In a real pub, the back bar is the wall behind the counter where the bottles, glasses and mirror live. It is also the part of a garden bar that most often ends up as cluttered shelves full of everything that did not fit in the kitchen.
Decide what lives behind the bar
List everything you will keep in the bar: bottles, glasses, tools, napkins, snacks, games and cleaning kit. Then decide what should be on display and what should be hidden. A good back bar shows off a few things and hides the rest.
Shelving options
- Floating shelves: clean and modern. They need solid fixings into the frame, not thin cladding.
- Bracketed shelves: stronger and easier to fit; pub-style brass or iron brackets add character.
- Freestanding units: a dresser or bookcase can be moved and reused, but must be stable and ideally fixed to the wall.
- Cupboards and drawers: keep dust, insects and damp away from glassware.
Fixings matter
Shelves full of bottles and glass are heavy. In a timber building, fix into the frame or add noggins behind the cladding to carry the load. In a log cabin, allow for wall movement; see log cabin bars.
Storing glassware
- Use closed cupboards or racks with a dust cover.
- Store glasses upright or on mats so they can dry.
- Keep them away from fridge vents and heaters.
- Consider a lip or rail on open shelves so nothing slides off when a door slams.
Our guide to glass and storage has more detail.
Damp and condensation
Garden buildings can be damp in winter. Avoid storing paper items, cardboard boxes and fabrics against cold outside walls. Keep a small gap behind cupboards for air. See damp and ventilation.
Lighting the back bar
A strip of warm LED light under or behind shelves makes bottles glow and gives the bar a pub feel without bright overheads. Any lighting must be wired safely; see lighting.
A mirror
The pub mirror is a classic for a reason: it makes a small room feel larger and bounces light. Fix it securely and keep it away from where it might be hit by a door or chair.
Keep it safe
Lock away spirits if children visit, and keep heavy items on lower shelves.
Sketch the back wall to scale, mark the fixing points in the frame, then plan the shelves around them. Shelves that ignore the frame are the ones that sag.