classy pub with speakeasy vibes

16 Shed bar ideas to transform your backyard

Get ideas for a man cave, an outdoor drinking spot or a party place in your home!

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A shed bar is a great way to transform a seldom-used space into the new centre stage of entertaining in your home. This outdoor bar built into your garden shed can serve drinks to your family and friends, mimicking a pub.

If you want to know how to build your pub shed, we have some shed bar ideas to transform your backyard shed.

1. The classic pub shed

whiskey being poured into a glass

When you think of a classic pub, billiard tables, dart boards, and draft beers come to mind. You can bring that timeless theme into your backyard by making your shed bar a classic pub. This shed bar is excellent for all kinds of people, just like an authentic pub!

Decorate with bar stools and free-flowing beer to reinforce the theme. There’s no need for a night out when you can invite your friends to your outdoor space for some cold drinks and a round of pool. If you have some extra space, you can install an L-shaped counter so someone can operate the bar and pour pints like a real bartender.

2. Modern and sleek bar shed

modern and sleek kitchen bar

If your main house is modern, with sharp lines and robust features, it’s best to match your shed bar’s design. Turning your shed into a chic bar also hops onto design trends, ensuring you stay up-to-date with modern architecture.

Add in a floating shelf made of glass, put in some minimalistic decor, and match the vibes of your house to your shed bar. While it might not be your typical pub, it’ll be a backyard bar that feels harmonious with the rest of your house.

3. Charming farmhouse backyard bar

group of friends sharing a meal and drinks

When you think of pub shed bar ideas, a rustic barnyard automatically comes to mind because it’s one of the most apt themes for an outdoor bar. The charm of raw wood, fairy lights, and picnic tables can give your shed bar a cosy feel. It can also feel homey and lived-in, with glowing lamps, lots of seating and a fire pit.

It will be the best place to host a classic backyard barbecue because the theme matches perfectly. Lay down a picnic mat on the grass, and have fun with family and friends while drinking beer and eating great food. A farmhouse shed bar is perfect for laying back and relaxing all year.

4. The low-key speakeasy

classy pub with speakeasy vibes

One of the most remarkable ways to incorporate your shed bar is in secret! An unassuming shed that looks like it’s full of tools and machinery is your favourite hangout spot with your family and friends. You can even have a shed storage space, then incorporate the speakeasy behind a secret door to add drama.

Decorate the secret bar with dim mood lighting, a shelf with specialty liqueur and classy furniture indicative of a classic speakeasy. You can be the coolest house in the area with a secret pub shed!

5. Your own sports bar shed

two men cheering inside a sports bar

Creating a sports bar in your backyard can be a dream if you’re a sports fan! Watch exciting games, bond with your fellow fans, and cheer on your favourite teams from your home.

Put up bar stools, get some wall-mounted sports memorabilia, and get a giant screen to feel like you’re part of the action. Serve some beers, and ensure you’re stocked and ready with all the classic bar chow, like pretzels and nuts!

6. Sophisticated wine bar shed

two friends clinking their wine glasses in a bar

True wine connoisseurs can rejoice that a shed is the perfect place to store and serve your chardonnays and merlots. The shed bar will be separate from your house, so it’ll be the best place to create an ideal environment where temperature and humidity can be controlled.

Put in a wine cellar that can stock your daily drinks and wines for special occasions. Add bar stools around tasting tables where you and your friends can pick up the nuances in every sip. Set up a bigger table to gather everyone to eat some charcuterie and have a sophisticated wine party.

7. Free-flowing cocktail shed bar

bartender pouring cocktails into glasses

Nothing says fun and carefree times quite like a flirty cocktail party! One of the most common garden shed bar ideas is using it as a storage for all your spirits. Still, you can take it one step further by making it a cocktail bar serving everything from a classic old-fashioned to a whimsical cosmopolitan.

Line the shelves with all your favourite mixing spirits like gin, vodka and rum. Pack the mini fridge with sodas, fruits and other garnishes that heighten every drink. Invite all your friends over, or master the cocktail-making craft with a cocktail pub shed with limitless possibilities.

8. Tropical tiki bar shed

tropical outdoor bar

If you transform Your garden shed into a lush green jungle, it can become a tropical garden bar. If you have a lush garden room with plenty of green plants, this is a good idea so you can turn your shed bar into a tropical paradise.

Besides using greenery to set the mood, you can add some tiki torches, a tropical outdoor bar table and stools, bamboo decor and some colourful flowers. Serve up some fruity piña coladas from your bar, and maybe get an ice machine to make some shaved ice cocktails to beat the summer heat.

9. Family-friendly kids’ shed bar

kid reaching for a jar in a shelf full of candies

Shed bars are typically for adults, but if you want a kid-friendly hangout spot for the whole family, you can turn your shed into a kid-friendly bar! Serve cocktails without alcohol, bring kid-friendly bar foods in the mini-fridge, like chocolate-covered pretzels, and play fun arcade games for the kids.

This is a great way to bring families together, whether your extended family or your friend group has already started to have kids. Give the young ones a night out at the pub, and let them shake their mocktails while the parents sip on the adult versions on the side.

