“I’d really love a bar in our garden” I trilled dreamily (some might say, whined, plus I suspect I might have said that I ‘neeeeeed’one!), knowing that it was a pipe-dream given we have a newly fitted and very compact courtyard garden.
Not so!
I hadn’t reckoned on how enthused Mr T was by this - the challenge was on. I haven’t seen him move as quickly since he got last minute tickets for a Lord’s Test Match…he was off!
Within a few weeks, we (…mmmm when I say we…) had ordered aforementioned bar slash shed, built it, painted it, named it, decorated* it, added a ‘Turbutt Tavern’ green neon light (yes, really…), fitted optics inside (hell yes!) and arranged its soft launch with the neighbours.
Our lovely friends have humoured us immensely and adorned it with speciality gins (in coordinated colours obvs!), ‘GIN BAR’ bunting and assorted packs of peanuts hanging from a bit of cardboard. I drew the line at the dartboard with a friendly ‘get outta my pub’ retort and have since barred the person who suggested it for one whole week!
One fabulously creative friend, who is a designer by profession (she’s a keeper!), has even branded it with its own logo and added aforementioned logo to beer mats, bar cloths, a bar menu and an apron (that Mr T has taken a bit too much of a shine to – the weekly shop will never be the same again!).
I cannot tell you how thrilled I am. Note to self – trill dreamily…and more often!
So if the soft launch was the bar with punters…the hard launch has to be a ‘Turbutt Tavern’ Insta account.
Note to self – careful what you wish for…!
*…it’s classically elegant, maybe with a touch of tack, but it encapsulates ‘how do you know you’re in Essex without being told you’re in Essex’!
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