FAQs
Booking
Check our calendar for an open date, then call Patrick at (203) 613-2420 or fill out the contact form. We'll confirm availability, take a $250 deposit, and you're on the calendar.
How do I book?
$1,000 Sunday through Thursday. $1,250 Fridays and Saturdays. St. Patrick's week is $2,000. Holidays, festivals, and weddings get a custom quote.
What does it cost?
Delivery, setup, leveling, power (5000-watt quiet generator), and pickup. Two outdoor whiskey barrels with umbrellas. The pub for a day, set up wherever it fits in your space.
What's included in the price?
Do I need to put down a deposit?
$250 to hold the date. You get it back the next day, assuming the pub comes home in the same condition it left in.
Cancel more than two weeks out and your deposit comes back. Less than that, we'll work it out.
What if I have to cancel?
How far in advance should I book?
For most dates, two to three weeks is plenty. For St. Patrick's week, contact us by January. For weddings during peak season, earlier is better.
The pub itself
Eighteen feet long, eight and a half feet wide. With the steps out and the outdoor barrels deployed, plan for about a 25-foot footprint with walking room around it.
How big is it?
How many people fit inside?
Sixteen comfortably. More if everyone's standing and friendly. The outdoor barrels add another 8-12 people.
A real bar with a working tap. A snug with leather seating. A central whiskey-barrel high-top. Stained glass sconces, a ceiling fan made from a ship's wheel, and signage on every wall.
What's actually in there?
Yes. The kegerator runs cold, the tap pours, the lights work, the speakers play. You're hosting a party in a pub that drove to your house.
Is it really a working pub?
Can I come see it before booking?
If you're in Wilmington and want to look at it before committing, ask. Patrick will probably show you around.
Setup & delivery
Patrick tows it. You don't have to do anything except be there when he arrives. Delivery is the day of your event.
How does the trailer get to me?
Stable, mostly-level ground. Driveways, backyards, parking lots, and flat fields all work. Steep slopes don't. Tell us about your space when you book and we'll figure out logistics.
What kind of space do I need?
About thirty minutes. Patrick levels the trailer, drops the steps, sets up the outdoor barrels, and walks you through the bar. You're pouring within an hour of his arrival.
How long does setup take?
What about electricity?
No electricity needed. The Rover runs on its own 5,000-watt quiet generator.
When do you pick it up?
The next day.
Alcohol
No. The Irish Rover is a venue, not a bar. You bring your own beer, wine, and spirits. We help you figure out where to get it. The kegerator will fit a quarter keg or two smaller kegs – one for Guinness and one domestic.
Do you provide the beer?
How does the Guinness keg work?
Order a Guinness keg from Total Wine in Wilmington with two weeks of notice. They'll have it ready under your name. We tell you which size to get based on your headcount. The kegerator handles the rest.
If you order a Saturday rental and pick up your keg before noon, Patrick will come tap it for you. Otherwise we leave you with instructions and a printed sheet on how to tap it yourself. It's not hard.
Will you tap the keg for me?
While you're at Total Wine, grab whatever else you want. There's a domestic tap on the kegerator alongside the Guinness, so you can have a second beer on draft. Liquor and wine sit on the bar.
What if I want other drinks too?
For a private event at your home, no. For a public event, festival, or anywhere you're charging admission, you'll want to check with your municipality. We can share what we know.
Do I need a liquor license?
Add-ons
Yes. Patrick works with a bartender he trusts who books separately. We'll put you in touch.
Can I hire a bartender?
Yes. Patrick works with Barney Brogues, a local Irish band. They book directly. We can connect you, and they know other Irish acts for bigger events.
Is there live music available?
What about an extra outdoor barrel?
$50 add-on for a third outdoor whiskey barrel. Useful for bigger groups who want more standing space outside.
Travel
Thirty-mile radius from Wilmington. That covers most of New Hanover County and parts of Brunswick and Pender.
How far will you travel?
What if I'm just outside the radius?
Ask. Patrick may go further for the right event. Expect a travel surcharge.
Other
Can kids come inside?
Kids are welcome.
What about dogs?
Well-behaved dogs are fine.
The pub itself is fully enclosed - rain doesn't matter once you're inside. The outdoor barrels can move to covered space. For severe weather, we'll talk to you about postponing.
What if it rains?
What's the deal with St. Patrick's Day?
March 17th week is our busiest stretch. It books up by January. Patrick dresses as St. Patrick and walks the Wilmington parade with the pub. If you want the trailer that week, contact us by January.