Frequently Asked Questions

How does it all work?

The Wandering Druid is essentially a miniature, traveling event space. It works the same as renting any event space for a party or gathering, except this time the event space comes to you and nobody is going to kick you out at closing time!

Click here for a short video explaining how our mobile pub service works!

Do you provide bar staff?

Yes! The Wandering Druid not only provides the bar itself, but we can also provide the bartenders if you don’t want to pull the pints yourself! All of our bartenders are TIPS certified with a minimum of 5 years experience. For more information, check out our services page.

Regardless of whether or not you choose to hire one of our bartenders, when we deliver and set up the pub, we will show you how everything works behind the bar and how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness!

Click here for a short video explaining how to pour the perfect pint of Guinness!

Is alcohol included?

We do not provide any food/beverages. In order to comply with state liquor laws, the host, venue, or catering company must purchase the alcohol. The pub comes fully equipped with taps for two draft beers at a time and refrigeration for your kegs or other bottled/canned beverages. Consider it as if you were having a house party; you supply the beverages and when we deliver and set up the pub we will fully stock the bar for you and connect your keg(s). We also provide the gas for your kegs free of charge. This is actually the most cost effective way to host a party since you don’t have to pay huge premiums for an open bar or hefty mark-ups on alcohol, and can instead purchase everything from the cheapest source available.

We work with local liquor suppliers who can deliver everything to your location on the day of your event, making it as easy for you as possible. If you need some help with drink choices or amounts, we are more than happy to give some suggestions to make sure all of your guests are catered for!

Click here for a short video explaining how the alcohol ordering process works!

Do we need a license to serve alcohol in the pub?

You do not need a license to serve alcohol in the pub as long as you are not charging your guests for drinks. Consider the Wandering Druid an extension of your home or venue.

Our event venue said they require you to have a 12C Caterer's License, do you have one?

If you are having a wedding or event at a private venue, they may tell you that your alcohol vendors require a 12C caterer’s license. A 12C caterer’s license is only required to sell alcohol at an event, but is not required to serve alcohol. Since you are providing the alcohol yourself for an open-bar and are not selling it to your guests, there is no license needed. For us to serve alcohol to your guests, we are required to have both general liability and liquor liability insurance which we have, and our bartenders must be TIPS Certified which they are. We are more than happy to speak to your venue directly to explain how our service works.

Can we hire your bartenders without the pub?

Unfortunately our bartenders are only available for Wandering Druid events, and cannot be hired without our mobile pub. If you are simply looking for an Irish bartending service in the Greater Boston area, check out our friends at Sláinte Bartending.

How much does it cost to rent the Wandering Druid?

The base rental fee is $999 midweek (Monday through Thursday), $1,299 on Fridays & Sundays and $1,499 on Saturdays. For a full list of our Holiday Pricing, please click here. Additional costs include Delivery Fee depending on your location and bar-staff if needed. For more information, check out our services page.

How many people can fit in the pub?

The pub’s interior has seating for up to 14 guests and standing room for up to 25. Every booking also includes our Outdoor Beer Garden to complete the Irish pub experience and create even more room for you and your guests. The Wandering Druid has hosted parties of 180+ guests, and we pride ourselves on being able to accommodate groups of any size! For more information, check out our services page.

Do you operate throughout the winter?

Yes! We can’t think of anywhere we’d rather be on a cold, New England evening that sitting in a warm, cozy Irish pub with a pint of Guinness or hot whiskey in front of us, the fire on, a good tune in the background and in the company of friends. Although summer is packed with events and goings-on, we believe our little pub is even better suited to the colder months! So don’t let a January birthday bring you down, we’re here for you when you need us!

Does the pub have AC and/or heating?

Yes! The pub has AC for the summer months and a heater for the winter. With how small and well insulated the pub is, it can reach and maintain desired temps quickly, making it well equipped for the extreme New England climate!

Do we need a huge driveway to rent the pub?

As small as our pub is, we do have certain requirements to ensure a smooth and safe experience for you and your guests. To be set up safely and securely the pub requires a level, hard surfaced area (concrete, asphalt, gravel, pavers etc.) with enough room for the pub itself as well as additional room for your guests to enter and exit the pub comfortably. The trailer the pub is built on measures 21.5’ x 8’ and is towed by a truck. We will review your delivery address with you during the booking process to ensure there is a suitable location for the pub. We suggest having a look through our event gallery to see some of our setup locations in the past.

Can the pub be parked on the street?

Unfortunately, drinking alcohol in public is illegal in Massachusetts, so the pub must be parked on privately owned property.

How many kegs can fit in the pub at once?

The pub can facilitate up to two half-barrel or full-sized kegs at a time, which is roughly 250 pints of beer. If you don’t want to commit to a full-sized keg, we can also accommodate quarter kegs (62 pints) or sixth kegs (41 pints). There are two beer lines in the pub so two different draft beers can be served at one time. You can also use less kegs and keep the rest of the refrigerated space for cans, bottles etc. (although we strongly suggest kegs as opposed to bottles/cans of beer as refrigerated space is very limited in the pub and kegs are much more efficient in this way).

If you have additional refrigerated space at your location to store extra kegs (large trash barrels with ice are great for keeping kegs cold) you can go through as many as you’d like! In the colder months, additional kegs can be left outside to replace the empty kegs when ready. Temperature is the most important detail when it comes to your kegs. Kegs take 24 hours to properly chill, and when we hook up your kegs in our pub they will need to already be cold to avoid any issues. We will work closely with you leading up to your booking to ensure this isn’t a problem!

