From ski gondola to pop-up bar

Imagine a drive through the French Alps, a roadside graveyard of retired ski lifts, and one slightly ridiculous idea. For Ryan and Fran, that conversation near Taninges turned into Gondola Bar Company: a full-size Austrian ski gondola, refitted (with a little help from family) as a mobile bar and now towed to weddings, parties and Christmas events.

We caught up with them to find out how they sourced the gondola, what it takes to get it to a venue (and what other drivers make of it at the traffic lights), and why they think everyone should try a ski holiday at least once. They've even shared their Aperol Spritz recipe, so you can bring a little après-ski to your own kitchen.

Phase one of the gondola refurbishment in Sheffield

Ryan's dad helped the couple turn their business dream into a reality

Dark wooden cladding gives the interior a cosy feel

With a fresh coat of paint, refrigeration and bar fittings, the Gondola Bar is ready for bookings

Where did the idea for Gondola Bar come from - was there a specific moment that sparked it?

We've both always loved spending time in the mountains, particularly in the French Alps. The idea really started on a drive near Taninges, not far from Morzine, when we passed what can only be described as a ski-lift museum/graveyard, filled with old gondolas and lift equipment. We got talking about how amazing it would be to give one of the old gondolas a new lease of life and turn it into something cool. At first it was just one of those slightly ridiculous ideas you throw around on holiday, but the more we talked about it, the more we thought, “Why not?”

Not long after we got home, we started looking for a gondola of our own, and somehow that slightly mad conversation in the Alps turned into Gondola Bar Company.

How did you end up sourcing a genuine gondola from Saalbach and what was involved in turning it into a working bar?

Finding the gondola was probably the first indication that this wasn't going to be the simplest idea, we spent ages contacting ski resorts and lift manufacturers. Eventually we found the perfect one in Germany. It had originally spent it's working life carrying skiers up the mountains in Saalbach, Australia before being retired. We bought it and had it transported all the way back to Sheffield on a truck.

Then came the small issue of turning something specifically designed to hang from a cable halfway up an Austrian mountain into a fully functioning mobile bar. It needed a complete refurbishment and a purpose-built setup so we could safely transport it, install it at events and actually serve drinks from it. It now has proper draught equipment, refrigeration, bar fittings and everything else you'd expect from a professional event bar.

Myself, Fran and my dad, spent our evenings and weekends over the next few months converting it into what it is today, and officially started taking bookings in January 2026.

The Gondola Bar is a great talking point at weddings

It's also perfect for Christmas events, corporate events and private celebrations

What kind of events tend to book you most - weddings, birthdays, corporate - and is there a booking that's stood out as a real highlight?

Weddings are a huge part of what we do. Couples are always looking for something a little different, and the gondola naturally becomes both the bar and a centrepiece for the day.

Apart from the weddings, we get many enquiries from Christmas events, corporate events and private celebrations. One of the nice things about the Gondola is that it works surprisingly well in completely different environments.

We probably couldn't choose one single booking as a favourite. A big part of the enjoyment for us is seeing where it ends up next. But the first few times we drove around Sheffield towing a full-size Austrian ski gondola behind the van, we couldn't stop laughing. There are some some very confused looks at traffic lights.

What's involved logistically in getting the gondola to an event? Is transport and setup as big an undertaking as it looks?

It's definitely our biggest challenge. The Gondola travels on its own purpose-built twin-axle trailer, so before every event we have to consider access, ground conditions, gateways, turning space, overhead branches and cables, gradients and where we're actually going to position it.

Once we arrive, the Gondola can be removed from the trailer and set up as a standalone bar, which makes the finished result look much better than simply serving from a trailer. Then there's the less glamorous side of après-ski.. beer lines, refrigeration, gas, power, stock, glassware and all the other bits that magically disappear from view once the first drink is poured.

Fortunately, customers don't have to worry about any of that. We handle the transport, setup and pack-down. They just get to watch an Austrian gondola appear at their venue.

What's the reaction usually like when guests first spot the gondola at an event?

Normally some variation of, “Is that an actual ski gondola/cable car?”

If you had to pick one drink from your menu that best captures the "après-ski" spirit, what would it be?

We'd probably go for an Aperol Spritz. There may be more stereotypically alpine drinks, but an Aperol Spritz on a sunny mountain terrace is very hard to beat. It's bright, sociable, ridiculously drinkable and looks great lined up along the Gondola Bar.

Our simple version is:

3 parts Prosecco
2 parts Aperol
1 part soda water
Plenty of ice
A slice of orange

For anyone who falls in love with the atmosphere at one of your events, what would you say to someone considering an actual ski holiday for the first time?

Absolutely do it and don't worry if you're not already a skier. Everyone has a first day on skis and everyone looks slightly ridiculous at some point. We think a ski holiday is about so much more than how quickly you can get down the mountain. For us it's waking up surrounded by incredible scenery, stopping for lunch halfway up a mountain, spending the afternoon skiing with friends and finishing the day with a drink (or 10) while you're still wearing your ski boots.

Tempted to book the Gondola Bar for your next party, wedding or corporate event? Get in touch with Ryan and Fran here.