OUR STORY
How Near & Far Mobile Bar Began
We’re Lissie & Matt, the husband-and-wife duo behind Near and Far Mobile Bar. We’re also dog parents to Eddie & Lola and incredibly proud parents to our miracle children, Oakley and Autumn-Rose.
Owning a bar had been a dream of ours for years, but with family life taking priority, it kept getting pushed aside—until a summer’s day in 2018 changed everything. While celebrating a dear friend’s wedding, sipping bubbles in the sunshine, we found ourselves talking about it again. That conversation sparked something, and before we knew it, we were deep into researching how to turn our dream into reality.
It was right there, in the sunshine, that we decided—a horsebox bar was the way to go. With our love for upcycling, recycling, and giving things a new lease of life, we knew we wanted to transform something forgotten into something beautiful.
The Evolution Of Our Bars
Vera-Lynn
Our horsebox, a 1930s Beaufort Rice Horsebox, started its life in London, transporting horses. When we found it, it was abandoned in a field—unused, unloved, and in desperate need of some TLC. We stripped it back completely, inside and out, and lovingly transformed it into a premium cocktail bar, perfect for weddings, festivals, and events. Every single detail was chosen by us—even down to the plug sockets! With the help from our amazing followers, we named her Vera-Lynn, a nod to her London roots.
The Birth of Our Horsebox Bar
Oliver Twist
As demand grew, so did our business. In 2020, we introduced the Oliver Twist Pop-Up Bar V1, designed by Matt himself to be the perfect indoor bar setup. it’ was ideal for venues or for events where a horsebox just isn’t practical. Oliver Twist V1 has since been completely refurbished and Version 2 now makes up one of our new bars we offer for hire.
Our First Pop-Up Bar
Clever Mike
In the spring of 2020, we stumbled across a beautiful flower market cart on Facebook and instantly fell in love. That’s how Clever Mike was born!
We knew this vintage-style bike would make the perfect showstopping drinks cart —ideal for cocktail hours, welcome drinks at weddings, and even as a micro bar for in-home events. It’s been a huge hit ever since, often booked out every weekend for weddings and special occasions!
Our Vintage Bike Bar
Adapting Through the Pandemic
During a family Zoom call, the idea for cocktail deliveries was born. With the support of our loved ones, we applied for a Premises Licence, reached out to our local community… and the response was overwhelming. It turns out, people really had missed having a proper drink!
At the peak of lockdown, with the help of our family, we were delivering 50+ cocktail boxes every weekend, often with our little ones in tow. What started as a way to keep our business afloat quickly gained momentum, and before long, we were getting requests to send cocktails as gifts. That’s when we knew we had to think bigger—so we launched an online shop to deal with demand.
Laurel & Hardy
In 2023, we introduced Laurel & Hardy, our rustic pop-up bar, handcrafted by a talented friend. This bar gave us the versatility we needed for larger weddings and quickly became a firm favourite among our clients—especially for those dreaming of a beautifully rustic wedding setup.
Our Rustic Pop-Up Bar
The Guvnor
Fast forward to 2024, after a period of incredible growth, we noticed that our clientele were looking for a more elegant, bespoke bar solution—one that could be seamlessly adapted to their venue. After two years of research, we decided to take the plunge and invest in our range of Portabars. Available in 2m or 4m long bars.
The future of Near and Far
The Loft Bar
In 2025, we took a huge step forward and opened the doors to our very own commercial unit, along with a fully equipped in-house bar.
Our in-house bar will serve as the perfect meeting space for client tastings ahead of their weddings, a dedicated training hub for our team, and an intimate venue for hosting exclusive cocktail experiences. We’re so excited for this next chapter!
Our in-house bar
Where We Are Now
Thanks to the incredible support from our Clients and the exemplary work ethic of our team our business has continued to grow year on year.
We are also very proud to have been crowned Best Mobile Bar In South Central for the last three years in a row in the Wedding Industry Awards, coming Nationally Commended in 2024 for Best Mobile Bar in the UK.
We now both work for Near and Far full time and watching our dream grow has been nothing short of amazing. At the heart of it all, our passion remains the same: great drinks, exceptional service, and creating unforgettable experiences for our Clients!
If you’re planning an event and need a fantastic bar experience, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch, and let’s make your special day even more memorable!
Lissie & Matt
OUR AWARDS
