We Brits are rightly proud of pub culture - it's a national treasure and arguably the best in the world. But times have changed. Since 2020, many of our beloved pubs have shut their doors, and pub crawls have given way to nights at home with family and friends.
But that doesn’t mean we’ve given up on our pub culture - not a chance! It just means we’ve started looking for ways to bring the Great British Pub closer to home. This is where we introduce the Garden Bar. It's the perfect way to keep the spirit of the pub alive while creating an entertaining space for family and friends.
In this article, we’ll get a bit nostalgic and share some cracking ideas for an outdoor bar. So round up your mates - or your best girls - and let’s go to work on creating a dream garden pub you’ll never want to leave.
First up, the garden bar games room.
Garden Bar Games Room
Palmako Lenna 6mx6m, with Glass Sliding Doors
A firm favourite as far as outdoor bar ideas go, this type of garden bar provides you with an outdoor and indoor option. Crafted from high-quality Nordic spruce, it features a modern flat roof design and large doors that allow natural light to flood the interior. On summer nights, this will be a fantastic way to spend time with family and friends, making cherished memories for years to come.
Here are some ideas to add personality to this home bar for year round fun.
Decor and furniture
For the really nostalgic, you can add dark stained wood or oak furnishings such as small tables, stools and benches. For comfort, install a small Chesterfield sofa in the terrace area, where your guests can sit and enjoy the garden view.
Garden Bar Signs
Add personalized garden bar signs to the indoor and terrace space that reminds you of pubs you frequented back in the day. Fun names like ‘The Garden Arms’ and ‘The Tipsy Gnome’, or ‘Jolly Fox’ are sure to be conversation starters.
Do you have too many names to choose from? Go for a chalkboard sign that can be changed whenever you have guests around. Let the winner of your game night choose the ‘name of the month’, giving everyone a chance to reminisce about their favourite pub.
Lighting
This is the perfect garden bar for string lights to be hung around the terrace area. Vintage lanterns and pendant lights will give your bar area a cosy glow. Both the internal and external lighting should add a warm and comfortable feel to the area. Old school British pubs have never been big on glaring lights, and this provided the atmosphere needed for relaxation and enjoying the company of others.
Games
A must have for every British pub - the dartboard. Mount a proper dartboard with a chalkboard or dry erase board. Install a small cabinet for keeping trivia books, classic board games like dominoes, backgammon, cards, Monopoly, 30 Seconds, Scrabble, and Jenga.
Bar
This small garden bar doesn’t need more than a bar counter and some floating shelves where you can display your favourite drinks, but if you want to create the full bar experience, you can install an authentic bar with a brass foot rail. Set up functional beer taps or vintage style display pumps for visual effect. Wall-mounted shelves can hold pint glasses, wine glasses, and cocktail glasses. Keep your drinks cool with a bar fridge or a mini glass door fridge.
Connect indoor and outdoor spaces
Place high tables and stools on the covered terrace for an alfresco experience. This can be placed close to the bar if you don’t want bar stools around that area. Your dream garden bar can be filled with memorabilia of shared experiences or previous nights out with friends - turning it into a special outdoor space for years to come.
Finishing touches
Set out jars of peanuts, crisps, scratchings, or whatever you fancy as a snack. And you’re done.
Palmako Lenna 6mx6m, with Glass Sliding Doors
This outdoor garden bar by Palmako offers you an excellent opportunity to recreate all your best pub memories at home, but it also brings the pub vibe into a new era. Imagine having friends and family over, with one lot playing board games in the terrace area while the other lot hang out around your newly installed authentic British pub, eating crisps and talking about the good ole days - nothing better than that.
All you need is a bit of space and some time to work on your ideas. With free mainland UK delivery and assembly assistance, you can have your own garden bar set up in no time. Cheers to that!
Need alternative layouts?
If you’re looking for smaller options in garden bars, the Palmako Lenna 6mx3m is a great alternative. It still offers two distinct spaces that can be used for a bar area and a games area. While the Palmako Lenna 310 has a built-in bar area and terrace where you can place tables and chairs.
After getting the ideas flowing with the Garden Bar Games Room, let’s shift gears to a more sophisticated approach with a Modern Gin Pub.
Palmako Lenna 310, 5.9mx3m
The Modern Gin Pub
If you have a passion for gin and want to turn it into a thing at home, then a modern gin pub is just the garden bar idea you need to implement. This setup works perfectly if you have a smaller garden and want to transform it into a space where you can lounge with your G&T in hand. It's the perfect complement if you have a hot tub, snooker table, or outdoor lounge area already set up. But even if you don't, this garden room with a few choice pieces of decor will be the talk of the neighbourhood.
