Hospitality Bars & Back Counters

In hospitality projects, bars do far more than serve drinks. They are wayfinding anchors, social centres and key expressions of brand character. The detailing of the front counter, the rhythm of the back bar and the way the whole composition works in service all shape the guest experience. At Make Bespoke Studio we design and deliver bespoke hospitality bars and back counters for hotels, members’ clubs, restaurants and amenity spaces.

The role of bars in the hospitality experience

A hospitality bar is both a working tool and a stage. It needs to support fast, efficient service at busy times while still looking composed from every angle when the room is quiet. We design bar joinery that balances theatre with practicality.

·        creating a clear focal point and sense of arrival within lobbies, lounges and club rooms

·        setting the tone for how formal or relaxed a space feels through proportion, materials and lighting

·        supporting different patterns of use throughout the day – from coffee and light service to full evening cocktails

·        hiding the complexity of plumbing, refrigeration, glasswashing and storage behind a calm elevation

Front bars and counters

Front bars are the guest-facing element – the part of the bar most present in photography and memory. We tune scale, rhythm and detailing to the room they sit in.

·        Lobby and lounge bars – Bars that may be visible from multiple levels and directions, requiring careful consideration of back views, ends and how the counter meets adjacent panelling.

·        Rooftop, pool and terrace bars – Bars exposed to more light and weather, often with glazing on several sides and a stronger relationship to views and landscape.

·        Restaurant and bistro bars – More intimate bar counters that mediate between dining, waiting and casual seating, often working alongside pass counters and server stations.

Front elevations are usually coordinated with Wall Panelling & Architectural Joinery and Internal Doors & Screens, so that the bar feels embedded in the architecture rather than freestanding.

Back bars, gantries and display

Back bars and gantries carry much of the character of a hospitality bar. They frame bottles, glassware, artwork and mirrors – and often form the backdrop to photography.

·        tiered bottle displays, sometimes double-sided where bars sit centrally within a room

·        glass shelves, metal frameworks and mirrors that balance transparency with a sense of structure

·        integrated fridges, wine displays and coffee stations that can read as part of the composition

·        closed cupboards and drawers for backup stock, bar tools and POS that don’t need to be on show

Display strategies are developed in dialogue with brand and interior direction, using Materials and Joinery Styles to keep details consistent across related elements – from Home Bars & Back Bars in suites to Wine Rooms & Cellars.

Dispense bars and back-of-house counters

Not every bar is guest-facing. Dispense bars and back counters support service in restaurants, terraces and event spaces, often tucked behind screens or within BOH corridors.

·        Dispense bars – Bars that are visible to servers but largely hidden from guests, focused on speed, robustness and clear organisation of stations.

·        Event and function bars – Semi-temporary bars integrated into permanent joinery, designed so that additional equipment and stock can be accommodated for peak times.

·        Back-of-house bar prep and stores – storage and prep counters that sit within Locker Rooms & Back-of-House Joinery and sometimes Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, making it easy to support multiple bars from a central core.

These elements are mapped carefully within broader Hospitality Joinery packages so that operations, staffing and circulation work as efficiently as possible.

Workflow, ergonomics and capacity

A bar that looks impressive but is tiring to work behind will quickly show its limits in service. We plan bars from the bartender’s side as much as from the guest’s.

·        defining stations and wells clearly so staff are not crossing over one another in busy periods

·        planning heights, clearances and step distances to minimise unnecessary movement

·        allowing for glasswasher positions, dump sinks, bin access and runs of refrigeration in a logical sequence

·        thinking about restocking routes from BOH stores to front-of-house without cutting through guest spaces

Our workflow thinking often draws on approaches from Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries and Tea Points & Breakout Kitchenettes, adapted to the specific pace and character of each bar.

Integration with services and AV

Bars bring together dense runs of services – from chilled water and drainage to beer lines, gas, power and AV. We coordinate these in detail so that the guest sees only a clean, intentional elevation.

·        planning for undercounter fridges, freezers, ice machines, wine fridges and glasswashers with correct ventilation and access

·        coordinating water, drainage and waste with plumbing and MEP teams, including falls and access points

·        allowing routes for beer lines, soft-drink dispense and any specialist systems without compromising joinery integrity

·        integrating POS, lighting control and sound systems discreetly within back bars and counters

These integrations are captured within our Bespoke Joinery technical drawings and coordinated closely with project consultants.

