Living With A Pub Shed

It has been 18 months since I built our pub shed Welsh Cockney. Has it been worth the investment? And what is it like living with a pub shed?

It has definitely been worth the investment to have a separate space for relaxing and entertaining. It is great to have a dedicated space to invite family and friends for get togethers and a personal space to enjoy any time. It is a positive experience and a joy to live with a pub shed.

Table Of Contents

Where The Pub Shed Dream Began

Imagining your own personal pub can sound like a dream, and that’s where the journey started for me. I’d always fancied having a unique space to relax or entertain, so I decided to make it a reality. It all started with some simple drawings and endless Pinterest boards for some inspiration. I wanted to create something cozy and personal, a little pub for myself.

The initial decision is what type of building you choose, converting an existing shed, building a bespoke shed from wood or brick, or buying a premade kit.

I chose the latter and ordered a log cabin, which was surprisingly easy to build. The ground work took a lot longer than the build which I built up to roof height in just a couple of hours.

The roof was another couple of hours and the floor inside roughly the same. The building was up and ready to kit out.

The main feature in a pub is the bar, so that is the first thing I built. Using pallets and scaffold boards I built the bar in about three to four hours. I then added a back bar using scrap wood and scaffold boards.

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Next was the seating area which was constructed from 2×4 wood lengths and OSB board. Upholstery was ordered to fit my measurements. The rest has taken shape over the 18 months since and will continue to be added to.

The pub shed was not a cheap project. While I managed to save on labour by doing the work myself, the log cabin itself did hit the pocket.

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The cabin, Insulation, flooring, upholstery, bar stools, electrics/fittings, outside deck/furniture and wood preservative didn’t leave much change out of £6000. Since then I have added another fridge/fermentation unit, beer pumps, dartboard, bar mats, pub sign, window blinds and plenty of pub style wall decorations.

So it is a personal investment you can just keep spending on, and I will as a TV is next on the list for those sporting events.

However once you have built such a building and kitted it out, the sense of fulfillment is amazing. It is more than just a shed, it is an escape. Family and friends love it and I have my own special spot to unwind after a long day, or to entertain in.

As a hobby I also review beer, so it is a perfect space to video my reviews.

Life With The Pub Shed: An 18-Month Reflection

Eighteen months in, the pub shed has become a fun part of my life. Much like a good friend, it’s there for the ups, the downs, and everything in between. It gets a fair amount of use, especially at weekends for myself and M’Lady, as well as gatherings with family and friends.

In the winter months it is a cozy space to enjoy a drink and have a game of darts while listening to some great music. In the summer months with the outside deck area and furniture it becomes a great entertainment space.

It has often been a meeting place where we enjoy some drinks with friends before going out together. There is an annual music festival in my village and the Welsh Cockney has become the official meeting place for pre festival drinks.

There isn’t a week gone by since the pub shed was built that it hasn’t been used. Apart from when we have taken a holiday. So on reflection it has been a great investment that gets a lot of use and brings a lot of joy.

Evaluating the Investment: Is the Pub Shed Here to Stay?

Looking back, the financial plunge into this project seemed a little high, but now it truly feels like an investment in lifestyle. Has it been worth it? Absolutely. It’s become a cherished part of my home, something I wouldn’t trade for the world. The enjoyment and relaxation it brings extend far beyond monetary value.

There is ongoing expense though, keeping the outside protected from the elements is a must and will cost going forward. However that is really the only maintenance expense, until the roof covering needs attention, which shouldn’t be for a long time yet.

Insuring the building and contents is another annual cost, but it is a low cost.

Any other expense is down to personal choice, I am a sucker for adding new things to the pub shed. But as I said that is personal choice.

The social aspect has been great, the pub shed has a magnetism that brings people together. It has created a fun and warm welcoming environment that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

The pub shed has become an important part of our home, so it is not just staying, but will probably evolve even more. A TV is on the cards, but I know there will be other things added in the future.

We still like to go to the pub now and again, but having our own pub certainly works out a lot cheaper, especially as I brew a few beers throughout the year.

So living with a pub shed has been a positive experience filled with a lot of fun. So it is definitely here to stay.

If you are thinking of a similar project and have any questions or concerns, then pop them below and I will help where I can.