All our garden rooms are built according to the highest quality standards from Nordic spruce, and this garden building is no exception. You can assemble it yourself or ask for assistance, which we will gladly provide. With over two decades of experience in this industry, our products have stood the test of time and provided enjoyment to British families across the country.
Let’s get on with it.
Decor and furniture
Choose sleek and modern furniture to complement this garden bar. Waterproof rattan sofas are a nice touch for putting just outside the garden bar. Add a glass top table for an elegant and stylish appeal. It’s all about setting the scene for relaxing and enjoying a British classic. Town and Country House recently reported that G&T has won over tea as our favourite drink with sales booming at £750,000,000 last year. This makes the idea of a gin garden bar even better.
Palmako Lenna, 3mx3m
Garden Bar Signs
In keeping with the minimalist decor and furniture, perhaps just the word Gin illuminated with LED lights is enough, or a sleek acrylic sign with the name of your bar. Alternatively, use a standing chalkboard to display your name alongside the day’s special gin brands or flavours on offer. Names like ‘Stirred not Shaken’ or ‘Let the fun begin’ are sure to be great conversation pieces - whether you love or hate the name.
Lighting
Soft LED strips around the bar and under counters will give a modern glow to outdoor lighting. Hanging pendant lights or geometric lanterns can add another striking element and for outdoor spaces, consider solar-powered garden lanterns for an eco-friendly touch.
Bar setup
Place all the focus on gin, cocktails and mixers. Install a sleek stone or quartz countertop and floating shelves to display an array of gins and tonics. Include a mini fridge and ice makers to keep the drinks chilled.
Finishing touches
Dress the garden bar with herb boxes that you can use to garnish your drinks. Add plenty of decorative glasses and cocktail accessories to finish the look.
If a Garden Games Room or Modern Gin Pub isn’t quite what you’re looking for, don’t worry. We’ve saved a classic for last. For those who long for the old world charm, a Garden Alehouse is the perfect way to create this.
A Garden Alehouse
There’s something undeniably special about a British alehouse. From the warm rustic interiors to the comforting aroma of ale and hearty fare, it's a place that feels like home no matter where you are. But what about if you could bring this timeless charm into your own garden?
A traditional alehouse is as good as it gets for home bar ideas because it's the perfect solution for those who long for the cosy familiarity of a pub, but also want to stay home with friends and family. Sharing stories, drinking a pint, catching up with the neighbours - this is what life is about.
With so many options available, you can create a pub seeped in old world character and filled with the touches that make British alehouses so iconic.
Decor and Furniture
Recreate the rustic authenticity of an alehouse by furnishing your garden bar with dark wood finishes. Use reclaimed wood for shelves and the bar counter, paired with antique style stools.
Garden Bar Signs
This concept calls for a traditional name like the ‘Old Oak Room’, ‘The Red Lion,’ or ‘The Plough.’ Opt for a wooden plaque with hand-painted lettering or a wrought-iron posting for a truly classic feel.
Lighting
Lighting is key to creating the right atmosphere. Use wall-mounted sconces with warm LED bulbs to mimic the glow of gas lanterns. For an authentic alehouse vibe, incorporate a few faux candle sconces on the walls or even a candelabra-style light fixture in the centre of the room. Keep the terrace softly lit with simple string lights or outdoor lanterns.
Authentic alehouse house touches
Decorate the walls with vintage pub posters, brewery signage, and perhaps a collection of old beer mats. Hang a clock with Roman numerals or a pub-style pendulum clock for added character. A corner shelf can be dedicated to an assortment of classic pub snacks like pork scratchings, scampi fries, or pickled eggs.
For a quintessentially British touch, add a bell near the bar—just for fun—so guests can “ring for last orders.”
A Garden Bar For Every Taste
Whether you’re a lover of pub games, a fan of bringing modern elegance paired with a G&T, or someone who finds comfort in the rustic charm of old world alehouses, there is a garden bar to suit every style.
Each of these concepts offers a unique way to bring the spirit of the Great British Pub into your home, creating a space that’s not just practical but also deeply personal.
The best part? All the memories you’ll create with friends and family once your garden bar ideas come to life. It’s a place to share laughter, toast to life’s milestones, and enjoy the simple pleasure of good company.
