Custom stubby holders make a lot of sense for pubs and bars because they’re used in exactly the kind of setting the product was made for.

People already have a cold beer in hand. There’s usually a game on, live music playing, a beer garden filling up, or some kind of event happening.

That means a branded stubby holder doesn’t feel like random promotional merchandise. It fits naturally into the venue.

The key is getting the order right.

A pub giving away 300 holders during finals season has very different needs from a small bar ordering 50 premium holders for staff and regulars.

So before you place an order, it’s worth thinking about how the holders will actually be used.

Why Stubby Holders Work So Well for Pubs and Bars

Some promotional products feel disconnected from the business handing them out.

Stubby holders don’t have that problem in a pub or bar.

They can be used straight away, which is a big advantage.

A customer can get one with a drink, use it during the night and take it home afterwards. If the design is good enough, it can keep being used at BBQs, camping trips, footy nights and parties long after the promotion ends.

That gives the product a bit more life than a flyer or disposable giveaway.

For venues, they can work as:

• customer giveaways
• branded merchandise
• event merchandise
• staff gear
• sponsor merchandise
• loyalty rewards

When Pubs Actually Use Them

There are plenty of situations where a custom stubby holder fits naturally into a venue.

Grand openings and reopenings

A new venue opening, refurbishment or relaunch is an obvious time to create something customers can take home.

A simple holder with the venue logo, opening date and suburb can work well.

Venue anniversaries

If a pub is celebrating 10, 25 or 50 years, a limited-run design can feel more like a keepsake than ordinary advertising.

Footy finals and major sporting nights

This is one of the most natural uses.

You could create:

• venue-branded finals holders
• team-colour designs
• sponsor collaborations
• limited event editions

For a busy finals night, a larger giveaway run can make sense.

Live music nights

A venue hosting bands or recurring live music can use holders as part of the event branding.

They can include the venue logo, event name, date or even a QR code linking to future gigs.

Beer promotions

If a brewery is doing a tap takeover or launching a new product through your venue, a co-branded holder can work well.

The pub logo can sit on one side and the beer or brewery artwork on the other.

Christmas and EOFY functions

These are also good opportunities for staff or customer gifts.

A smaller run of thicker holders can work better here than a high-volume giveaway product.

Giveaway or Merchandise?

This is one of the first decisions to make.

A giveaway and a product you expect people to buy should not necessarily be the same holder.

If you’re giving them away

The main priorities are usually:

• cost
• quantity
• easy storage
• simple artwork
• fast distribution

A lighter foldable holder can make sense if you need a few hundred.

If you’re selling them as merchandise

The priorities shift more towards:

• feel
• durability
• stronger construction
• better artwork
• collectability

A thicker 5mm holder may be more suitable if you want it to feel like proper venue merchandise.

There’s also a middle ground.

Some pubs give holders away to members or regulars but sell them to everyone else.

How Many Should a Pub Order?

There isn’t one perfect quantity.

It depends on whether the holders are for a single night, an ongoing promotion or regular venue use.

If you’ve never ordered before, 50 or 100 can be a sensible place to start.

You can see whether customers actually use them before committing to a much larger run.

For an established pub with steady traffic, larger quantities may give better value.

3mm vs 5mm for Pub Use

Both can work well, but they suit different purposes.

3mm holders

A 3mm holder is lighter and easier to pack.

That makes it useful for:

• large giveaways
• event nights
• sponsorship promotions
• higher-volume orders

If you need 500 or 1,000, the storage advantage can be noticeable.

5mm holders

A 5mm holder generally feels thicker and more structured.

That may suit:

• merchandise
• staff gifts
• loyalty members
• premium event packs
• limited-edition venue designs

For something customers are expected to keep or buy, the thicker feel can add a bit more perceived value.

Design It Like Venue Merchandise, Not an Ad

This is probably one of the biggest differences between a holder people keep and one they forget about.

You don’t need to fill every bit of space with business information.

A huge logo, phone number, address, website and five social handles can make the design look more like an ad than a piece of merchandise.

For most pubs, simpler usually works better.

You could use:

• venue logo
• venue colours
• a short slogan
• anniversary year
• event name
• suburb or location
• simple illustration
• beer artwork

A design that looks like something you’d actually buy is more likely to stay in use.

Limited Editions Can Work Better Than Generic Branding

If you order the same logo holder every year, customers may not care much after the first one.

A limited design gives people a reason to want another.

