To mark the reopening of beer gardens

Jon Richardson is promoting a ‘flat pack pub’ that the Dave TV channel has created to celebrate the next step out of lockdown.

In the promotional video, the comic celebrates the reopening of beer gardens from Monday, but laments: ‘But not all pubs have outdoor areas, and even if they do you can’t get a booking for months.’

His solution? The 15-piece home assembly kit featuring ‘a solid stained wood bar, realistic back-drop and two lovely bar stools’ to entertain at home.

The product actually exists, with a limited number  available to buy for £250 from firebox.com - while four more will be given away in a competition run by the broadcaster.

Richardson famously built his own pub, The Dog & Bastard, in the garage of his Hebden Bridge home, as featured in Meet The Richardsons, the Dave series about his married life with fellow comic Lucy Beaumont.

Luke Hales, channel director for Dave said: ‘Everyone loves a local pub and it doesn’t get more local than this… we’ve designed a pub that fits in anywhere.  We know many people feel locked out when it comes to pub bookings so we realised, if you can’t get to the pub, build one at home!’

The campaign follows a study which found that 53 per cent of adults are more excited about the long-awaited trip to the pub than we are about reuniting with extended family.   

Dave’s findings also revealed that three quarters of Brits have been unable to secure an outside booking at their favourite local once the rules relax. A third of people admitted they would travel over an hour to be able to have a drink, while the average that the 2,000 people quizzed say they expect to spend on the first trip back is £31.50. 

Meet the Richardsons starts tonight at 10pm on Dave.  

Published: 8 Apr 2021