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27th May 2022

Garden Bar Trends For This Summer - elbec garden buildings

 

 

Garden bar trends for this summer

It’s a trend that’s long surpassed lockdown and is here to stay: the garden as an entertainment space. With so much to look forward to this year including the Jubilee, we’re all in the mood for a garden party. Pop a cork and get the whole family round with our garden bar ideas.

What’s driving the garden bar trend?
Since 2021, interest in garden pubs as an outdoor space has rocketed by an incredible 494%. Driven by a need to entertain at home, followed by increasing costs of going out, the at-home drinks station has taken centre stage.

Looking for ideas to style your outdoor bar? Choose a trend based on your theme, space and budget.

Versatile garden shed spaces
Like outdoor entertaining, working from home is also here to stay. That’s why we’re creating versatile spaces in our gardens – from dividing seating areas to using multi-purpose outdoor bars. If yours is a larger garden, consider ‘zoning off’ areas, such as a drinks station, bar area and seating around a firepit.

Got a smaller space? No problem. A garden shed with both a workspace and bar area helps us transition from work life to home life easily. Our Paradise Pent Garden Bar and Store offers a roomy retreat with a hatch for serving drinks.

Tropical Tiki bars
Stuck in the passport queues? Bring the tropical vibes to your garden with this summer’s Tiki bar trend. Accessorise yours with bunting, coconuts and artificial flowers to bring a taste of Hawaii to your home. This pressure treated Mercia Garden Bar offers carte blanche for you to adorn in your favourite tropical themes. Why not hang a few bar signs to beckon your guests?

Remember to keep things toasty as Britain can’t quite deliver the same standards as the Tropics. Add a patio heater or chiminea: all of the warmth with none of the tropical storms.

All-weather seating areas
There’s nothing like the unpredictable, great British weather. But that’s not stopping us optimistic Brits, and we’ve developed products to withstand year-long weather conditions. L-shaped sofas and outdoor rugs allow us to enjoy our gardens in both the summer and winter months.

As for garden bars, you’ll want a well-treated wood finish that can withstand Mother Nature’s worst. There’s no need to pack away the bar stools, either. This handy Shire Garden Bar and Store features a stylish overhanging roof for when clouds start to gather.

Taking the indoors outdoors
As our love for interior design grew throughout the pandemic, so too did our love for the garden. Many homeowners are uniting both by taking the indoors outdoors – from the abovementioned rugs and couch seating to the décor.

There’s no need to limit your garden aesthetic to biophilic browns and greens. Bring the contemporary touch of your kitchen to the outdoors with this Shiplap Pent Forest Garden Bar. The monochrome design acts as a continuation of modern kitchens, ideal for sophisticated garden parties.

Maximising space
With more urban environments taking on the garden party vibes, there’s no need to hold back if you’re short on space. Position your bar area in the corner with a simple side entrance for easy access. Our garden bars also double up as storage space during the winter months, so you can keep those ice buckets tucked away.

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27th May 2022

Platinum Jubilee Garden Party Ideas - elbec garden buildings

Go platinum with these Jubilee garden party ideas

She’s Britain’s longest-serving monarch with an astonishing seven decades on the throne. That alone is worth celebrating. Whether you’re entertaining at home or indulging in a good old-fashioned street gathering, our Jubilee party ideas are fit for a queen.

Get baking
The official Jubilee pudding has been named, and it’s a cracker of a British dessert. Jemma Melvin’s lemon Swiss roll trifle is sure to be a hit this summer – and you can make your own. Keep it retro by serving your trifle in an 80s-inspired trifle bowl: the perfect centrepiece for your Jubilee garden party.

Not into the red, white and blue? Pay tribute to Her Majesty in another way by adding a dash of lemon to your garden. If you’ve got guests coming over, it’s time to give those wood finishes a lick of paint. Go bold with this zesty yellow.

Liven up the garden furniture
Of course, the Jubilee is a fantastic excuse to bring out the bunting. But why not put your own spin on it? Rather than hanging it on your front door or fence, use it to complement your existing foliage. Got flowers twisting around a garden arch? Incorporate the bunting into it and don’t risk it blowing away!

Cross the Ts and dot the Is with street parties
If you’re getting the whole street involved, the more the merrier – but make sure you’re playing by the rules. Street parties are totally legal and there’s no need for an alcohol licence, but you should inform your local council.

Once the boring stuff’s out of the way, keep it communal with your garden furniture. This lightweight picnic table can be transported easily from your garden out into the centre of the action.

Add a competitive element
There’s nothing more British than a little sport. While you don’t need to assemble a five-a-side football team, you can keep it sporting with some outdoor games. Think classic British favourites like British Bulldog, or bring props along with giant Jenga. Need to keep the kids entertained? Have them play Queen of the Castle in their own playhouse.

Create a ‘Best of British’ theme
As the head of the British institution, the Queen is an extension of our own culture – and there’s much to be celebrated! Create a musical playlist featuring the best of British artists. Think old classics like The Beatles, Britpop legends like Blur and Oasis, or party floor fillers like the Spice Girls.

While royal family masks are almost a dealbreaker, we can pay tribute to the Queen in other ways. Did you know that the Queen’s favourite flower is Lily of the Valley? Make your tribute last with artificial flowers around the garden.

Make a plan B with a summerhouse
We can never rely on British weather, so make sure you’ve got a contingency plan should the clouds start to roll in. Turn your summerhouse into the ultimate royal residency with flags, themed pillows and ornate cake stands.

Now’s the perfect time to serve a few British tipples, too. Go for the classic Pimm’s or mix it up with a shaken-not-stirred Martini. There’s no reason to leave the kids out, either. Try a few summer mocktails such as rhubarb cocktails or peach iced tea.

Stock up for summer now with elbec
A Jubilee celebration may not come around often, but with the right garden buildings, you can live it up all summer. Explore our full range of durable summerhouses, each with a 10-year anti-rot guarantee. Here’s to the next 70 years: we can’t promise the weather but we can promise the party.

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