Bloke makes full-sized pub in garage for elderly father
- 5 years ago
A dedicated son turned his garage into a full-sized pub because his elderly father is too ill to go to his local.
Gary Bourne, 48, built the fully functioning bar in his back garden for his 73-year-old dad Gerard was left without feeling in one side of his body after a stroke. Retired air plane engineer Gerard said that 'Bar 29' named after Gary's house number has given him "a new lease of life".
Gary said he spent around £600 on the project which he used to build a bar and kit it out with a TV and garden bench outside - and even optics. Both of Gary's parents, Gerard and mum Reen, 71, moved four doors down from him in Failsworth, near Manchester, after health scares left them wanting to be closer to family.
Gary said: "My dad has had a range of health problems, including a triple heart bypass surgery and all sorts of problems.
"Then in 2013 he had a stroke which pretty much disabled him overnight. "He loved to socialise, but going to the local pub stopped overnight too, so I thought I could do something to help with that."
Gary, a construction site manager, cleared the contents of the garage - including rusty old bikes and boxes - to the tip and began refitting the space. He said: "It's been great. All of the neighbours and our friends come along to watch sports, we're in it pretty much every weekend. "The other day we had 15 people around to watch the grand national.
"I've basically become a pub landlord and my dad's in it so much sometimes I think I need to evict him."
Gerard, who has four grandchildren, said: "Gary changing his garage into a bar has been absolutely first class.
Gary Bourne, 48, built the fully functioning bar in his back garden for his 73-year-old dad Gerard was left without feeling in one side of his body after a stroke. Retired air plane engineer Gerard said that 'Bar 29' named after Gary's house number has given him "a new lease of life".
Gary said he spent around £600 on the project which he used to build a bar and kit it out with a TV and garden bench outside - and even optics. Both of Gary's parents, Gerard and mum Reen, 71, moved four doors down from him in Failsworth, near Manchester, after health scares left them wanting to be closer to family.
Gary said: "My dad has had a range of health problems, including a triple heart bypass surgery and all sorts of problems.
"Then in 2013 he had a stroke which pretty much disabled him overnight. "He loved to socialise, but going to the local pub stopped overnight too, so I thought I could do something to help with that."
Gary, a construction site manager, cleared the contents of the garage - including rusty old bikes and boxes - to the tip and began refitting the space. He said: "It's been great. All of the neighbours and our friends come along to watch sports, we're in it pretty much every weekend. "The other day we had 15 people around to watch the grand national.
"I've basically become a pub landlord and my dad's in it so much sometimes I think I need to evict him."
Gerard, who has four grandchildren, said: "Gary changing his garage into a bar has been absolutely first class.