An Essex Wedding - Mar/Apr 2020 (Issue 91)

We chat to drinks expert and owner of Frankies Wine Bar in Hornchurch, Paul Elbourne GETTING THE right mix P aul Elbourne, owner of Frankies Wine Bar, knows his stuff when it comes to drinks, and you can now have this expertise at your big day thanks to his latest venture – a high-end mobile bar offering some of the best beverages in the world. Tell us a bit about your background and why you launched your business… I’ve been working in bars from the age of 19 and worked at Frankies Wine Bar when I was 25 years old. A few years later, the owner confided in me that she was thinking of selling. I loved the bar so much and its wonderful clientele that I eventually succeeded in becoming the proud owner. I soon adjusted Frankies’ music policy to 70s, 80s and 90s tunes and transitioned it into a London-style bar. I enjoy all types of alcohol so I began to grow the product range on offer. I’ve always been fascinated by the way in which blending different alcohols and flavours creates something completely different, so we moved into offering signature and bespoke cocktails made with fresh ingredients. Being a wine bar my first love is wine, so I trained as a sommelier to offer customers information and recommendations. We hold taster sessions to grow people’s knowledge and expand their taste buds. Give us an overview of your mobile bar business and what it offers wedding couples… Frankies Mobile Bar was launched in 2018 and has quickly evolved into something amazing; we have the ability to bring most of our products from the bar straight to customer’s living rooms, gardens or wedding venues! The concept is to bring Frankies Wine Bar to you with our exceptional selection of cocktails, spirits, wines and draught products, while maintaining the quality and professionalism offered at our Hornchurch venue. We can even bring our own DJs! With many years of experience managing events both in the bar and at mobile events such as house parties, cocktail masterclasses and charity events, couples can rest assured that their event will be comprehensively planned down to the finest detail. What’s more, the mobile bar offers drinks at a 15 to 25 per cent discount because there are fewer overheads. And what about in your Hornchurch bar – what can wedding couples expect there? The bar is able to cater for cocktail masterclasses for hen parties of up to 30 people right through to weddings with a guestlist of more than 110 friends and family. Being a sommelier, I liaise with the catering team to standardise a wine menu to suit the food being served, so your guests get the best dining experience. What do you offer from your mobile bar and what sort of wedding does it suit? We offer a wealth of knowledge and experience – from event management to suggesting the best on-trend beverages to serve. We collaborate with premium alcohol suppliers to offer the best quality products at a reduced price for events, allowing couples to enjoy products that would not normally be available. Our customers love our personalised cocktails based on the preferred flavours of the happy couple. Members of the party are also welcome to join us behind the bar and try their hand at mixing up a cocktail for a little added fun. The mobile bar can be arranged in several different lengths and configurations, ranging from 2.5m to 9m long. The largest option incorporates three cocktail stations, two sinks and four beer pumps. The sophisticated gloss black and brushed silver design works perfectly with most styles of wedding. 4