A man spent $61,000 to transform part of his backyard into a pub he could enjoy with friends and family

Stephen Hutyra spent three years in England and grew to love its pub culture.

Hutyra told Business Insider that he'd joined the Navy right after high school and was first stationed in England. He lived in the seaside town of Newquay, where he'd frequent its various nightlife spots.

"I fell in love with all the pubs, and walking down the street to hang out with both Navy and local friends I'd made," he said. "I'd really missed that part of my life."

So when he saw a Facebook post about a UK couple building a small pub in their backyard, a lightbulb went off: Hutyra could create his own in his Texas backyard.

In 2020, he decided to build a personal pub in an open section of his backyard.

For years, the grassy area had been Hutyra's space to store wood and let the family dogs play.

As soon as he envisioned a backyard pub, though, he knew the open land was the perfect spot.

"I almost immediately started making floor plans, buying tables and chairs off Facebook Marketplace, decor off Amazon, and bar items on eBay," he said.

Hutyra also started to virtually design the future pub. He spent hours on Facebook, Pinterest, and Google, where he found inspiration and added ideas to a PowerPoint presentation.

Hutyra's plan was kicked into motion three years later in July 2023.

"My wife and I were driving back from a vacation in Port Aransas on the Texas coastline, and I said we had to make a pit stop at a bank to sign some loan papers," Hutyra said. "She asked what for, and I said, 'The pub. You gave me your blessing a long time ago.'"

She laughed, Hutyra entered the bank, and the couple later left with a $44,320 loan. They also got a permit to build the structure.

A month later, in August 2023, the Hutyras had a contractor on-site who broke ground and began building.

A construction team got the project started.

Hutyra had never taken on a project of this size, so hiring a contractor was crucial.

He first paid them $600 to draw actual building construction plans, inspired by the PowerPoint presentation Hutyra had put together.

From there, the team helped run vital water and electricity lines, create the pub's concrete base, and craft its shell, framing, and roof. They also added foam insulation.

Four months later, it was Hutyra's turn to take over.

Contractors worked until November 2023, at which point the pub was turned over to Hutyra.

He got to work with the help of his son and father, who Hutyra described as a master carpenter and overall handyman, to complete the build.

Together, they installed ceilings, painted walls, stained wood, added shelving, built the pub's bar, and more.

"I had about three years to plan, so when the time came, I knew where I wanted everything to be," Hutyra said. "I had it planned down to the light switches."

By August 2025, Hutyra had completed all renovations.

"I had an original budget in my head, which turned out to be very lowball," Hutyra told Business Insider. "I thought I could probably get it done for about $30,000."

He quickly realized that wouldn't be possible. Still, he didn't give up on the build.

Between buying materials, hiring a contractor, decorating, and more, Hutyra said he spent around $61,500 to complete the pub.

Inside, Hutyra's pub looks like a scene from a Hallmark movie — a comparison he's heard from numerous friends and family members.

When you enter the pub, you're greeted by a dark-wood bar with string-light decor and matching stools.

There are also tables and chairs throughout, televisions above the door, and framed photos around the room.

A chalkboard tells you which drinks are available, and if you visit during the holidays, you'll see glowing Christmas trees.

Even the bathroom is decorated and themed.

Similar to the rest of the bar, the bathroom has dark-wood panelling, framed photo decor, and running water.

The most difficult part of construction was one of the most crucial.

"All the shelving that goes around the top of the pub, I did myself, but the bar was probably the biggest challenge for me," Hutyra said. "I had to make a lot of cuts at different angles, and make sure it was straight and level. It was a lot of work."

Like any good pub, Hutyra's has a catchy name: The Thirsty Goat.

Hutyra has spent 24 years in the Navy and currently serves as a chief petty officer. Naturally, the inspiration behind his pub's name came from his years of service.

"The goat is kind of like the official mascot for the Navy," he said. "In the earlier days of the service, goats were kept aboard ships to provide fresh meat and milk to the crew. Other livestock didn't fare as well."

The area where the goats were kept was named the Goat Locker, he said, and the phrase has stuck around for more than 200 years. Now, it's the name for the chief's working quarters.

With that in mind, he named his pub The Thirsty Goat.

Much of the pub honors Hutyra's family.

"I've been in the reserves the last 19 years now, and I've traveled the world and seen a lot of different places and things," Hutyra said. "But I've always returned to my hometown. After buying a house here, I've really started to feel that family connection."

So he wanted to feel it in his pub, too. Hutyra has a jar from 1903 that belonged to his great-grandmother, which now sits on his bar as a tip jar. The bar itself also has ties to his ancestors.

As Hutyra was building his pub, a nearby homestead barn — built and owned by his great-great-great-grandfather around 1880 — was being demolished, so he salvaged some materials.

"The wood was actually in a remarkable condition," Hutyra said. "I took floorboards from the second-story hayloft, which were under the roof of the barn, so they were out of the rain and weather."

"My father and I brought the wood back to his woodworking shop just across town, a few miles from my childhood home, where he still lives today," he added.

Together, they turned that wood into the top of Hutyra's bar, which is now the focal point of his pub.

Today, The Thirsty Goat serves as a hub for Hutyra's family celebrations.

Hutyra said that he and his wife always dreamed of owning a big house where they could have parties and host friends and family.

Now, their personal pub has become that dream spot.

"We find ourselves sitting out here in the middle of the week until midnight, or until 2 or 3 a.m. on the weekends with family and friends," he said. "We've thoroughly enjoyed it since finishing back in August, but we're only just starting to see how much we're going to use it."