A permanent supply to a garden bar is fixed electrical work, not an extension-lead job. In England it falls within Part P; use a registered competent electrician so the circuit can be designed, installed, tested and certified correctly.
Prepare a useful brief
List every expected load and where it will sit: fridge, task lights, sockets, heater or other equipment. Mark the building route, counter, doors and likely cable path. The electrician decides the electrical design; your job is to explain the intended use accurately.
Why the route matters
The distance, ground conditions, obstacles and arrangement at the house all affect the design. Do not lay a patio or finish internal lining before the route and equipment positions are agreed.
Outdoor protection
Electrical Safety First advises RCD protection for outdoor electrical equipment and leads, connectors and fittings suitable for the location. Keep plug-in equipment dry and follow its instructions. Do not daisy-chain adaptors or run a routine supply through a door or window.
Lighting and sockets
Put switches where they can be reached on entry. Give the counter useful task lighting without glare. Ask for enough sockets in planned positions rather than hiding multiway adaptors behind a fridge.
What to keep
Retain certificates, circuit information and equipment instructions with the house records. Label isolation clearly. If the building or layout changes later, ask before enclosing or moving electrical parts.
What to tell the electrician
Write down everything that will use power, where it will go and when it will run:
- Fridge or kegerator, running continuously.
- Lights inside and outside.
- Sockets for a screen, speakers and chargers.
- Heaters, which are usually the biggest load.
- A kettle, hot water or cooking appliances, if any.
The electrician will design the circuit, cable size, protection and route from this. See heating, TV and speakers and sink and water.
Ducting and the base
If the base is not built yet, ask the electrician where a duct should run so the cable can enter the building neatly. See base options.
Alternatives for light loads
For a few lights and a speaker, solar or a portable power station may be enough. See solar power.
Plan the bar layout first, then let the electrical design follow the real loads and route—not a guess based on how many sockets look tidy.
Quick answers
Can I wire my garden bar myself?
New circuits to outbuildings are commonly notifiable work. Use a registered competent electrician who can certify the installation.
Is an extension lead okay for a garden bar?
Not as a permanent supply. Leads trailing across gardens can be damaged and overloaded. Plan a proper supply.
What protection does outdoor electrical equipment need?
Electrical Safety First recommends RCD protection for outdoor equipment, along with equipment suited to its location.
Sources
Primary guidance checked 10 November 2026.