For keeping a variety of drinks ice cold, ice buckets are a common amenity in hotels and motels, and a frequent fixture in all kinds of hospitality establishments, both old and new. Different kinds of ice buckets provide convenient cooling for soft drinks in cans or bottles, all manner of wine vintages and champagnes, or, for larger gatherings, entire cases of beverages.

Businesses wanting to be prepared for all kinds of food and drink service events or a continual guest service can look at different ice buckets types and styles for long term use. Find deals on this kind of gear from easy web purchasing made possible by prominent e-commerce sites, where business buyers can find solutions:

1. For adding simple plastic or insulated ice buckets to guest rooms in hotels, motels, or a bed and breakfast type establishment.

2. For catering or other special events, where large metal restaurant ice buckets or champagne bucket models may be used frequently.

3. For any other aspect of food service where plastic, metal or glass ice buckets provide the best and easiest cooling solution.

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Look for simple small plastic ice buckets for guest rooms

These little items can be branded with a hotel or other facility logo, or just installed in guest rooms 'as is.' Guests often expect to use these to cool any drinks found in vending machines or lobby areas of lodging venues.

I recommend: Get simple three quart plastic ice bucket types at the WebStaurant Store. AceMart offers more of these simple solutions for hotel or motel rooms.

Find luxury ice buckets

Other versions of ice buckets include neat cylinder or square models featuring leather or synthetic exteriors, brass or other metal hardware and appealing designs for presenting fine wines or other drinks in style. Models like 'wine bucket' styles are generally a little more decorative than other kinds of buckets, and may add a great touch to a room.

I recommend: Expand your search to include custom printed ice buckets and luxury models like the Leatherette, from National Hospitality Supply online. Find more luxury insulated ice bucket models online from stores like JulietShops.

Locate large metal ice buckets for parties, catering and much more

If your business does more large-scale drinks services, you'll be looking for big, pail-style metal ice bucket models: these simple containers can hold pounds of ice for keeping a case of anything cold and are easily cleaned for re-use or storage.

I recommend: Locate big metal or glass ice bucket models for parties and other events at The Find. Find more at sites like World Bar Supply.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Take care to dry larger metal tubs for storage and to keep them out of the elements to prevent rusting: unless they are specially treated, rust can quickly make your ice buckets and pails unusable.

An ice or champagne bucket is an accessory people often take for granted. A plastic ice bucket is durable and strong, perfect for use in a commercial kitchen and at a restaurant’s bar. In pubs and bars, metal ice buckets are ideal for use as functional decorations and accessories. They keep bottles of malt beverages and beer chilled for your customers. Whether you serve mixed drinks, wine or champagne, your customers appreciate an ice bucket that keeps their drinks ice cold.

High quality ice buckets keep beverages chilled for hours. Ice buckets are most commonly made out of four basic materials: metal, plastic, glass and stainless steel. While selecting the right ice buckets for your business may be a challenge, the best ice buckets will boost your sales and your customers' satisfaction rate. For hotels, restaurants, food service businesses, pubs and bars the perfect ice buckets fit all your beverage chilling needs. Before you buy, consider the following:

1. There are specialized ice buckets for different functions. Choose a tub for single serve bottles or a stainless steel bucket for a nice bottle of wine or champagne.

2. Durable ice buckets are required for restaurants, pubs and bars.

3. Insulated ice buckets should include a lid that fits properly.

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Select functional and appealing wine and champagne ice buckets for your business

Most wine and champagne are beverages best served cold. To maintain a consistent chilly temperature, it is important to serve both beverages in an ice bucket. You usually find a wine bucket or champagne bucket made out of metal or stainless steel. There are even plastic ice buckets for quick toasts. Regardless of your type of business, your customers will appreciate the charm and elegance that a metal bucket has to offer.

I recommend: Rapids Wholesale Equipment Company offers an assortment of wine ice buckets. They are available in a variety of sizes and are great for restaurant use. Able Kitchen LLC offers a selection of wine and champagne buckets. Their inventory includes ice buckets on stands and buckets meant for tabletop use, both of which offer elegance and charm for every restaurant and hotel atmosphere.

Include metal and plastic ice buckets in your business' inventory

Constant use can be hard on an ice bucket, which is why a durable plastic or a metal ice bucket can be important to have on hand for your business. Your employees and customers are sure to appreciate the strength and durability these buckets provide.

I recommend: Ace Mart Restaurant Supply Co. has a great selection of plastic ice buckets. Their inventory includes special restaurant ice buckets for ice transport, ice tubs and plastic ice buckets with lids for ideal table service. PubDecor LLC Warehouse offers an assortment of metal ice buckets to suit the needs of pub and bar owners alike. Their beer logo buckets will exceed your expectations and your customers' needs of function and style, therefore increasing the profits for your business.

Choose the best insulated ice buckets to meet your customers' needs

Insulated ice buckets keep beverages chilled for a longer period of time than their un-insulated counterparts. An insulated ice bucket boasts the ability to store ice as well as chill beverages. Adding the best insulated ice buckets to your business' supplies will round out your ice bucket inventory and help insure the success of your business.

