Best Garden Dome for a Home Bar

Why a dome is the ultimate garden bar

A garden bar is one of those ideas that turns a garden into a destination, and a dome is about the most characterful home for it you could pick.

• Atmosphere as standard. A lit dome at night is pure occasion: the curved, glowing shell does half the work of setting a mood before you've poured a drink. The free Ambient LED lighting kit that comes with every dome means it glows from day one.
• Year-round, not summer-only. A canvas bar tent works in July; a dome works in December too. It stays dry and inviting whatever the weather, and cosy with a heater on, so your bar isn't mothballed for half the year.
• Room to gather. The open, panoramic interior seats a proper group and keeps everyone together, which makes it far better for hosting than a cramped shed bar.
• A genuine feature. It's the talking point of every gathering and the envy of the street: a garden bar people actually want to come to.

Designing your dome bar

• Size for a crowd. Think about how many you want to host: a bar plus seating for a group needs generous space. As a guide, the Mini seats 4-5, the Standard 6-8 and the Large 12-16, and a counter and fridge take some of that room. Size up; a sociable bar fills out fast.
• Specification: Ultra for regular use. Its panels are 30% thicker than Original, with stainless steel bolts, nuts and anchors, which makes it our pick for most gardens, including windy ones. For our strongest home-bar specification, choose Extreme, with 3 mm panels and stainless steel hardware. We also recommend it for a commercial bar (a pub garden, a venue or constant public use). A bar run as a business will usually need planning permission, licences and commercial insurance (see our guide to dining domes for restaurants and pubs). Original suits a sheltered garden and more occasional entertaining, and the 5 m Large comes in one specification, with maximum-thickness panels.
• Make the most of the view. Arrange the bar and seating to share the garden outlook and the panorama: part of the magic is feeling outdoors while staying dry and comfortable.

Fitting it out

• The bar itself. A bar counter, stools, shelving for bottles and glasses, maybe a kegerator or drinks fridge, arranged around the edge to keep the centre open and sociable.
• Lighting for mood. Build on the included LED kit with festoon lights around the frame, LED neon signs, backlit shelving and dimmers: a bar lives and dies by its lighting (see our garden dome lighting ideas).
• Power. Have a proper supply installed for fridges, sound, screens for the big match and lighting. Use a registered electrician (Part P applies in England and Wales), with RCD protection and outdoor-rated sockets and fittings; our electrics guide explains the options.
• Sound and screens. A good speaker setup and a TV or projector turn it into a sports bar or party space.
• Heating and cooling. A thermostatic electric heater, kept well clear of the panels, is the simplest choice for winter nights; any fuel-burning heater needs good ventilation and a carbon monoxide alarm. In summer, the roof vents, windows and door keep the air moving, so it's comfortable in every season.

Keep it sensible

The dome is a wonderful place to host, but the sliding door doesn't lock as standard, so it isn't the place to leave valuables overnight: bring expensive spirits, a premium sound system and screens indoors, or store them somewhere secure. That leaves the dome to do what it does best: be the glowing bar that's the envy of the street.

Frequently asked questions