Garden Bar Shed – Expert Review

(Technical evaluation based on Tiger’s official datasheet and full installation manual, with contextual insight from extensive Tiger shed inspections)

Garden bar sheds were one of the unexpected cultural artefacts of the COVID lockdown years. When pubs closed and social life retreated into back gardens, manufacturers rushed to bolt fold-down hatches onto sheds and call them “bars”. Some were charming. Many were flimsy. A worrying number were outright unsafe.

So when Tiger released the Tiger Garden Bar Shed, I approached it with equal parts curiosity and scepticism. I already know how good Tiger’s shiplap pent sheds are — I’ve inspected dozens across multiple show sites — but the bar hatch changes the engineering equation entirely.

This review answers the only questions that really matter:
Is it properly built?
Is the bar hatch structurally sound?
And can you actually use it like a real bar without worrying?

Underlying Structure — This Is a Proper Shed First

Let’s start with the fundamentals, because this is where Tiger immediately separate themselves from most “novelty bar sheds”.

According to Tiger’s technical datasheet, the Garden Bar Shed uses:

• 16 mm pressure-treated shiplap cladding
• Heavy-duty 58 × 44 mm framing
• 16 mm tongue-and-groove roof boards
• 16 mm tongue-and-groove floorboards
• Pressure-treated throughout (Tanalised)
• 20-year anti-rot guarantee

That combination alone puts it well above the majority of garden bar sheds on the market, many of which quietly downgrade to OSB floors or thinner roof panels.

I want to be clear here:
This is not a gimmick structure with a hatch added. It is a full-spec Tiger shed with a hatch engineered into it.

Doors & Access — Real Shed Hardware, Not Bar-Shed Shortcuts

One of the first encouraging signs is the main access door.

The datasheet confirms a fully boarded tongue-and-groove door, measuring 785 mm wide × 1870 mm high — a genuinely usable opening, not a token door .

Tiger also supply:

• a 3-lever lock
• complimentary padlocks
• and a proper lever handle assembly (installed in Step 9 of the manual)

This is the same level of door hardware Tiger use on their higher-end shiplap sheds, not the cheap turn-buttons seen on many “fun” garden bars. That tells me immediately that Tiger expect this to be used regularly, not just wheeled out twice a year.

The Bar Hatch — This Is Where the Real Questions Were

We want to focus on the fold-down bar hatch, because this is where most bar sheds fail.

Let’s answer those questions properly.

How is the hatch supported?

The installation manual is very explicit.

The hatch is supported by:

• Drop-down hinges along the lower edge
• Steel chains on both sides, fixed using staple-on plates
• Carabiners at each end of the chain, allowing tension adjustment
• Header framing reinforcement above the opening

This is all laid out step-by-step in Step 8: Fitting Drop Down Bar Door Gear .

Crucially, the chains are not decorative. They are load-bearing supports, adjustable during installation so the hatch sits level when open.

Is there a stated weight limit for the bar?

This is one of the most important questions — and the honest answer is:

No, Tiger do not publish a specific load rating for the bar hatch.

Neither the datasheet nor the installation manual specifies a maximum supported weight .

That means Tiger are relying on:

• the strength of the 16 mm pressure-treated boards,
• the heavy-duty framing,
• and the chain-and-hinge system,

rather than a formally certified load figure.

From an engineering perspective, that’s not unusual in timber garden buildings — but it does mean users should apply common sense.

So… can people lean on it?

Here’s the practical, experience-based answer.

This hatch is far stronger than the flimsy flap doors used on cheap garden bars. It is effectively a full-thickness shiplap panel, supported on two chains and multiple hinges, fixed into 58 × 44 mm framing.

That makes it suitable for:

• resting drinks
• serving food
• light leaning with forearms
• normal social use

What it is not designed for:

• people sitting on it
• multiple adults leaning heavily
• concentrated point loads (e.g. someone climbing on it)

Tiger don’t claim it’s a cantilevered workbench — and nor should they.

Used as intended, it’s a proper, confidence-inspiring bar shelf, not a novelty flap.

Size, Height & Real-World Presence

The datasheet confirms a consistent internal height across the range:

• Internal ridge height: 1972 mm
• Internal eaves height: 1809 mm

That’s important.

It means this is not a cramped novelty shed. You can stand upright inside, move around comfortably, and actually use it as a serving space rather than crouching like you’re in a beach hut.

The bar opening itself measures 1970 mm wide × 795 mm high, which is genuinely generous for serving multiple people at once .

Assembly & Structural Integrity

Reading through the full installation manual tells you a lot about how seriously Tiger take this build.

Key points that stood out:

• Panels are coach-bolted together at the gables, not just nailed
• The building is squared before final tightening (Step 3)
• Roof panels are fully nailed into upright framing
• The hatch gear is fixed into header framing, not just cladding

This is not “flat-pack furniture logic”. It’s traditional shed construction with proper load paths and fixings throughout .

Who This Shed Is Actually For

This is where the Garden Bar Shed makes sense.

It’s ideal for:

• garden parties
• BBQ hosting
• hot-tub areas
• family gatherings
• summer entertaining
• a combined storage + social feature

And importantly:
You’re not sacrificing shed quality to get the bar feature.

When the hatch is closed, this is simply a high-quality Tiger shiplap pent shed with secure doors, thick boards, and serious framing.

Final Verdict — One of the Best-Engineered Garden Bar Sheds Available

Here’s the honest, expert conclusion.

The Tiger Garden Bar Shed is:

• a proper shed first, not a gimmick
• built from 16 mm pressure-treated tongue-and-groove throughout
• framed with heavy-duty 58 × 44 mm timbers
• fitted with a well-engineered, chain-supported bar hatch
• tall enough to use comfortably
• and backed by a 20-year guarantee

The only thing Tiger don’t provide is a formal bar load rating — and while I’d love to see one, the construction details strongly suggest this is designed for real, sensible use, not just visual appeal.

In a market full of flimsy lockdown leftovers, this is one of the very few garden bar sheds that feels like it will still be standing — and working — a decade from now.

Once we physically inspect the hatch in person, we’ll update this review with measured deflection and real-world load observations. But based on the documentation alone, this is a serious, well-built, confidence-inspiring design.

If you want a garden bar that doesn’t feel like a toy, this is one of the strongest options available today.