EVERYTHING — INCLUDING THE KITCHEN SINK

Yoga teacher Maria Longman, 35, lives in Chertsey, Surrey, with husband george, 45, a builder, and children Sacha, 14, Chloe, 13, and Sidney, 11. Maria says: I PROBABLY looked mad but three weeks ago, as lockdown started, I began cleaning my beloved outdoor bar, ready to open it as usual on Easter weekend.

Since we built the bar two years ago, we’ve celebrated the start of spring with a big barbecue for friends and I wanted still to mark the event this year.

So we ordered a curry and some Cobra beer from our local pub (who deliver), got dressed up and had a special date night à deux. And after weeks indoors it felt as if we’d properly gone out!

My husband designed and built Rocco’s Bar — named after a beloved pet dog that died — and it has a 12ft-long covered bar. The bar itself is made from offcuts of wood that George sourced from work and then had cut to size.

There’s a sink with running water for rinsing plates and glasses, an electricity supply powering two fridges, recessed spotlights in the ceiling and a small wallmounted TV, plus two large industrialstyle pendant lights which cost about £50 each and double as infrared heaters.

We even have toilets built onto the side of the bar so we don’t have to traipse through the house any more.

I’ve enjoyed a few cheeky gin and tonics in the warm afternoons and eaten my lunch out here most days.

We’ve even managed a few beers across the garden fence with our neighbour and his sons. When lockdown is over and we can celebrate with friends, we’ll have our traditional barbecue.