorts, Instagram, Pinterest boards, and Medium articles.
💭 What I’ve Learned
If there’s one thing mixology has taught me, it’s this: people don’t remember the drink — they remember how you made them feel.
Whether it’s a bride tasting her first Aperol Spritz, a CEO grabbing a matcha latte before a keynote, or a dad learning to shake a martini at home — those moments are why I built these brands.
They’re why I’ll keep building.
Because hospitality isn’t just business. It’s human.
🔗 Explore the Full Ecosystem
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