I built a SWIMMING POOL in my beer garden - our pub is just as good as a boozy trip to Ibiza
Andrew Walker
Updated on March 15, 2026
A PUB landlord is ready to rival Ibiza after building a swimming pool in his beer garden.
John McGinn, 46, transformed the Dog In A Doublet in Thorney, Cambs., with the 50 square metre oasis in lockdown last year.
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The dad-of-one, who is also the pub's head chef, spent around £20,000 on the total build, which also features a barbecue and bar area to keep punters happy.
Drinkers are free to give their own DJ sets while swimmers can lounge on the decking nearby.
And in scenes more akin to Ocean Beach than nearby Peterborough, John says his punters have never been happier.
“They’re loving it," he told The Sun Online.
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“Everyone's on sun loungers drinking cocktails and beers.
"Some people ask to do a quick DJ set and people say they could be anywhere on holiday.
“It's like Ibiza on and off - not all the time but occasionally it's like a bit of a party place.”
There is no charge for entry at the pool, which costs John around £15 a day to heat.
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But drinkers must "keep spending" if they wish to set up camp and are encouraged to buy more food and drink the longer they stay.
John said: “As long as everyone's spending, having a couple of pints you can use it for an hour or so.
“We’re not having people just turning up and using the pool all day with their own food and drink.
"We've got a pool attendant there, we’ve got a barman there, we’ve got a barbecue next to it.
"It's massive and it's got a big decking area too."
We are definitely not allowing people to get drunk and we just keep an eye on people.
John McGinnDog In A Doublet owner
The former civil engineer, who built the pool himself over lockdown, uses a member of his old kitchen staff - who is also a qualified lifeguard - to keep the water safe.
But while rules are dished out on a "common sense" basis, all kids must be accompanied by a "sensible adult" in the pool.
"We are definitely not allowing people to get drunk and we just keep an eye on people," John explained.
"It's common sense. I'm not a lifeguard but if someone’s in distress I'd be able to pull them out.
"Touch wood, like I say everyone's really sensible."
John used the help of "a few mates" in the building game for the year-long project and said everything has been done "to a really high standard" as a result.
The build cost around £20,000 in total, but the landlord believes the spend will soon pay off.
He added: "Pubs are really struggling - we’re in the middle of no where and we've already had two close to us struck down in the last month.
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"So everything around here is just really worrying.
"The pool is there for us all to use and I love it."
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