For example:

• Finals 2026
• 25th Anniversary
• Summer Sessions
• Christmas at The Pub
• Local Beer Week
• Grand Final Night

You can keep the venue branding but change the artwork around the event.

That makes the product feel more collectible.

Front and Back Don’t Need to Match

Using both sides differently can make the design much more useful.

For example:

Front: Venue logo

Back: QR code to bookings

Or:

Front: Pub branding

Back: Brewery sponsor

Or:

Front: Event artwork

Back: Upcoming live music dates

It usually looks cleaner than trying to fit everything onto one side.

Should a Pub Add a QR Code?

A QR code can be useful, but only if it has a clear purpose.

For a pub or bar, good destinations include:

• table bookings
• menu
• live music calendar
• loyalty signup
• Instagram
• review page
• special promotion

A holder is something people may keep for months, so think about whether the destination will still be useful later.

A permanent booking page or social profile usually makes more sense than a promotion ending next week.

QR Codes Need to Be Easy to Scan

If you use one, don’t make it tiny.

There should be enough contrast between the QR code and the background, with some clear space around it.

It’s also worth testing the code from the digital proof before approving production.

That sounds obvious, but it’s much easier to fix a QR code on screen than after 500 pieces have been printed.

What About Brewery or Sponsor Logos?

Pubs often work with breweries, local businesses and event sponsors.

Co-branded holders can work well if the design stays balanced.

If there are only two logos, one on each side is usually clean.

If there are several sponsors, it may be better to create a dedicated sponsor side rather than squeezing everything around the main venue logo.

The venue branding should still be easy to recognise.

Staff Holders Can Be Different From Customer Holders

There’s no rule saying everyone needs the same design.

A pub could have:

• customer giveaway version
• staff version
• VIP or member version

The staff version could use names, a different colour or something a little more playful.

For smaller teams, personalised names can also be a nice touch.

How Early Should You Order?

If the holders are tied to a fixed event, give yourself more time than you think you need.

There’s usually artwork approval before production begins.

Then there’s printing, finishing, packing and freight.

For a finals night or anniversary, you don’t want the order arriving the Monday after the event.

When requesting a quote, include the event date straight away.

That helps the supplier tell you whether the timing is realistic.

What Should You Send When Asking for a Quote?

You don’t need a finished artwork file to get started.

For a pub or bar order, the most useful information is:

• quantity
• event date
• delivery postcode
• venue logo
• preferred holder style
• any sponsor logos
• colours
• wording
• whether the holders are for giveaways or merchandise

That gives the supplier enough context to recommend the right option.

Should You Start With a Smaller Run?

If you’re testing the idea, yes.

A smaller order can show you:

• whether customers use them
• which design gets a better reaction
• whether 3mm or 5mm feels right
• whether people would pay for one
• whether the QR code gets used

You can always increase the quantity later.

That’s often smarter than ordering 1,000 because the unit price looks better.

Common Mistakes Pubs Make

The most common issue is over-designing them.

Too much text, too many sponsor logos and an oversized venue logo can make the final product look cheap.

Another mistake is ordering too late.

And sometimes venues order purely based on the lowest unit price without thinking about how the product will actually be used.

A giveaway holder and a A$10 piece of venue merchandise don’t need the same specification.

Our Take

Custom stubby holders work particularly well for pubs and bars because the product already belongs in the environment.

The best ones don’t feel like promotional merchandise.

They feel like part of the venue.

For a large giveaway, keep the design simple and choose a product that’s easy to store and hand out.

For merchandise or a limited event edition, spend a little more time on the design and consider a thicker holder.

And if you’re unsure how many you’ll need, start smaller and see how customers respond.

FAQ

How many custom stubby holders should a pub order?

For a small event, 50–100 can be enough. Larger venues or promotions may need 250, 500 or more.

Is 3mm or 5mm better for pubs?

3mm can work well for large giveaways, while 5mm is often better suited to merchandise or premium use.

Can I print a pub logo on both sides?

Yes. You can use the same logo on both sides or use one side for branding and the other for a QR code, sponsor or event artwork.

Can pubs add brewery sponsor logos?

Yes. Co-branded designs are common, especially for beer launches, tap takeovers and sponsored events.

Can I add a QR code?

Yes. QR codes can link to bookings, menus, loyalty programs, events or social media.

Can I order custom holders for a one-night event?

Yes. Just make sure you allow enough time for artwork approval, production and delivery.

Can I sell the holders as merchandise?

Yes. If you plan to sell them, consider a stronger design and a holder style that feels substantial enough to be worth keeping.