Pop-Up Wine Bar Nights

Local guests who like a themed night out, plus the host venue's own regulars and followers.

Drink and snack sales on each night, often shared with the host through a fee or revenue split, plus ticketed tasting nights.

• Knowledge of wine and a willingness to keep learning
• Hosting and customer service
• Social media and local marketing
• Organising events and suppliers

• Liquor rules for pop-ups and special event permits vary by province, so check with your regulator before selling anything
• Check whether the host's licence and insurance cover your activity, and get the agreement in writing
• Responsible service training is required for servers in many provinces, so check what applies
• Snacks may need a food permit or safe food handling certification from your local public health unit
• Commercial general liability insurance, with liquor liability if required
• Hosts can end the arrangement, so don't rely on a single venue and keep your stock and kit portable

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000 CAD, depending on your wine stock, glassware, styling, snacks and insurance. Using a host venue avoids paying for a full premises.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $1,500 to $6,000 CAD, depending on how many nights you run, your guest numbers and your pricing. Hosts can end the arrangement, so avoid relying on one venue.

Check liquor rules and special event permits for pop-ups with your provincial regulator before selling anything. Also check whether the host's licence and insurance cover your activity, responsible service training, and any food permit for snacks.