Materials, durability and brand expression

Hospitality bars see heavy daily use – glassware, bottles, trolleys, cleaning products – often in long opening hours. Materials must be durable and maintainable while still delivering the desired brand expression.

We assemble bar palettes from our Materials library – timbers, veneers, lacquers, laminates, stones, composites, metals and specialist finishes – and align them with stylistic cues on Joinery Styles.

·        hard-wearing worktops sized for real bar service, with appropriate drip edges and upstands

·        fronts and cladding that can cope with knocks, bags, bar stools and trolleys

·        robust finishes and edge details to plinths and footrests where contact is most frequent

·        back-bar materials chosen for how they behave under spotlights, backlighting and reflections

Where pools, spas or outdoor spaces are involved, we select materials and details in line with approaches captured under

Spa & Wellness Joinery and related exterior strategies, ensuring that bars still feel like part of the same family as internal joinery.

Lighting, mirrors and atmosphere

Lighting and reflection are key to how bars feel at different times of day. We work closely with design teams to layer practical and atmospheric lighting.

·        integrated shelf lighting that highlights bottles without exposing wiring or creating glare

·        backlit panels, mirrors or textured surfaces that give depth and a gentle glow behind the bar

·        considered task lighting for staff that does not dazzle guests seated at the counter

·        switching and dimming arrangements that support smooth transitions between breakfast, daytime and late evening service

Working with architecture and sightlines

Bars are often visible from lobbies, mezzanines and external terraces. We consider how they read from multiple vantage points, not just straight-on elevations.

·        aligning bar heights, cornices and canopies with surrounding panelling and ceiling features

·        designing bar ends and returns carefully, as these are frequently seen on approach

·        coordinating with Wall Panelling & Architectural Joinery and Internal Doors & Screens so that openings, sightlines and bar elevations support one another.

In members’ clubs and hotels, we often reference details from Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery and Reception Desks & Lobby Joinery to keep language consistent across public areas.

Our process for hospitality bars and back counters

Our approach to hospitality bars follows the same clear stages as our wider

Bespoke Joinery work, with particular emphasis on workflow, durability and integration with services and brand direction.

1. Brief & operational review We begin by understanding service style, expected volumes, staffing levels, menu style and the balance between day and evening use.

2. Room, services and sightline review We review plans, sections, MEP information and visualisations – or visit site – to understand structure, services routes, adjacencies and key views.

3. Layout options and elevations We develop layout options for bars and back counters, testing station planning, guest interaction, visibility and integration with adjacent joinery.

4. Technical design & coordination We produce detailed construction drawings showing carcasses, claddings, worktops, lighting, services coordination and access for maintenance.

5. Materials and samples We prepare focused sample sets for worktops, fronts, trims, mirrors and lighting, aligning them with adjacent scopes on Types of Joinery and ensuring consistency with wider Hospitality Joinery and Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery packages.

6. Production & installation Bars are manufactured through our network of workshops and installed in coordination with main contractors and services specialists, with careful setting out, dry runs where appropriate and final adjustments on site.

Connecting bars into the wider scheme

Hospitality bars and back counters rarely stand alone. They are part of a network of joinery elements that support guest experience and operations across a project.

We make sure decisions taken here align with adjacent scopes such as Home Bars & Back Bars, Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, Tea Points & Breakout Kitchenettes, Wine Rooms & Cellars, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Reception Desks & Lobby Joinery and wider Hospitality Joinery packages. All of this work is structured through Types of Joinery and the stylistic language defined on Joinery Styles.

Next steps

If you are planning hospitality bars or back counters as part of a project, share your drawings, MEP information and any brand or concept imagery with us.

We can respond with layout ideas, back-bar concepts and indicative joinery scopes, and show how bar elements could connect with nearby Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, Tea Points & Breakout Kitchenettes, Wine Rooms & Cellars, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery and wider Hospitality Joinery packages. From there we move into detailed design, sampling and delivery in line with your programme.