With the UK having been stuck in lockdown for the last few months, people have been creating their own spaces at home to make up for how much they’ve been missing pubs and restaurants. On those sunny days when you’re off with family and friends, the beer garden is a sorely missed part of the season.
So, if you’ve been missing the humble beer garden this summer, why not make your very own at home? With the right kind of tables and chairs, décor and, of course, drinks, you can create your very own beer garden in the comfort of your own back garden.
The Perfect Spot
Choose a level spot in your garden to create your beer garden. Traditionally, beer gardens aren’t propped up on grass and pubs will have their back garden spaces paved with gravel. However, if your garden is all lawn, you’ll have to work with what you have.
If you have any patio space, that would be ideal for table and chair placement, keeping everything steady. But if you don’t, don’t worry, some simple stones or paving slabs are a great way to mark out the space to use for your beer garden.
Seating and Tables
An essential aspect of the beer garden is the seating and table arrangement. You need to make sure there’s enough space for everyone to sit – with space for social distancing if you’re planning on inviting guests who don’t live in your home.
Choose seats that can weather outdoor conditions, like steel or iron. But don’t forget to get some seat cushions for added comfort, just make sure they’re brought inside at the end of each day – there’s plenty of rain to be had even in UK summers, after all.
For tables, high top tables dotted around can be a great choice to allow people to mingle. If you’re going for a rustic look, wooden furniture is perfect. Picnic tables are a classic staple of many beer gardens, and they have the added bonus that they can be used in the daytime for family picnics before being transformed into beer garden furniture in the evening.
If you’re on a budget, chairs can be fashioned from tree stumps or upside-down boxes. You can source cheap or even free furniture online that people are looking to get rid of, so have a dig around. As long as there are plenty of places to sit, people won’t care if none of the seats match. But with a few matching cushions, you can create a more cohesive look even with drastically mismatched chairs.
Atmosphere
To get the right kind of atmosphere for your beer garden (and it’s crucial you do, so you’re not just drinking a beer outside) consider lighting. The right kind of lighting can take your outdoor space from garden to beer garden in a flash. String lights are a great addition and can be strung up anywhere, like around a table or across the top of a shed. Candles and lanterns are also great, one for each table will help give your space that real beer garden feeling. Fetch down those old Christmas lights, they’re no longer just good for December.
If you have a portable electric fire or are handy with matches, why not set up a fire? It adds warmth as well as a pleasant atmosphere. And don’t forget the music. Speakers playing quietly in the background will add that extra touch that will take you back to all those wonderful evenings spent in a beer garden with your friends, right in your very own back garden.
Food and Drink Storage
Finally, the most crucial element of the beer garden: the drinks and food. You need somewhere to store them outdoors, so you don’t have to go back into the house to top up. Consider buckets, tubs or even a wheel barrel full of ice to store your beer bottles and soft drinks.
Food can be something as simple as pub snacks like crisps, but maybe you could go all out if you’re having guests over. Homemade dips and finger food can be placed on tables to get everyone eating and drinking communally. And if you want to keep the kids distracted, set up a table with a gas fire and some marshmallows on sticks for the kids to eat to their heart’s content – just keep an eye on them.
If shop-bought beer isn’t your thing, why not make your own? Give that beer garden a real touch of magic with your very own homebrewed beer. It’s not difficult to make your own beer, and with beer gas from Adams Gas, we can help.
Our high-quality beer gas can help improve the taste of your beer, extend the life of draught beers and improve its overall presentation, impressing your guests pint after pint. If you’re going to set up your very own home bar for your beer garden, our beer gas can help you provide quality beverages each and every time. Contact us today to find out more about our beer gas and other gas solutions.
