If you want a fridge, heater, TV or kettle in your garden bar, you want a mains supply installed by a qualified electrician. Solar and battery setups are good for lighting, phone charging and small loads, especially where running a cable would be hard. Heavy, always-on appliances quickly outgrow most garden solar kits.
The quick comparison
| Deciding factor | Mains supply | Solar and battery |
|---|---|---|
| What it can run | Fridges, heaters, TV, lighting, sockets | Lighting, small electronics, light loads |
| Reliability | Always on | Depends on sun and battery capacity |
| Winter | No change | Short days mean far less power |
| Installation | Qualified electrician, often notifiable work | Plug-in kits for small loads; larger systems need a professional |
| Groundwork | Cable route, often buried | Mounting panels, siting the battery |
| Safety | RCD protection, certified install | Battery placement, charging, ventilation per maker |
Who should choose mains
- Bars with a fridge, kegerator or heater. See kegerator vs bar fridge.
- All-year bars where you need power in December.
- Anyone who wants sockets, a TV and decent lighting together.
The full process is in power to a garden bar.
Who should choose solar
- Summer bars that only need lights, music and phone charging.
- Bars far from the house, where a cable run would be long or disruptive.
- Renters and temporary setups.
Our solar power guide covers the kinds of kits available and what they can sensibly run.
The hidden work on each side
Mains
The work is in the cable route and the paperwork. A supply to an outbuilding usually needs a new circuit, which in England and Wales is typically notifiable under Part P of the Building Regulations. A registered electrician can self-certify; otherwise building control needs to be involved. Cables have to be protected and buried or routed safely. Do not attempt this yourself, and never run extension leads out of a window as a permanent fix. See building regulations.
Solar
The hidden limit is capacity. A fridge runs around the clock, and a heater draws far more than most garden kits can supply. In winter, panels produce much less. Batteries need siting where the maker says, away from heat and damp, and anything beyond a small plug-in kit should be designed and installed by a professional. Panels need a sunny spot without shade from trees or the house.
Combining them
Some bars use mains for the fridge and sockets, and solar for festoon and path lights. That keeps the cable run simple and the lights off the main circuit. Check ratings in festoon lights and IP ratings.
List every appliance you want in the bar, then ask an electrician to quote for the supply before you decide solar will cover it.
Quick answers
Can I wire my own garden bar?
No. Electrical work to an outbuilding should be done by a qualified electrician with RCD protection, and new circuits are usually notifiable. See power to a garden bar.
Will solar run a bar fridge?
Only with a properly sized system, and winter output falls sharply. For most people a fridge needs mains. See bar fridge vs cool box.
Are plug-in solar lights safe?
Generally, if they are rated for outdoor use. Check the IP rating and follow the maker’s instructions. See garden bar lighting.
Sources
Primary guidance checked 10 November 2026.