Gift ideas for garden bar owners: useful, not just novelty

Garden bar owners get given a lot of novelty signs. The gifts that actually get used are usually the boring-sounding ones: something that keeps drinks cold, lights a step or stops a glass breaking.

Practical gifts that earn their place

• A fridge thermometer: cheap, tiny and genuinely useful for checking a bar fridge. See fridges.
• A good cool box or ice bucket for bars without power. See cooling without power.
• Shatter-resistant outdoor drinkware for patios and children.
• Rubber bar mats to catch drips and protect glasses.
• A bar tool set: opener, measures, spoon and knife, in a tray that keeps them together.
• Outdoor cushions in quick-drying fabric for benches.
• Blankets for autumn evenings.

Lighting gifts

• Festoon lights rated for outdoor use, with the transformer rating checked. See festoon lights and IP ratings.
• Solar path lights for the route from the house. See solar power.
• LED candles for a safe glow.

Personal touches

• A hand-painted or signwritten bar sign with the bar's name. See signs and names.
• Framed local maps or prints for the walls.
• Engraved glasses or tankards.
• A chalkboard for the "specials".

Games

Dominoes, cards, bar skittles or a dartboard if there is space. See garden bar games.

Alcohol-free options

A selection of good alcohol-free beers, spirits or cordials makes a thoughtful gift and helps the host look after every guest. See the hosting checklist.

Gifts to avoid

• Indoor-only electrical items that will end up outside.
• Large decor that adds clutter to a small bar.
• Anything that encourages heavy drinking.

Check before buying

Ask what the bar already has, how big it is and whether it has power. A gift that fits the bar's style and space is always better than another plaque.

Take a look at the bar next time you visit. The gap on the shelf or the dark step outside usually tells you exactly what to buy.