Running a bar, pub, or nightclub means your brand is on show every hour you are open. The glass that lands in front of a guest, the menu they pick up, the tap handle they point to – each one is a brand touchpoint. Good print makes those moments consistent and memorable; generic print is invisible at best, a credibility gap at worst.
This guide covers the core print kit for hospitality venues: what to order, what materials hold up in a drinks environment, and how to keep your brand coherent across every customer interaction. If you have been sourcing coasters, labels, and promotional materials from different suppliers with mismatched results, this is where to consolidate.
All products listed here are printed in Australia and ship flat-rate Australia-wide.
Cheat sheet
- Coasters: 355gsm absorbent beermat board, 95mm square, rounded square, or round, minimum 50 units, from $3.46 each (inc. GST), 3-7 working days production.
- Foil labels: gold, silver, rose gold, copper, and holographic foil on white paper, white synthetic, or clear stock, from $0.69 each (inc. GST), minimum 500 labels, 4-5 working days production.
- POS standees: 5mm TEKfoam with self-supporting strut, two sizes (700 x 1800mm and 1200 x 1800mm), full-colour surface, from $149.72 (inc. GST).
- Seasonal and event print: cocktail menus, stickers, posters, and window signage all available for short-run seasonal updates.
- Design proof provided before any item goes to press.
- Made in Australia, flat-rate shipping Australia-wide; international shipping available on request.
Why Hospitality Print Has a Higher Bar
Bars, pubs, and nightclubs operate in conditions that no office or retail space encounters: condensation, spills, low lighting, hands-on handling, and a pace that does not ease between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. Print in those conditions needs to be specced for the environment, not just the brand.
It also has to work fast. In a venue where a customer’s attention shifts in seconds, print has to communicate immediately and reinforce the atmosphere you have built. A craft brewery with hand-drawn type on an absorbent coaster reads differently to a cocktail bar with gold foil on a black label. Both are intentional. Both are more effective than generic.
Coasters: Your Highest-Frequency Brand Impression
Every drink order puts your brand in a customer’s hands. Custom coasters are one of the few pieces of print that a customer touches, places, picks up, and looks at repeatedly within a single visit. At a busy Friday night service, a coaster might be handled dozens of times per sitting.
Custom coasters from Paperlust Print Shop are printed on 355gsm beermat board – the same absorbent, durable stock used in professional hospitality globally. The board draws condensation away from the glass and the table surface while keeping the print vibrant throughout service.
Available in three shapes – 95mm square, rounded square, and round – coasters suit everything from a clean logo placement to full illustrated cocktail artwork. The 50-unit minimum makes seasonal and event-specific runs practical without overcommitting stock. If you run themed nights regularly, a short run of custom coasters for each event adds a visible detail that regulars notice and first-timers photograph.
What works well on hospitality coasters:
- Logo and social handle (every time a customer photographs their drink, the coaster is in the frame)
- Cocktail of the month or rotating seasonal specials
- QR code linking to a digital menu, events calendar, or loyalty programme
- Event branding for ticketed nights, launches, or anniversaries
- Collaboration artwork with a local brewery, distillery, or artist
Foil Labels for Tap Handles, House Spirits, and Bottled Cocktails
If your venue pours house spirits, brews its own beer, or sells bottled cocktails to take away, foil labels separate a product that looks finished from one that looks provisional. Gold foil on a dark bottle sitting in a back-bar fridge is readable from three metres away. That level of visibility is one your menus and flatwork cannot match.
Foil labels from Paperlust Print Shop are available on white cast paper, white synthetic, or clear stock, with foil in gold, silver, rose gold, copper, and holographic. Cold foil printing allows metallic accents to be combined with full-colour printing on the same label, so your artwork can use photography, illustration, or detailed type alongside the foil finish. Custom die-cut shapes mean your label follows the contour of your bottle or can rather than fighting it.
The minimum order of 500 labels is sized for venue-scale use. A tap hotel running six house taps across 52 weeks will move through that quantity comfortably. For a craft venue releasing a seasonal variant or a limited collaboration, the 500-unit minimum keeps short-run label printing financially practical.
