Stay Home – Build Your Own Garden Bar
As we enter the summer months, we’re starting to venture out of our houses and into our gardens. We’re even daring to think about the possibility of having friends and family round for a social event (gasp!) Once you’ve calmed down and gathered yourself (the notion of having a social life once more can be quite overwhelming!), you can start entertaining the idea of enjoying catching up with friends you haven’t seen for a while. Some good food and perhaps a few drinks to wile away those warm evenings. What better way to make your evening go with a bang, than to build your own garden bar?
Instead of going to the Dog & Badger down the road, think of all the money you’d save by inviting people over to enjoy your new bar. Buying your own bottles of spirits or beer is wallet-friendly and of course, there are no last orders. Unless you’re overly rowdy and the neighbours complain!
So where to start? Depending on your imagination, available outside space and DIY expertise, there is an idea (and budget) to suit everyone.
Spatially Challenged
If you have limited outdoors space available, you may consider the option of a pull down bar fixed to the wall. This can be created using old pallets and operates like a drawbridge – it’s stored away against the wall when not in use. You can make holes in the base for bottles and glasses to comfortably sit and even adorn it with lights or a neon sign for added glamour!
Sit Up And Socialise!
If you have a little more space to play with, how about constructing a garden bar you can sit at? Unless you are Tommy Walsh or super skilled with various power tools, I’d suggest you purchase a ready made one. These can be put together relatively quickly (especially with the help of a friend eager to sample your new bar!) and are available at Wickes, Ebay and online garden centres.
With this type of bar, you can almost believe you’re at a real pub. You have a bar to cosy up to and somewhere to sit if you partake of a little too much alcohol! You can affix several optics to the wall to house your favourite spirits, have your favourite lager on tap and the barman doesn’t get wet if it rains. Obviously the ‘customers’ may get a little damp but, to be honest, if alcohol is involved who notices the rain?!
The Whole Shebang
If you have the space, money and energy, you can really go to town. If you own or are ready to invest in a summerhouse, you can create a boozer to rival the real thing. You can paint, carpet and adorn the bar with whatever takes your fancy – lights, plants, signs, sparkly unicorns… the world really is your oyster. Some comfy seating and perhaps even a dartboard (placed away from the bar!) can add the finishing touches. You may find your friendship group grows as word spreads about your bar, but the more the merrier – right?? Most importantly, remember to give your new establishment a fitting name. Personally, I like The Giggling Squid…..
Whatever size and design you choose, your garden bar will be the hub of your social life this summer and you will wonder how you ever lived without it!
