4 of the UK’s best home bars

A man in Shropshire has won an award for his crafting the UK’s best home bar.

With everyone stuck at home, some have more time on their hands than others.

We’ve already seen dozens of examples of creative endeavours online, and with no one able to go to the pub, many have resorted to building their own in the back garden.

On-trade leisure company Liberty Games launched a competition last month to find the UK’s best home bar, and asked people to send in pictures of their handiwork.

Lee Morris, a homebrewer from Albrighton, Shropshire, beat the competition with his well-made, and eco-friendly home pub.

The judges were impressed with the proportioned seating, great spirits selection, beer fridge, beer mats, darts board, optics, and a table football table added in for good measure.

Morris said the pub was made by hand from “a lot of recycled materials”, and although he had had it for seven years, it’s provided a lot of respite during lockdown.

“I’ve had the pub for about seven years and we’ve had many good curry nights. It really does give you that ‘Friday night feeling’.

“I homebrew a lot of beers and use traditional hand pulls to give a real pint feel. Inside the pub I have a fully stocked bar with spirits and optics.”

The pub also contains a log burner, dartboard, cable TV, drums and leather sofas

“I still sit in the pub now and smile to myself about how great it looks, it really is the best space.”

Keep scrolling to see some of the competition’s runners-up…

Greg Rhodes, Cheshire

A Tiki-themed home bar from Greg Rhodes in Cheshire, will send you straight to tropical paradise.

The owners of this bar said “if you can’t go to the beach, bring the beach home.”

It’s the ideal solution for anyone who has had their holiday plans cancelled due to lockdown.

The tiki bar features a solid gin and rum selection, as well as overhead storage for all your glassware.

Carrie-Ann Mckee, West Lothian

Carrie-Ann McKee went for a more traditional look for her boozer.

Her bar has a pool table, a mini fridge, atmospheric multicoloured lighting, and a fantastic retro pool table lamp.

Lisa Carty, Durham

Meanwhile, in Durham, ‘The Stayin Inn’ pub is a more of a classic beer garden, complete with fairy lights and rustic bar stools.

This bar was built during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Carty said her husband was inspired to create something for her family. With some of them shielding due to the pandemic, going out simply isn’t an option right now.

“My husband, who was furloughed from work, decided to build the bar to enable us to all be together at least in the garden where we could have a socially distanced drink and a catch up.

“The bar has been fundamental in keeping our family together and has kept us all going. It has now become a talking point in our family and our local area and we have already received requests from people who want their very own ‘Staying Inn’.”