Common hospitality uses for foil labels:
- Tap handle badges for house-brewed beers or locally sourced kegs
- House gin, whisky, or rum bottles with premium branded labels
- Take-home bottled cocktails for events and gifting
- Branded mineral water or house sodas as a table package upgrade
- Staff-side labels for batch cocktail containers and prep bottles
Production takes 4-5 working days, making it feasible to order ahead of a seasonal menu launch, venue rebrand, or product release.
POS Standees for Promotions and Event Nights
When you need to communicate an upcoming event, a new menu, a drink special, or a venue announcement, a point-of-sale standee does the work before a customer reaches the bar. Positioned at entry points, near the queue, or beside a feature display, a full-height standee is hard to miss in a busy venue.
Printed on 5mm TEKfoam with a self-supporting strut attached, standees are available in two sizes: 700 x 1800mm and 1200 x 1800mm. The full-colour print surface handles detailed photography, bold event typography, and illustrated artwork equally well.
For venues running regular themed nights, a set of standees – one per recurring format – can be rotated in and out without reprinting each time. The TEKfoam substrate is robust enough to survive repeated repositioning and storage between events.
Menus, Stickers, and Seasonal Event Print
A hospitality print kit does not stop at coasters and labels. Venues that maintain consistent branding across every printed surface look more considered, and that perceived effort is reflected in what customers are willing to pay for the experience.
Beyond the primary kit items, the print categories venues order most often include:
- Cocktail and drinks menus: short-run seasonal updates that refresh with each menu cycle rather than requiring a full reprint of outdated stock.
- Event stickers and adhesive labels: for merchandise, glassware, bottled products, and promotional giveaways tied to ticketed events or brand collaborations.
- Posters and window signage: for advertising events, specials, and new product launches both inside the venue and from the street.
Keeping Your Brand Consistent Across Every Touchpoint
Venues that build a recognisable identity do not necessarily have a better logo. They have a better system. Every item a customer interacts with – the glass, the coaster, the menu, the takeaway bag – uses the same typeface, the same colour palette, and the same visual tone.
Consolidating your print with a single supplier is the most practical way to enforce that consistency. Colour calibration, finish quality, and material weight all vary between printers. When your labels come from one supplier and your coasters come from another, the gold on each is unlikely to match. When they come from the same facility with the same colour profile, the match is built in from the start.
The broader product range covers menus, stickers, signage, and seasonal print as your needs expand beyond the core kit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the coasters suitable for use with wet glasses in a bar environment?
Yes. The 355gsm beermat board is absorbent by design, pulling condensation from the glass and protecting the table surface throughout service. Full-colour printing is applied to the front face and holds up through normal bar handling.
What is the minimum order for foil labels?
The minimum order for custom foil labels is 500 units. This quantity suits venue-scale applications including house spirit bottles, tap handle badges, and bottled cocktail products. For quantities or sizing outside the standard options, contact the Print Shop team at printshop@paperlust.co before placing your order.
Can foil and full-colour printing be combined on the same label?
Yes. Hybrid printing applies foil to selected elements – a logotype, a border, or a decorative motif – while the rest of the label is printed in full-colour CMYK. This approach gives you the visual impact of metallic foil alongside detailed artwork, photography, or fine type. Contact the Print Shop team to discuss your artwork requirements.
How far in advance should I order coasters before an event?
Coasters have a production time of 3-7 working days after design approval. Allowing at least two weeks before your event date covers production, shipping transit, and any revisions to the design proof. Express shipping is available within Australia for tighter timelines.
Are POS standees durable enough to reuse across multiple events?
Yes. Standees are printed on 5mm TEKfoam, which is rigid and robust enough to be repositioned and stored between events without damage. They are available in two sizes (700 x 1800mm and 1200 x 1800mm) and can carry event-specific artwork or permanent venue branding.
Can I get foil labels in a custom size for my specific bottle or can?
Standard foil label options are available through the product page. For custom dimensions matched to your specific packaging, contact the Print Shop team at printshop@paperlust.co with your bottle measurements and artwork files.
