Build your own pub at the bottom of the garden
No last orders. No taxi home. And the best seat in the house is always free. If you have ever fancied your own local, this is how you build it.
What makes a proper pub shed
The bar
The heart of it. A solid counter to lean on, with room behind for a worktop, a sink if you are keen, and your bottles and glasses.
Power and lights
Sockets for the fridge, pumps and telly, plus proper lighting. Get an electrician to wire it. Soft, warm lighting sells the atmosphere.
A fridge or cellar
A bar fridge or under counter cooler keeps the bottles cold. Go further with a small keg, a pump and a font if you fancy real draught.
Somewhere to sit
Bar stools at the counter, a bench or a couple of comfy chairs. Build the bar at the right height, around 1050mm, and the stools to suit.
A bit of heat
Insulate the walls, floor and roof, then a small heater keeps it usable in winter. A snug pub shed gets ten times the use of a cold one.
A theme
This is where it becomes yours. Country pub, sports bar, tiki hut or speakeasy. Signage, optics, beer mats and a bit of memorabilia do the work.
Sound and a telly
A wall mounted telly for the match and a Bluetooth speaker or two. Run the cables in before you line the walls.
The finishing touches
A dartboard, a clock for "pub time", a chalkboard, a doormat and a sign over the door. The details are what earn the bragging rights.
A bit of inspiration
How to build a pub shed
Six steps from bare ground to first pint. Each one links to a full guide, and the builder works out exactly what timber and materials you need.
Get the base right
A pub shed is a heavy, well used building. Lay a level concrete slab or a sturdy bearer base on drained ground. Foundation guide
Frame and clad the shell
Build a strong 47x100mm frame at 400mm centres and clad it in shiplap or log lap. Use the builder to get exact quantities. Open the builder
Make it weathertight
Felt or rubber the roof properly so your bar stays dry. A good overhang keeps the rain off the doorway. Roofing felt guide
Insulate for all year
Insulate the walls, floor and roof with a vapour control layer so the room is warm and does not sweat. Insulation guide
Power and lights
Plan sockets for the fridge, pumps, telly and lights. Mains work must be done or signed off by a registered electrician. Electrics guide
Fit out the bar
The fun bit. Build the bar, dress the back shelf, hang the signage and put the kettle, sorry, the keg on. Design your pub shed
Pub shed questions
A pub shed is usually permitted development if it stays within the outbuilding size and height limits and is not lived in. Selling alcohol or charging people would be a different matter and could need a licence. If you are wiring it and using it a lot, check the limits and the Building Regulations position with your local authority first. See our shed planning permission guide.
A cosy two-stool bar works in around 2.4m by 2.4m. For a few mates with a proper bar and a telly, aim for about 4m by 3m. Add a games area and you want 5m by 4m. Our sizing guide helps you choose.
Yes. Most home bars run a bar fridge or an under counter cooler, and either bottles or a small keg with a pump or font. It all needs power, so have an electrician fit proper sockets and circuits rather than a permanent extension lead.
Insulate the walls, floor and roof during the build, seal the draughts, and a small electric or panel heater will do the rest. A warm pub shed gets used all year, not just in summer.
The shell is the easy part to price. Design yours in the builder and it works out the timber, sheet materials and fixings with an estimated cost. The fit out, bar, fridge and kit, is whatever you choose to spend on top.
Time to build your local
Design your pub shed, get a full materials list, an estimated cost and a cutting plan, all free.
Design your pub shed