What Are The Pros And Cons Of A Pub Shed

Building a pub shed is a pretty big project which does take some investment. It will not only cost you money, but time too. However once complete is a pub shed worth it? What are the pros and cons of a pub shed?

Drawing from my own experience I will list the good things about owning a pub shed. As well as the down sides too (there aren’t many).

The top things about owning a pub shed is the social aspect. A place to enjoy evenings with friends, it’s like going to the pub without going out. It’s a great outdoors experience even in bad weather. A few drinks in your own pub shed is a fraction of the cost of going to the pub.

There are plenty more, and I will go through them in this article. However there are a few down sides too.

The Joys Of Owning A Pub Shed

It is a joy to have your own pub in the back garden. When you are building it, you don’t really know what to expect.

A bar where you can enjoy a drink with family and friends. But it turns out so much more than that, it is a magical place, almost therapeutic.

Garden Pub Pros

I think the pros of having a pub shed far outweigh the cons. So here are the good things about a backyard bar.

The Social Aspect

Whether you pop to your pub shed on your own or have a full blown party. It’s a great social space for family and friends.

Relax with your favourite drink while listening to music. Watch your favourite sport on TV while enjoying a nice cold beer.

Make some cocktails for friends and enjoy the chat and banter. Just as you would go to a regular pub to socialise. A pub shed gives exactly the same experience, it really is a great social space.

Dedicated Function Room

A pub shed not only serves as your own home bar, but also becomes the dedicated space to entertain. Whatever the function, it is always ready to go, a birthday party, Christmas drinks or summer barbecue.

It doesn’t matter what the occasion is, a pub shed will always be the place to hold it. Plus you won’t have loads of people in your home. A separate room from the house that is always ready to entertain.

A Great Outdoor Experience

A bar set in the garden becomes the focal point for outdoor activity. Build a patio or deck area outside the pub shed and it extends the entertainment space.

Add a table and chairs for that alfresco eating experience, food straight from the barbecue to the plate. If the weather turns you have the bar to retreat to, while still getting the outdoor feel.

Add a gazebo to combine the inside and outside space and protect against the weather. Even when you are inside the pub shed it still feels like an outdoor experience.

Cheap Drinks That You Like

It is always cheaper to buy beer, wine and spirits from a store, than it is to buy them in a pub or restaurant. So buying drinks for your pub shed is far cheaper than going out for a drink.

Also you only buy the drinks you like, a pub may not serve your favourite beer or wine. But your pub shed will always be serving the drinks you like.

You can even serve draught beer, as long as you have the right equipment in place. The you have literally got beer on tap.

Guests will more often than not bring their own drinks, which will of course be what they like to drink.

So a few drinks in your own pub shed will cost a lot less than going to the pub. Plus you will always be drinking what you like to drink and not making do.

The Most Convenient Pub In Town

A garden bar is the most convenient pub in town because you don’t have to go out to go out. It feels like you are out, but you haven’t left the house.

No traveling, no taxi’s and no hassle. You invite who you want to be in your pub, or just a quite night with your partner.

Just as you also decide the opening hours, it is open when you open it, the same goes for closing too. You have complete control over all aspects of your home bar.

As Unique As You Are

Your pub shed is as unique as you are, there is not one the same anywhere. Pick your theme, you can decide to decorate it like an old style pub, a tiki bar, nightclub or just a modern bistro style.

Again you have complete control, down to every picture, plaque or ornament. Your pub shed will reflect your personality, from the decor, to the drinks you serve and what you name it.

It really is your pub.

The Best Theme Nights

A pub shed is a great venue to hold theme nights, which can be anything. A theme night can include the element of dressing up, or revolve around a certain activity.

Hold a cocktail night with a James Bond inspired look, a great chance for you and your guests to get dressed up. How about a Hawaiian night, Spanish night or just a good old Halloween night, the scope is endless.

Or hold an activity night like a poker night, darts competition, or if you have the room a pool tournament. Obviously the smaller the bar the less activities you can offer.

