Consider the hectic vibe of a crowded watering hole, the sounds of glasses clinking, the buzz of people chatting, and the busy bartenders moving swiftly and smoothly to mix the perfect cocktail. But now envision that same scene without worrying about broken bottles crashing to the ground, and having to watch where you're walking to avoid slipping on wet floors or being in a state of fatigue after beingThe energy of a busy bar is evident in the sounds made, which include lots of conversation, clinking of glasses, and the fast-paced movements of bartenders making amazing cocktails.

Picture that same scene with no shattering of bottles, nor worry about slipping on wet floors, or dealing with soreness from standing on concrete for hours. That's what the thick, padded bar mat can provide when all other factors are taken into consideration. It is much more than a place to set a cocktail glass, it is a vital resource that makes the entire bar area easier to operate, safer, and more enjoyable for bartenders, customers, food servers, and all employees.

By addressing the major industry issues of sound reduction, slip resistance, and increased safety, the padded bar mats create a professional workspace out of a formerly chaotic environment. No matter whether you own a busy lounge, casual pub, or full-service restaurant/bar, understanding the overall benefits of this multi-faceted solution will open doors to achieve higher levels of operational excellence.

The sound of a busy bar contributes significantly to the overall ambiance of the bar. Loud noises (especially unexpected, sudden impacts with glassware) create increased stress levels among patrons, hinder communication, and negatively impact the customer experience overall. However, the use of a padded bar mat provides a well-designed acoustic damping device.Envisioning the activity taking place within a busy bar will conjure images of racing bartenders, the rhythmic clink of glassware on marble or granite, a steady flow of conversation between patrons seated at tables, the hustle and bustle of patrons coming to get drinks and checking out, and so many other things. The scene would not be complete, however, without the many bank brokers and the excess noise that accompanies them. The intense sounds created by falling bottles, slipped feet, and tired feet, as well as the excessive tiredness generated by standing on hard surfaces for too long (either at their desks or behind the bar) need to be addressed in order for the bar to operate smoothly and efficiently. This environment has the potential to provide a better work environment for both the employees of the bar and for its customers.

While each of these potential benefits has its own set of challenges, they can all be addressed through one item that is often overlooked, and that is the premium padded bar mat. The premium padded bar mat is the best investment that a bar owner can make, since it enhances and optimizes the entire space within the bar, resulting in a safer, more efficient, and more enjoyable working experience for all of those involved in the operation of the bar. When all the employees in the bar, including the bartenders themselves, have a more pleasurable work environment, all of the patrons will have a more enjoyable experience in the bar as well.

By helping to reduce excessive noise, by providing a slip resistant surface, and by providing a higher level of safety for the employees and customers of the bar, the premium padded bar mat provides solutions for the core issues that plague the entire bar industry. In doing so, they transform an environment filled with chaos into one that is better organized, professional, and satisfies the demands of all of the employees and customers who interact with the bar. Whether you are managing a busy, high-volume cocktail lounge, a small neighborhood pub, or a busy restaurant that also has a bar area, understanding the many multifaceted benefits of the premium padded bar mat is the first step towards achieving greater levels of successful operations.A thick, padded bar mat also serves as a sophisticated acoustic dampening device in a bar. A bar's acoustic profile is a critical element of a bar's atmosphere. Noise, particularly loud, abrupt noises such as glass hitting the floor, increases stress levels, creates barriers to communication, and reduces the customer experience. A coherent understanding of how the many different uses of a bar mat creates a better bar atmosphere will help determine how quickly to implement operational improvements to your establishment.

Consolidating the Cumulative Benefits of a Bar Mat
Bar mats also help consolidate your bar area. The cohesiveness of your bar area has a direct impact on how well it will perform over time. Bar mats prevent spills and drips from staining your bar, are a safe and sanitary surface for placing drinks and bar equipment, and can be used to manage wasted alcohol. The multiple functions of bar mats will ultimately provide you with a strong brand presence and help you establish a greater degree of consumer trust within your marketplace.

Professionalizing Bar Space
Bar mats also will allow you to create an environment for your staff to operate in a more organized manner. Bartenders and mixologists often find themselves working long hours under stressful conditions with many distractions, which can lead to poor performance. The installation of a bar mat will promote better ergonomics for the bartender or mixologist and also create a space that allows them to focus on delivering a high-quality product to customers.The cushioned build of the mats lessens the kinetic energy created when people place bottles, glasses, and tools on top of them, or when they accidentally drop it, resulting in much less sound than what would normally be produced from these items. The noise produced is changed from a loud bang to a dull thud. How much noise is reduced when items hit the counter? This has far-reaching effects: patrons enjoy their conversations at lower volumes; patrons hear and enjoy the music from the bar's playlist; bar staff experience less sensory fatigue from auditory stress; bartenders who work long shifts are subjected to a high volume of sounds which leads to sensory fatigue; A bar has been designed to provide a comfortable and sophisticated experience (as opposed to a bar where the acoustical environment is designed due to chance).

