Hosts serving different tastes
Plain sparkling water gives guests a choice of drinking it as it is or adding a garnish. Keep any fruit-flavoured drinks separate so guests can choose between them.
Who is each format for?
Hosts serving guests individually
Compare 500ml sparkling bottles when sealed servings are easier to hand out than water poured from a shared bottle.
Groups wanting a fruit-flavoured option
Check the ingredient list as well as the flavour: flavoured sparkling drinks can contain acids and sweeteners that plain sparkling water does not.
What should you check before buying?
Decide how guests will be served, then compare bottle sizes and ingredients for the drinks you plan to put on the table.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Plain or flavoured | Read the product name and ingredients. Volvic UK lists citric acid, flavourings, acesulfame K and sucralose in its Touch of Strawberry Sparkling 330ml drink. | I would like guests to choose their own flavour, so I will serve plain sparkling water and treat a fruit-flavoured drink as an extra option. |
| Bottle format | Compare bottle size, count and total pack volume. Highland Spring lists 500ml individual bottles and 1.5L or 6x1L sharing formats; Buxton Water lists 500ml and 1L sparkling formats. | We will stay at the table and pour from shared bottles, or each guest will need a bottle they can take with them. |
| Type of water | Check whether the label says spring water, natural mineral water or soda water. If a recipe calls for soda water, check that product rather than assuming another sparkling water has the same ingredients or taste. | I want a plain table drink, but I may need a separate mixer for a particular brunch drink. |
| Storage and packaging | Read the pack’s instructions for storage after opening. Count the bottles or cans you will need to chill and sort afterwards, and check local recycling instructions. | Fridge space and clearing the table matter if I am choosing between a few sharing bottles and individual servings. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming sugar-free flavoured water is plain water
Volvic UK lists citric acid, flavourings and sweeteners in its Touch of Strawberry and Mango Passion sparkling drinks. That matters to guests looking for an unflavoured option or avoiding particular ingredients.
Read the ingredients and offer plain sparkling water separately if serving flavoured drinks.
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Choosing a multipack by bottle count alone
Six 1L bottles and eight 500ml bottles provide different total volumes and call for different ways of serving guests.
Compare litres per pack, space for chilling and whether guests will pour at the table or take individual bottles.
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Using soda water and sparkling water interchangeably
Buxton Water notes that soda water may have added minerals that give it a distinct taste. It may not taste like the plain sparkling water chosen for the table.
Follow the ingredients called for in a mixed-drink recipe; choose plain sparkling water separately if that is what guests will drink with food.
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Assuming every venue collects bottles in the same way
Collection arrangements depend on the local authority or venue, so the way you sort empty glass or plastic bottles and cans may differ.
Empty the containers and follow the collection instructions where the brunch takes place.
Which brands and ranges are relevant?
These brand ranges illustrate different plain, flavoured and bottle-format choices; check the exact product label when selecting a pack.
Highland Spring
Highland Spring lists unflavoured sparkling spring water in 500ml, 1.5L and 6x1L formats.
- The listed sizes cover individual bottles and shared table service.
- Check that the particular bottle or pack is sparkling; the brand name alone does not identify the variant.
Buxton
Buxton Water lists sparkling natural mineral water in 500ml and 1L formats and publishes its mineral composition.
- The label information gives shoppers a way to compare the stated mineral profile.
- Mineral figures do not establish which taste every guest will prefer.
Volvic
Volvic UK lists Touch of Strawberry and Mango Passion sparkling drinks in 330ml cans for a fruit-flavoured option.
- Volvic UK publishes ingredient lists for these flavours.
- They contain citric acid, flavourings and sweeteners, so they are not equivalent to plain sparkling water.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries lists own-label sparkling water in larger formats, including 2L bottles and 6x2L packs.
- These formats give hosts another bottle-size option for shared service.
- Check the exact product and pack size before comparing it with a branded multipack.
Sainsbury's
Sainsbury's lists own-label sparkling spring water in 2L, 4x2L and 12x500ml formats.
- The listed formats allow a choice between larger bottles and individual servings.
- Bottle format does not establish a taste preference over another spring or mineral water.
Plain sparkling water options on Joybuy
These plain sparkling waters include sharing packs and 500ml bottles for individual brunch servings. Choose between them by how you will serve guests and how many bottles you want to chill.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 8x500ml
Eight 500ml bottles suit a brunch where guests will take individual servings rather than pour from a larger shared bottle.
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Highland Spring Sparkling Spring Water 6x1L
Six 1L bottles provide a plain sparkling water format for pouring at the table; allow room to chill the bottles you plan to serve.
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Buxton Sparkling 8x500ml
This eight-bottle pack offers 500ml servings for guests who would rather have their own bottle than share one at the table.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6x0.5L
Six 0.5L bottles provide individual servings of sparkling natural mineral water. Check the pack’s storage instructions if bottles may be opened and kept for later.
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San Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water 6x1L
Six 1L bottles offer sparkling natural mineral water for shared pouring. Check the pack’s instructions for any water left after brunch.
Brunch sparkling water FAQs
Should I serve plain or flavoured sparkling water at brunch?
Plain sparkling water leaves guests free to drink it as it is or add a garnish; a flavoured drink can be a separate choice. Check its ingredients: Volvic UK lists citric acid, flavourings and sweeteners in its Touch of Strawberry and Mango Passion sparkling drinks.
Are 500ml bottles or larger bottles easier to serve?
Choose 500ml bottles when guests will each take a sealed serving. Larger bottles suit pouring at a shared table; compare the total volume and bottle count so the pack fits your plans for serving and chilling it.
How should I store sparkling water after opening it?
Follow the storage and use instructions on the exact bottle you buy. They matter particularly if you plan to open larger sharing bottles and keep any water left afterwards.
Can I put brunch bottles and cans in the recycling?
Check the collection instructions for the local authority or venue where you serve brunch. Empty containers and sort them as instructed rather than assuming the same arrangements apply everywhere.