However if the weather is good, then there are also outside activities you can offer. This will depend on how big you garden is and your pub shed/outdoor space set up.

A Great Hobby

You wouldn’t expect a pub shed or home bar to become a hobby. But that is exactly what it does become, it is ever evolving.

You are always looking at ways to improve it and add to it. Where ever you go, you are on the look out for pub stuff.

Family and friends will turn up with pub gifts like beer mats or a funny bar sign. A pub shed is never finished, it becomes a hobby and an ongoing activity.

The Best Meeting Place

Planning a big night out with friends or going to a local event. What better place to meet up than your garden bar.

I have done this several times and found out when it’s time to go, everyone wants to stay in the pub shed.

However if you can get them out it is the best meeting place to gather and have a drink before you go out.

The Therapy Centre

Of course a pub shed is not a therapy centre, however it is a good place to unwind and relax. After a hard day, or if you are just feeling stressed, it is a great place to forget about life for a while.

It has the power to take your mind off things, just chill and listen to music. Or one drink and a game of darts, a pub shed changes the vibe.

It is a calming place with a relaxed vibe, just a great place to be, it’s like a magic pod.

The Woes Of Owning A Pub Shed

I haven’t really got any woes about my pub shed, but I guess there are a few things that could be considered the downside of having one.

Although I did have to think hard to come up with them, even though they are pretty obvious.

So these may be enough to put some people off building their own pub shed or home bar.

Garden Pub Cons

The cons of having a pub shed were not big enough to put me off. In fact I didn’t even think about them until it was built . However they may be big enough to put some off the idea.

So here are the bad things about owning a backyard bar.

An Expensive Project

A pub shed can be a pretty expensive project that runs into thousands of pounds. And because you keep adding to it, the expense is ongoing.

Having said that, the cost will differ from person to person and pub shed to pub shed. It is possible to keep the costs down to perhaps a few hundred. However you will have to be pretty frugal in your approach.

The biggest costs are the building itself, the base it stands on and the electrical installation. Then you have the bar, seating and stools, and the decor to think about.

This up front cost can be quite high, but for me it is worth the joy from having a pub shed.

Time Consuming

The expense is not just a financial one, there is also plenty of time to invest in a pub shed project. Yes it does take a fair amount of time to get your pub up and running.

Preparing the ground and then laying the base. Building the shed and insulating it. These are the hardest and most time consuming parts, but once they are done, then the work goes on.

Building the bar and seating area, getting the electrics installed, as well as creating an outside space.

It is time consuming, however it is time well spent, especially if you enjoy it as much as I have.

Future Maintenance

Once you have built a pub shed you create more future maintenance. From cleaning to painting there will always be something to do.

The inside will need regular cleaning which adds time to your home chores. Likewise the pub shed will need to be kept in good condition. It may need treating or painting every couple of years. Things may get damaged or deteriorate and need fixing.

Which ever way you look at it, a pub shed will require maintenance.

Ongoing Costs

There are going to be ongoing costs to running a pub shed. The maintenance I have already mentioned will cost money.

As will the extra electricity costs from running things like fridges, lighting and other electricals.

Plus the constant temptation to buy new things for your pub shed, like I said it is never finished and you will continue to add to it.

So there are going to be ongoing costs.

Is A Pub Shed Worth It?

For me it is well worth it, yes it is expensive and time consuming. Yes it will cost me money and time in the future. But hell it is worth it.

The sheer fun of having a pub shed outweighs any negatives for me. Even building it was fun for me, and adding new things all the time is also fun.

Of all the articles, video’s and comments I have heard from people who have a pub shed. I have not heard one say they regret it. All of them love their pub sheds, just like I love my pub shed.

If you have been toying with the idea of building your own pub shed, then I hope this article has helped you to make the right decision for you.

And I hope that decision is to go ahead with it, because I think you will love it. Whether you are thinking of building a pub shed or you have one already, do share your thoughts below.

Let me know your experience of building and running your very own pub shed. Or if you have any questions, the pop them below and I will endeavour to answer them.