Ten houses that have their own bar

Maybe you live in the middle of nowhere; maybe you just don't like your neighbours much. If for any reason you can't or won't visit the local pub, you may think of creating your own.

After all, everybody wants a little entertaining space, so why not model yours on your favourite pub or bar?

From a mirrored retreat to a traditional pub parlour, we look at ten houses on the market whose owners have done just that.

Seven properties for a new life

Portsmouth, Hampshire

This gorgeous Grade II listed property actually was a pub once: back in 1523, when it was licensed as Le Greyhounde. However, by the Second World War the building was used as offices, and it only became a home eight years ago. One of the four reception rooms has been kitted out as a pub, complete with beer pumps and bar stools - and if there isn't room for all your family and friends, there's space to entertain another 60 in the walled garden. The house costs £1.5 million through agent Morris Dibben.

Catsfield, East Sussex

This 17th century manor house is being marketed as a family home - but has an attached leisure complex with its own bar. There's also an indoor swimming pool, gym and sauna, and several office rooms. The house itself features a stunning staircase leading up to the seven bedrooms, as well as panelled walls, lovely sash windows and inglenook fireplaces. Outside, there are three acres of formal gardens, paddocks and woodland. Agents Fine & Country are asking £1,825,000.

Walkington, East Yorkshire

This huge barn conversion, which wraps around a central courtyard, has been kitted out in contemporary style. The 48-foot reception hall, which heads on to a large living room, features a drinks bar in polished volcanic stone with two wine coolers. There are five bedrooms, a couple more reception rooms and a heated indoor swimming pool. The house will cost you £1.8 million through agent Fine & Country.

20-somethings 'prefer a night in with friends to clubbing'

Ballyclare, County Antrim

Built in the 1980s and recently renovated, this five-bed house boasts an indoor swimming pool as well as the 38-foot bar. Kitted out with banquettes and a corner bar unit, it doubles as a games room. The whole place is in perfect condition, with a lovely kitchen and two reception rooms leading on to attractive terraces. The house costs £650,000 through agent Simon Brien.

Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire

The funky games room and bar in this four-bedroom home is just one of many unusual features. As well as an indoor heated swimming pool, there's quite a bit of gilded furniture and statuary about. The room itself features a quirky bar modelled on an old Chevrolet car. The house costs just £339,950 through agents TJS Property People.


Swannington, Leicestershire

You'll have to leave the seven-bedroom farmhouse and visit the barn to find the huge party room and bar that comes with this place. Currently kitted out with several pub-style tables, it's across a courtyard, along with various stables and stores. The house sits in four acres, with more land available separately, and agents Alexanders say it has development potential. They're asking £1,850,000.

Cabra, Dublin

When a house is only 80 square metres in size, you have to be pretty committed to turn part of it over into a bar. But the owners of this three-bedroom mid-terrace house have done just that, building a pub-style bar in the dining room. The rest of the house, like the bar, is brightly painted, and the kitchen is in good nick. It's priced at £192,881 through agents REA Ed Dempsey.

Drinking at your local is good for you

Basildon, Essex

Who wants a garden office when they can have a garden bar instead - specially one fitted out with such glitz? Here, the bar is lined with mirrored tiles and opens onto the garden via bi-fold doors. The house itself has three bedrooms, and at only two years old is in immaculate condition. It costs £380,000 through agent Bairstow Eves.

Wyke, West Yorkshire

One of the most traditional home pubs we've seen, this one has all the right features, from beer pumps and original signage to a table made from a barrel. Housed in a conservatory, it sits inside a decidedly less traditional building, a modern five-bedroom house. It's up for sale through William H Brown with a guide price of £220,000.

Wisbech, Cambridgeshire

This large five-bed bungalow, which comes with another small house and an annexe, has been home to one extended family for the last 26 years. As such, they've kitted the property out with communal features such as a gym, swimming pool and sauna, as well as a large bar and games room. There's an outdoor bar and barbecue too. All this costs £895,000 through agent Sowerbys.