Do we need taps for the kegs?

When ordering your kegs, your provider may tell you that you need taps or special connections for your kegs, especially for Guinness. We will provide everything you need for your kegs except for the keg itself. We provide all gas, taps and necessary connections for whatever beer you choose, so rest assured that we’ve got you covered! All you need is the keg(s) itself and we will take care of the rest.

Can we serve cocktails in the pub?

Since it’s your pub for the day, you can serve whatever you’d like! The Wandering Druid, being a true Irish pub, is better equipped to be a beer and wine bar as opposed to a cocktail bar. The pub comes with two draught lines, and enough refrigerated space to accommodate up to two full-sized kegs, or it can kept for other bottled/canned beverages. If you choose two full-sized kegs for your event, there will be very limited refrigerated space left for additional cold beverages. The pub does not have an ice machine or freezer to keep ice from melting, and given its size only has so much room behind the bar. That being said, you are more than welcome to supply your own ice for cocktails and mixed drinks, provided you have a freezer or additional coolers at your location!

Do you supply glassware?

We do not supply glassware for the pub. We suggest getting clear 16 oz. cups for beer/mixed drinks at a ratio of 3 - 5 cups per guest, and 9 oz. tumblers for wine/cocktails at a ratio of 2 - 3 cups per guest.

What else do we need to supply ourselves?

If you plan on serving mixed drinks or liquor on the rocks, you will need to provide your own ice. We provide an ice bucket and scoop, but the pub does not have a freezer to store large quantities of ice so you will need to have cold storage on site (a large cooler would do the trick). You may also want to provide straws if serving mixed drinks, as well as lemon and lime slices for garnish. We will provide cleaning supplies for the bar (all purpose cleaner, paper towels etc.) and beer coasters for your guests.

How long do we get the pub for?

Each booking is a one day/night rental. We will arrange a specific time that suits you for the pub to be delivered on the day of your event, usually in the late morning/early afternoon or at least two hours before your event starts. If there is a booking the night before, there may be certain time restraints on how early we can deliver the pub to you, but we will work with you to ensure the best delivery time for your event. If it is a surprise party and you need a specific delivery window we can accommodate that also, as we have done many times before! Typically, we will return to retrieve the pub around 7 a.m. the following morning, however we can retrieve the pub after the event on the same day if necessary.

Are half-day bookings available?

No, we do not offer half day bookings. Between the logistics of delivery, set up and breakdown (and guests never wanting to leave the pub!) it would be impossible for us to take multiple, shorter bookings in the same day. Therefore, our rental rates are the same per day regardless of how many hours you plan on spending in the pub.

Are multi-day bookings available?

Yes! If the pub is available, you can absolutely keep it for multiple days. Feel free to email us at info@wanderingdruid.com or fill out this contact form for more info on multi-day bookings.

How long does it take to setup the pub?

The pub and Beer Garden will generally be setup within one hour of being securely parked and leveled at your location. The fridges can take up to 75 minutes to come down to temp in the Summer months once the pub is plugged in. In the Winter, the pub can take up to 60 minutes to warm up once the heater is switched on.

Is there a sound system in the pub?

Yes! There are commercial grade speakers in the pub which can be connected via bluetooth or USB cable to your device. We suggest designating a phone/device to play music from for the night which can be left in the pub as the bluetooth connection will fail if the phone/device is taken outside the pub. We also have a Wandering Druid Playlist on Spotify to help create that true Irish pub atmosphere.

Does the pub require power?

Yes. The pub will need a power supply to run the fridges, lights, sound system etc. Ideally the power should come from a main power supply like a house, shed or office. All we need is one regular power outlet within 100 feet of the pub for an extension cord, which we provide ourselves.

Is there outside seating available?

Yes! Our Outdoor Beer Garden is included with every booking in addition to the pub itself, providing more room for you and your guests and a truly immersive pub experience. Check out our services page for more information.

Is there a TV in the pub?

Yes! There is a 42" Full HD Smart TV in the pub so that you can watch the big game, throw on a slideshow or just binge the latest Netflix series. Your pub, your rules! The TV will require a WiFi connection on site to use Smart TV features, or it can be connected via HDMI cable to an external device. It also supports Apple AirPlay to stream or share content from your Apple devices.

Where do you deliver to?

While we are based in the Greater Boston area, we are more than happy to give you a Delivery Fee quote no matter where you are! Feel free to email us at info@wanderingdruid.com or fill out this contact form.

Is there a bathroom in the pub?

No, there is no bathroom in the pub.

What is your cancellation policy?

Cancellations made 15 days or more in advance of your event date will receive a full refund. Cancellations made within 14 days of your event date will receive a full refund minus the $500 booking deposit. Cancellations made within 7 days of your event date will not receive a refund.

E.g. If your booking is on March 17th, the last day to cancel and receive a full refund is March 2nd. March 3rd is considered to be within 14 days of your event date, and March 10th is considered to be within 7 days of your event date.

If your booking has to be cancelled for mutual reasons such as a storm that would make it unsafe for us to travel with the pub, then you would receive a full refund regardless of how close your booking is, and a discount should you choose to re-book for another date.

What is a Druid?

The Druids were the mystics, philosophers, and magicians of the ancient Celtic world. Their spirituality was borne from their near-worship of poetry and music, their warrior prowess, and the world of nature.

For any additional questions, please email us at info@wanderingdruid.com or fill out this contact form.