Building a Rock Solid Foundation of Safety.
Safety must be the primary goal of any food and beverage establishment. The bar area is a particularly dangerous environment due to the numerous hazards present. Water, ice, syrup, alcohol, and citrus juice spills are not rare occurrences; they happen every day. Even a small puddle on a counter can create a dangerous slip-and-fall hazard as well as an enormous liability exposure for the bar and a potential injury to a person carrying a knife, glassware, or other sharp objects. A thick, quality bar mat will provide a non-slip textured surface to help protect your staff and patrons from slips, falls, and injuries. The design and material of these mats allow them to grip the counter underneath and create enough friction to hold the items placed on the mat.The mat structure of a liquid spill will direct the liquid either to containment or to channel away, which provides a secure dry area for the feet of the employees and protects the glassware from breakage when it falls or is dropped by reducing slip/fall accidents. The thick cushioned surface of these mats also protects the glassware from breaking during minor impact, which creates a culture of safety that is preventative in nature for both employees and customers at all times; it reduces costly spillages/breakages for businesses, as well as protects their customers from being hit by glass shatters or bottles falling.

Enhancing Staff Efficiency and Comfort
Operational efficiency is measured in a bar by the time it takes to complete the task, and any obstacle/failure to perform the task leads to increased delays during busy times. The thick mat assists with operational efficiency by defining the primary work area for the bartender/barback, which reduces the distances items have to be moved or placed on a bar mat from their usual work area. It also ensures that items will not move when placed on a bar mat, allowing bartenders to have quick, precise movements when using jiggers and shakers.

The ergonomic benefit of the thick mat should not be understated. Bartenders/barbacks spend a full shift on their feet and working on hard tile or concrete surfaces, and the cushioning support provided by the thick mat is vital to relieving stress on the joints, legs, and lower back.As employees reduce their physical strain, fatigue is diminished and will not play as great a role in affecting their energy levels, concentration, and moods on any given night. Employees will be happier, experience greater comfort, and will have a greater engagement level with their job. As a result, they will deliver better service, and will also stay in their positions longer. So, investing in a bar mat is an investment in your workforce, which will help to reduce employee turnover by giving you a more capable team that is stable.

Employees appreciate working in a sanitary environment, and having the appropriate equipment will make managing spills and other messes a simple and effective task. As bar mats are generally very thick and padded, they are constructed of non-porous food-grade synthetic rubbers or polymers that are extremely difficult to stain from alcohol, citrus, and syrups. In comparison to using absorbent materials that will soak up liquids and trap bacteria, using bar mats enables you to eliminate the messy cleanup associated with spills.

The majority of the best bar mats can be rinsed with water, cleaned with standard bar cleaning products, and even washed in a commercial dishwasher at the end of the shift. By doing so, you can start each shift with a clean bar, which will reduce the chance of having sticky, contaminated residue, or other harmful microorganisms that can develop within the cracks and seams of your bare counters. Additionally, bar mats provide a barrier between the permanent countertop and the items you place on the counter. Thus, bar mats are another cost-savings measure, and are also a way to preserve the life of your expensive bar.

The form and function of bar tops have arrived. The bar top is supposed to be an extension of the professional look and feel that all establishments want customers to have. However, if the bar tops are damaged or worn, this signals to the customer that they have not been kept in the best condition. There are many options of colors, styles, and designs available to the establishment when choosing a quality thick rubber mat. For example, if your bar is a modern cocktail bar, you might choose to use a black bar mat, while your establishment is a gastropub, you may want to use a rustic brown bar mat; or if you want to reinforce your brand, you may want to use a custom-designed bar mat.

By incorporating a quality bar mat into your establishment, you convey to your customers that you are a professional, detail-oriented company. Even during the busiest of shifts, one can see the organized and controlled nature of your workspace by simply looking at the way the bar mats contain the spills and other messes within an easy-to-clean area. Therefore, when the customers receive a drink that has been placed on a clean coaster or napkin, they have confidence that their respective drink has been presented to them on an uncontaminated and pristine surface.