I recommend: Hotel Supplies Online offers a large variety of ice buckets that are especially useful to the hotel/motel industry. They also offer customized buckets for a personal touch. Royal Industries, Inc. also offers a selection of ice buckets in different sizes and materials to meet your needs. Theirs include stainless ice pails, insulated ice buckets with lids and plastic ice buckets for toting ice.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Some plastic ice buckets are disposable, which may be a perfect choice for some businesses.
• •  For a fancier or classier look, consider a crystal ice bucket, copper ice bucket or crystal champagne bucket.

If you want to serve cool drinks--including wine, champagne or beer--in your restaurant, you need to look into ice buckets pricing and costs. In addition to their use with chilled alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, ice buckets come in handy for allowing customers to scoop their own ice or for keeping fresh foods cool, such as fruit or seafood. There's basically only one style of ice bucket: a bucket with a lid. However, there are a number of variations to choose from, including buckets made from different types of materials.

In addition to ice buckets themselves, you'll probably need a few ice bucket accessories. These might include tongs and liners. But before you buy any ice buckets or accessories, think about the following:

1. Do you want a classic silver, glass or metal ice bucket?
2. Would an insulated ice bucket better suit your needs?
3. What accessories do you need for your champagne bucket or other ice bucket?

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Select a traditional wine bucket of stainless steel, glass or silver

A stainless steel ice bucket is often considered the most traditional and ideal for serving chilled drinks. One with double walls and on a stand costs around $70 to $100. A stainless steel countertop variety costs about $30 to $50. A plain, clear glass ice bucket runs about $35 to $40. A silver-plated ice bucket, suitable for special occasions, costs about $25 to $85, depending upon how elaborate it is.

I recommend: Rapids Wholesale Equipment Company sells a number of traditional glass and stainless ice bucket products, including buckets on stands. For a more elaborate, silver-plated ice bucket, visit Wholesale Flowers and Supplies. Malibu Wholesale sells clear glass ice buckets.

Choose an insulated ice bucket

Insulated ice buckets may stay cooler longer than traditional ice buckets, and they tend to have a more casual look. Most are plain, but some come in colors like black and white. A plain white insulated bucket runs about $27 to $37 wholesale. Mini insulated buckets, about seven inches tall and quite light weight, cost around $15 to $25.

I recommend: Wholesale Warehouse Supply sells plain insulated ice buckets in three-quart size. CentralChef offers a mini stainless steel bucket that's double insulated. Royal Industries sells a variety of insulated ice buckets in colors such as black, brown and "parchment."

Don't forget wine bucket accessories

Liners for ice buckets make cleanup a breeze. Plastic liners cost about $17 to $25 per 1,000. Tongs and ice picks are often handy accessories, as well. Expect to pay about $1 to $5 for stainless steel tongs and $2.50 to $5.50 for ice picks. A stainless steel scoop for putting ice into or out of the bucket runs around $2 to $5.

I recommend: For ice bucket liners, visit Wholesale Janitorial Supply. DrinkGiant.com sells tongs, ice picks and scoops for use with ice buckets.

When buying ice buckets for your business, you'll quickly find there is a huge assortment of sizes, styles and qualities available for purchase. The bucket you choose depends on several things, including what you are willing to pay and whether aesthetic appeal is important to you or your customers. When it comes to ice buckets key terms, you'll find that certain types of ice buckets and accessories have their own special names.

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Ice caddy

An ice caddy is a large, usually plastic, ice bucket on wheels. They are useful when portability is a necessity, and they keep ice frozen for several days.

I recommend: To see an example of an ice caddy, visit KATOM Restaurant Supply, which describes and depicts a typical ice caddy.

Ice tub

An ice tub is an ice bucket shaped like a large bowl or tub. It has no handle and is usually at least 15 inches in diameter. Often, ice tubs showcase a variety of drinks in a party setting.

I recommend: Got to KegWorks.com, which illustrates and lists a few benefits of ice tubs, to see an example of this style.

Double walled

A double-walled ice bucket is one that has two walls on every side. Imagine a bucket within a bucket, and that essentially is what a double-walled ice bucket looks like. The main benefit of double-walled buckets is they don't sweat.

I recommend: KitchenEmporium.com describes a classic double-walled ice bucket and its benefits.

Ice pick

An ice pick is an ice bucket accessory with a handle shaped like a rod. The handle holds a metal bar with a sharp point, the pick, at one end. You can use the point to break up large blocks of ice.

I recommend: Minnesota Ice Picks offers a variety of ice picks, including ones for professional use, and provides specifications for them.

Ice display

Unlike traditional ice buckets, ice displays are decorative and draw attention to themselves. You'll usually see them in the form of acrylic trays with low sides, but sometimes they are glass. An ice display can be highly ornamental and may have colored lights.

I recommend: Instawares Restaurant Supply describes a decorative ice display with colored lights.

LED buckets

LED buckets are ice buckets with LED lights inside them. People frequently use them at bars and in party settings.

I recommend: View examples of LED buckets at CheapNovelty.com, which has photos and a description of this ice bucket style.