Frequently Asked Questions
what can bernie be hired for?
We’ve designed and constructed Bernie's beautiful interior to be as flexible as possible, meaning we can provide both a Café and/or Bar service at your event. Bernie is the perfect addition to weddings, corporate events, private parties, markets, festivals & public events. He is also available to hire for promotional work, marketing activation, or as an extra or feature in photo/film shoots.
If you think Bernie would be a great addition to your upcoming event, feel free to contact us via email, phone, or through our contact form
what's included with your cafe hire packages?
Bernie has been fitted out more like a Melbourne café than a typical coffee van. Check out our café hire page for more information on this service, what's included in our base package, and any additional extras you might like to add.
For private events we take bookings at an agreed fixed fee, and for public events such as festivals we charge café prices to the customer.
what's included with your bar hire packages?
When booking Bernie for a bar service, the package will always include at least 2 x RSA qualified bartenders, Bernie, glassware, liquor license application, eskies, tubs, ice for service and all associated bar equipment. The service time and amount of staff required will depend on your event and the number of guests in attendance. We tailor all of our quotes to suit the vision, length, and service suitable for your event.
Check out our ‘bar hire’ page for more information on our standard bar hire service, and our 'wedding hire' page for information on our comprehensive wedding bar packages for your big day.
can big shot provide the alcohol?
Big Shot does not provide the alcohol for our bar service hire. All of our events operate on a BYO basis.
We ask that all alcohol for the event is provided by the event organiser, or through a third party supplier. If you're unsure about how much alcohol to buy for your event we're here to help, and would be more than happy to help you estimate beverage quantities for the event.
All BYO beverages that to be served cold are to be pre-chilled in a cool room or fridge to ensure they are cold and ready for service when we arrive.
Please note that rubbish & recycling removal is not included with our service - this will need to be arranged by you, or with your venue.
how big is bernie?
Bernie is a big boy, measuring 5m long x 2.2m wide x 2.4m high.
He needs a minimum clear space of 7m length x 4.2m wide x 2.5m height to set up/operate within. This allows for sufficient space for all of our doors/hatches to open, additional supply space on the right side of van, and enough circulation space for guests to congregate around the left side of the van where the service hatch opens from.
If you’re interested in booking Bernie for your private event, we like to confirm details like site access & conditions are suitable during the booking process, to ensure we’ll be able to get him in and out of your event.
where is big shot located, and how far do you travel?
We’re based in Donvale, Victoria, and are more than happy to travel to your event. Because Bernie is an old van, we try and limit our bookings to within 2 hours of the Melbourne CBD, and is included within our quote.
what equipment / amenities do we need to provide on site?
Bernie is capable of being fully self-sufficient if required, complete with on-board water tanks and a generator on wheels, however if the following amenities are available on site, that would make our job easier, and this would be reflected in our service quotation.
15amp Power
Bernie has 2 x 15amp plugs in his rear, ready to connect to the mains power on site. If 15amp power is unavailable close to the location we’ll be operating in, we can include generator hire at an additional fee.
Potable (drinkable) water tap connection
If a garden hose tap is available within 30 meters of where Bernie is parked, we would connect him up with a hose.
Wash up area - Bar bookings only
For bar bookings, we provide all of the glassware as part of our service. To ensure an ongoing supply of sparkling clean glassware for your event we require a dedicated space for our bar staff to collect, wash and polish glassware outside of our van. Some venues will have a commercial glass dishwasher available on site for us to use, however we can make do with a sink with hot water supply and sufficient bench space.
how much does it cost to hire bernie?
We understand that every event is different, so every service package we provide is tailored to suit your requirements to ensure you're getting exactly what you're after. We have provided 'base package' pricing for our café and bar services on our website, which gives you a good indication of what is included as a minimum.
how do i book?
If you think Big Shot would be a Big Hit at your event, feel free to get in touch with us through our ‘contact’ form, or shoot an email through to contact@bigshotvan.com.au with some details about your event.
We’ll then discuss your event in more detail so that we can firm up an accurate quote for you. To confirm a date and lock in that booking, we require a 30% deposit of the quoted amount. The remaining 70% of the invoice is to be paid before 14 days out from the event.
are there any cancellation fees?
In the regrettable instance that an event is cancelled, please note that the 30% booking deposit is fully refundable until 14 days from the event non-refundable.
do you have public liability insurance?
We sure do! We’re covered for up to $20m.