The 10 Best Drinks Trolleys and Bar Carts

There’s something about the sun coming out – finally – that causes thoughts to turn to chilled rosé and ice clinking in summer drinks. Add the thwack of the tennis ball as it’s Wimbledon fortnight and it seemed the right moment to do a round up of the 10 best drinks trolleys.

I say this full in the knowledge that a trolley, or bar cart if you will, doesn’t have to be used for drinks. They are enormously versatile bits of kit. My Grandmother had a very simple wooden trolley and insisted on tea at 4.30pm every afternoon. Once my mother asked for a cup at 4pm and was brusquely told to wait.

The tea was served from a pot that had to be warmed before the water was poured in. Lapsang su chong. Black. No sugar. There was a outcry the time my mother asked for a teabag in a mug. And I can’t tell you the reaction when she once said she’d had a terrible day and would rather have a gin and tonic.

At 5.50pm precisely the trolley was removed, its contents washed up and put away so that my Grandmother could be, as she liked to say, sat sitting in time for the BBC news at 6pm. There was no ITV in that house.

Whether you use your trolley for tea and cake, cocktails and ice buckets or plants and books (as mine is), here is a round up of 10 of the best. They’re also great in bathrooms for stuff, kitchens for extra stuff and halls for, er, more of that stuff. You’ve got stuff. You probably need a trolley.

CAPRI 

Abigail Ahern

£550

On the basis that once a trolley has been acquired you will always find a use for it then cost per drink poured (as it were) it works out quite well over a lifetime. This brass and glass one ticks many of my boxes. It’s not too fussy, it’s a muted gold colour and frankly, I like it.

ROUND BRASS & MARBLE

Rockett St George

£395

This round version with marble shelves is also lovely and has a slight art deco feel to it. That doesn’t mean you couldn’t put it in any period you happen to be in.

BRASS AND GLASS

Rose & Grey

£315

This has a handle and feels more like you might be inclined to move it from room to room which is sort of the point of the trolley.

SIDE TABLE WITH GLASS SHELVES

At Number 67

£399

Slightly less trolley this one as it’s more of a side table with wheels. But look how it’s been styled for a hall. And that’s not to say you couldn’t put a few drinks and a cocktail shaker on top.

MIRROR TOP FOLDING TABLE

Rigby & Mac

£95

All right not strictly a trolley this one but it looks a bit like those silver salver trays that you serve drinks on so it makes the cut. Also – price. It would also be so pretty as a bedside table wouldn’t it?

BONE INLAID BAR CABINET

westelm

£1,299

While we’re going rogue on the trolley’s we might as well have a look at this thing of beauty. Yes it’s expensive. No you probably won’t end up with it storing towels in the bathroom but this is a forever piece. I have just the forever alcove to put it in come to that.

FUORI BY SKAGERAK

via Trouva

£599

If you do your drinking in the kitchen then this might be the right look for you. I’m not sure about brass in the kitchen frankly but perhaps I am sounding like my Grandmother.

CARRELLO

Swoon Editions

£149

Now I’m including this because I love the style and because I have heard good things about Swoon. Having said that this is not expensive so I’m not sure what it will look like in real life. But it might be great because people say their other pieces are.

ROUND TROLLEY WITH MARBLE SHELVES

Graham & Green 

£315

Back to brass and glass but this one is small. See I’m trying to think of all the scenarios. I’m clearly a cocktail enabler. Is that bad?

 LUXEMBOURG DRESSER BY FERMOB

madeindesign

£480

Well we came in at summer so it makes sense to include one that works in the garden. This beauty comes in an array of gorgeous colours. I’m all over the teal and the dark green. Hell, if you match it to the sitting room or kitchen it can clearly come inside in the winter can’t it?