Using a greenhouse for outdoor dining!

[barristerbump]

Hi all,

I'm not much of a gardener but would love a little greenhouse to help me on my way. I would also love to use it as a space for a cup of tea or maybe even eating dinner occasionally (appreciate it will be cold in evenings).

Would a greenhouse be warm enough to sit in for a cup of tea even if a grey late winter/early spring day? Or would I be better off looking at a more solid structure like a garden room which I can bring plants into?

No.
It'll be full of stored plant pots, potting benches, and overflow from the garage.

I need to tidy mine up!

I can’t imagine having my dinner in a greenhouse. Are you not going to be using it for potting, etc?

if you want a recreational space, then a garden room, if you want to pot plants, store garden things, bring plants on, get a green house.

It will only be usable/warm enough for dinner for a couple of months a year. My garden room is unheated and is only manageable for a brew on the sunniest of days in the period of Sept to March, never mind eating my dinner in the evenings.

The really big ones would be nice, but they cost so much money! And as others said, if it's a working greenhouse it won't be spick and span.

I do find it's noticeably warmer than outside however, so definitely nice for a brew on a spring day.

I think that it all depends on your ambitions!
If you watch that Sarah Beeney programme you will have seen that she has a greenhouse, with sofa, for cups of tea etc. It is, however, the size of the Crystal Palace and incorporates a log burner.

Think about getting power (electricity) to the structure, whether glasshouse or garden room, and you will vastly increase your options.

We have a 14x 10 Rhino greenhouse, complete with bistro table and pair of chairs (they do fold up when not in use). Often have lunch out there on a cooler but sunny day as it's lovely and warm. Wouldn't want to in anything smaller as you won't get the heigh/width/too much other stuff in there.

See what Stacey Solomon did to hers!! Painted the frame black and decked it out fantastically. Go for it op.

My greenhouse is south facing and is an oven in the warmer months even though it has ventilation, shading and I leave the door open. If we get a really warm spell, the nearest I get to it is standing at the door and pointing a hose pipe.

Thanks all, this is really helpful. A Stacey Solomon set up is sort of what I'm thinking. Sarah beeney's is next level, not sure I could strech to that!!

Great idea

My mum had a 4x8 ft greenhouse and had a small garden chair in there for the cat and used to sit in there with a cup of tea. Mine certainly gets lovely and warm if there’s sun on the roof, and it gives shelter from the wind, obviously, but it’s not exactly a conservatory (more’s the pity).

I often sit in mine on days when it’s a bit chilly or mizzly, with a cup of tea…