Most garden bar projects come down to about nine decisions, and each one is a choice between two or three sensible options. This page gives you the short answer to each, grouped by stage, with a link to the full comparison. Work through them in order and the bar more or less designs itself.
If you are still deciding whether to have a bar at all, start with garden bar ideas, then come back here once you know roughly what you want.
Structure: what kind of bar?
Garden bar or outdoor kitchen?
Decide what you want to do out there. Drinks and conversation point to a bar; regular grilling and eating outside point to a kitchen, which brings more services and fire safety to plan. Read garden bar vs outdoor kitchen.
Pergola bar or shed bar?
A pergola bar is open, light and mostly seasonal. A shed bar is a lockable room you can heat and use all year, with damp and ventilation to manage. Read pergola bar vs shed bar.
Timber or metal building?
Timber is easy to fit out and insulate and looks the part, but needs regular treatment. Metal and composite need little upkeep and can be more secure, but condensation must be handled. Read timber vs metal garden bar building.
Pallets or sleepers?
For a DIY counter, pallets are light, cheap and fiddly to prepare, while sleepers are heavy, solid and quicker to stack. Either way, check the timber is safe to use. Read pallet bar vs sleeper bar.
For the bigger picture of buying a ready-made building or making your own, see build vs buy.
Base: what does it stand on?
Ground screws or concrete?
Ground screws are quick, clean and ideal on slopes or where access is poor. A concrete slab is the permanent default for level gardens and heavier buildings. Check the maker's base requirements either way. Read ground screws vs concrete base.
Power: what will you run?
Mains or solar?
Mains, installed by a qualified electrician, is the only realistic way to run a fridge, heater or TV. Solar and battery kits suit lighting and small loads, especially on summer-only bars far from the house. Never wire a garden building yourself. Read mains vs solar garden bar power.
Cooling: how do the drinks stay cold?
Bar fridge or cool box?
A fridge is worth it if the bar is used often and already has power. A good cool box and ice will do for occasional use and needs no wiring. Read bar fridge vs cool box.
Kegerator or bar fridge?
A kegerator suits households that drink a lot of one beer and will keep the lines clean. A bar fridge suits everyone else and covers soft drinks too. Read kegerator vs bar fridge.
Comfort: keeping everyone warm
Electric, gas or fire?
Electric infrared heaters are the simplest choice for covered or walled bars. Gas patio heaters and fire pits are open-air only and must never be used inside a shed or enclosed space because of the carbon monoxide risk. Read patio heater types compared.
A sensible order to decide in
- What you will do out there. Bar, kitchen or both.
- Open or enclosed. This sets your season and whether you need walls.
- The building or build material. Timber, metal, pallets or sleepers.
- The base. Chosen to suit the building and the ground.
- Power. Before the base is finished, so any cable duct can go in.
- Cooling and heating. Last, because they depend on everything above.
Power is the one people most often leave too late. Deciding early means a cable duct can go in with the base rather than being dug in afterwards. The project checklist runs through every stage in order, and the cost guide explains which choices tend to move the budget most.
Rules that apply whichever you choose
Planning and building rules apply to bars, pergolas and outbuildings regardless of material. See garden bar planning permission, and the planning permission guide for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland if you live outside England. Electrics should always go in through a qualified electrician with RCD protection. Hosting friends is fine, but selling drinks is a different matter covered in home bar licence.
How we compare
We haven't tested these; we compare published specs and independent sources. Each comparison sets out the deciding factors, who each option suits and the work on each side, so you can match them to your own garden rather than take a one-size answer.
Pick the decision you are stuck on right now, open that comparison, and write your answer down before moving to the next one.
Quick answers
Which garden bar decision should I make first?
Decide what you want to do out there, then whether the bar is open or enclosed. The rest follows. See garden bar vs outdoor kitchen and pergola bar vs shed bar.
When should I plan power for a garden bar?
Before the base goes down, so a cable duct can be laid. See mains vs solar and power to a garden bar.
Are these comparisons based on testing?
No. We compare published specs, official guidance and independent sources, and say who each option suits.