It is that time of year when you should start thinking about your garden for the summer. Here are some helpful ideas:

1. THE GARDENS ARE OUTDOOR SPACES

First and foremost, a garden connected to a pub, bar or restaurant should feel like a garden and not an indoor space. Many homeowners try to continue interior finishes to the outside, defeating the purpose of a garden atmosphere. The garden should have outdoor features like stone and brick and the furniture should look like outdoor furniture. In my travels I came across many beer gardens with slatted wood and cloth covered bar stools; these areas are trying to look like indoor spaces. Instead, try to embrace the atmosphere of the outdoor garden, working with the multitude of materials and finishes that are available to transform a bland space into an exciting outdoor experience.

2. STYLE

Decide on your style or theme and then do some research.

Look at the building and its walls – are there any existing features that can dictate a style or that can be embellished?

Keep the theme from the inside to the outside; For example, if you have an Art Deco interior, try incorporating Art Deco statues, tiles, or lamps outside rather than being a generic garden. Similarly, if it’s a traditional pub with lots of Bric-a-Brac, take Bric-a-Brac outdoors.

3. THE CLIMATE

Meteorological considerations

The glare / heat factor: use canopies, plants, or stained glass for diffusion.

Wind: Use windbreaker. Anything can be designed to reduce the wind factor: willow fences, metal or wooden structures with glass or canvas windbreaks. I recently designed a trellis planter and because it had wheels it was mobile, which worked very well for my client.

When deciding on your seat position, consider which direction the wind is coming from.

Rain: Provide adequate coverage for smokers in bad weather. In particularly humid climates, a permanent fixture such as glass on a wood or glass frame will be much easier to maintain than a canvas canopy. Glass means that daylight / sunlight can get through, which is important on those hot summer days. If it is too hot or too light, exterior blinds can be installed.

4. REGULATIONS

Before building anything, it is important to know what your local regulations are. In Ireland, the guideline for covering areas is described as a bus stop where the roof covers an area that has 50% open and 50% closed walls.

5. SMOKERS

Divide smokers from non-smokers if you have space.

Opening the windows may not be an option, as smoke can enter the interior and this does not appeal to customers.

Provide ashtrays on the tables and some buckets of sand where the cigarette butts can be removed when cleaning.

6. UGLY AREAS

Make sure the views are good and do not overlook garbage areas or parking lots. Use plant screens or wooden fences to hide unsightly areas.

7. LIGHTING

Again, use outdoor accessories that follow your style, be it modern or traditional. The lights can be installed in all kinds of things and places. Try outdoor LED string lights under baseboards at a low level or on a wall for a nice warm glow. You can often find a fixture that lights up and down, thus getting the double benefit. Choose lighting that creates ambience without giving your clients a glare headache. Candles always look fabulous in a garden setting placed in simple glass jam jars, bird cages or antique sieves or metal objects. If you have an outdoor bar, make it glow in the dark with candles and LED strip lights.

8. OUTDOOR BARS

Check local regulations on this; In many cases, open-air bars must be located in a smoke-free area, otherwise the person serving at the bar will be subject to smoke inhalation. If you use wood, use teak or a suitable outdoor wood with as little detail as possible so that water does not collect in its cracks. Using wood outdoors means you will have to commit to maintaining it. Being subjected to all kinds of weather conditions means that whatever finish you use will need to be refilled regularly. Stone countertops are great because water runs off. Use lockable refrigerators and undercounter units for added security. Make sure there is a permanent cover over the bar and the customer so that the counter can be used in any weather.

9. PLANTATION

Flowers make people smile, so go crazy with them! Use colors that suit your garden’s color palette. It is always good to have a few varieties in a pot or planter in case one of them fails. You can plant flowers anywhere as long as there are water holes: buckets, bikes, beds … take a look at these ideas. Ask your plumber to install a pipeline irrigation system set up with a powered timer that runs to all your plants and flowers. It can be set to water at night, so that the runoff is gone in the morning. Swap out your pots for ivy and small trees like box hedges in the winter for an evergreen look.

I recommend that you hire a designer to guide you through all of this. It is well worth the advice of a professional and you can usually agree with a designer as to the level at which they are involved to suit your budget.

For more garden ideas, check out the blog posts at http://www.pubdesigndoctor.com/category/beer-gardens/