10. Elegant garden bar

elegant and classy outdoor garden table setup

If you’re proud of your luscious garden, it’s a perfect centrepiece for a garden bar built into your shed. Dress up the shed with flowers and a green wall, then make the seating area elegant with dainty dining sets.

This works exceptionally well with a garden building or greenhouse, where you can set the mood by hiding your shed bar amongst the greenery. Serve up some garden-inspired cocktails, and garnish them with flowers freshly picked around you.

11. Fun karaoke pub shed

karaoke room with mic laid down on the table

Want to amp up the fun? One of the best pub shed bar ideas is turning the shed into a karaoke room with a blaring sound system and a performance area where people can jam to their favourite tunes and sing their hearts out. Enjoy with your friends in your sing-along backyard bar.

Return karaoke to its roots and turn this room Japanese-style by serving up sake and grilled yakitoris from your barbecue. Add in disco lights and a comfortable couch to have fun for hours at your karaoke shed bar.

12. Sunday brunch bar shed

yummy brunch meals on a wooden table

If you’re thinking of garden shed bar ideas for more daytime drinking, you may enjoy a brunch-themed bar. It’s a perfect space for inviting people over on a Sunday, where you can serve breakfast classics like Eggs Benedict and pancakes, then pair it with some boozy mimosas or a classic Bloody Mary.

Set up a long table in a garden room, a bar for cocktail-making and an outdoor kitchen where you can whip up some simple breakfast dishes so you don’t have to bring them all out of the house. This idea is best when you have a big shed, where you can have a whole party for an easy start to their Sunday.

13. Gamer’s dream shed bar

gamer celebrating after a win

For all the gamers out there who want to play on their consoles while sipping on some beers, you can create a gamer’s paradise in your shed! Set up a gaming station where you can display all your consoles and games, then put up a big television where you can play alone or with all your gamer friends.

It’ll feel like an actual man cave, and it can even be a place to store all the geeky stuff that you can show off to all your mates. If you’re an e-sports enthusiast, you can host watch parties and root for your favourite teams as they make the sickest plays.

14. Classy jazz pub shed

alcoholic beverage beside a musical instrument

A jazz bar is one of the best places to have a night out because nothing can beat enjoying live music with a cocktail in your hand. However, you can have a jazz bar at home if you’re a musician! Transform your shed into a jazz shed bar, and put up a soundstage and all your instruments.

Have jam sessions with other musicians, watch each one of them perform their favourite pieces, and chill out. Make the place comfortable, like a cosy lounge area, and you can even set up a sound system with a record player to enjoy music and drinks with your intimate group of friends.

15. Poolside shed bar

cocktail drinks beside the pool

Lounging by the pool is better with a summery drink, so you should put that shed next to it and transform it into your poolside shed bar. Even a small shed can be turned into a place to mix up cocktails so your summers can be extra fun.

Have a fridge and an ice bucket to serve ice-cold beers and mixed drinks that taste better under the hot sun. The shed is also a perfect place to store pool toys and floaties so that this shed bar can be a multipurpose area.

16. Delicious shed bar gastropub

friends at a cookout with beer in hand

Aspiring chefs can put their cooking skills to the test while enjoying their fun shed bar by combining a restaurant and a pub by turning it into a mini gastropub. These establishments serve fantastic comfort food that pairs well with a pint of beer, and it can be the best place to link up with your pals.

Have a complete outdoor kitchen to create delicious dishes in your backyard. Whether you serve up some simple nachos or impress with a whole roast pig, gastropub food is always a crowd-pleaser.

Build a pub shed or a garden bar

Whether you have a big or small shed in your backyard, turning it into a bar starts with a mini fridge and a fun theme. If any of the shed bar ideas above are calling your name, it’s time to make your existing shed more exciting.

If you don’t have a shed in your backyard, you can call a professional to build one! It might be better if you already have a theme in mind. Use Airtasker with a good selection of shed builders willing to make your shed bar dreams come true. Posting a task is simple, and once you connect with one of the many Taskers on the platform, your pub shed can be in your home in no time!

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FAQs on shed bars

When bringing your shed bar ideas to life, consider the size. Check if your idea fits your space if you already have a shed. If you’re building from scratch, the 8 metres by 12 metres is a good place to start, making it bigger if you need more room for the vision you have in mind. Also, check with your local city government if you’ll need special permission to build a structure in your backyard.

It might sound daunting to redo and redecorate for a shed bar, but you don’t need to shell out too much for a garden bar. All you’ll need is storage to put your drinks in, some simple bartending equipment and a place for your guests to hang out. Once you have those three things, it’s already a proper garden bar!

There are a few different options for bases for your shed. Gravel is the cheapest and works best in rainy areas. Concrete is the most long-term base, and it protects from moisture incredibly well. Wood works well on uneven ground and is also very supportive. Plastic installs are the easiest; you can work with different shed sizes. Each base has pros and cons; you can always talk to a professional builder to choose the right one for your project.

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