Irish bar, BBQ haven & hot tub tavern go head-to-head for Pub Shed of the Year… would YOU DIY a back-yard boozer?

The Irish Sun

14-07-2025

A TRIO of incredible back yard boozers are going head-to-head to be named Britain's Pub Shed of the Year.
The DIY man caves have all been built in back garden sheds by proud beer-loving 'sheddies' across the UK.
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Glen Candy built Cognitos with the help of his friends
Credit: SWNS
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The Cattle Shed was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel'
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Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in June 2023 with the help of his wife
Credit: SWNS
They include a traditional local-style pub with its own brew room, an Irish-themed bar and a boozer which comes complete with a hot tub inside.
Organisers today revealed this year's finalists after whittling them down from more than one thousand entries.
Glen Gandy, from Willenhall, Wolverhampton, is in the running with his stunning back garden creation called Cognitos, which he built with the help of friends.
It boasts a DJ booth with decks, a Space Invaders arcade machine, juke box, its own beer garden, a hot tub and even a toilet/shower room.
The Cattle Shed, in Brownhills,
It features a pool table, big screen TV, comfortable sofa seating and bar stools, a cosy log burner and a separate room for brewing beer and cider.
The third finalist Chris Brennan built the BrennInn in Burnley, Lancashire, in June 2023 with the help of his wife after their social life "took a hit" following the birth of their daughter.
The spacious wood-panelled interior is decorated with fairy lights and neon bar signs, has a dartboard and pool table as well as a beautiful outdoor seating area.
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All three men will now compete to be crowned Ngage Radio's Pub Shed of the Year and the winner will be announced on August 23.
Wolves-mad Glen said he had been planning his bar since Covid lockdown but only started building it in June 2023.
It was finished in April 2025 and they've had some "amazing nights so far".
I'm being forced to tear down my loft conversion - my neighbours call it a 'monstrosity' but I'm going to fight back
He added: "The bar, console, and back bar we built ourselves with the help of friends.
"The bar is always fully stocked has a great sound system with ceiling speakers, power amp, DJ console, juke box, 85 inch TV and arcade machine.
"There is also a hot tub and toilet/shower room and a split aircon unit so it can be used all year round.
"We built an outside BBQ area for the odd occasion we have some sun."
"The bar has two rules - 1. You don't need an invite and 2. Nobody gets out sober."
Kev, a father to three teenagers, said he decided to covert the garage/workshop where he stored his classic VW after buying his kids a pool table and found there was nowhere to put it.
He wanted it to be a space where he could enjoy the "odd beer or two" but also somewhere their kids could invite their friends to.
He said: "As we wanted a real pub feel, we needed a separate entrance from the main pub, and after a few studded walls and a lot of rewiring, we had a feel of how it was going to be.
"After many hours on Pinterest looking for ideas, we had a vision of how we wanted it to look.
"We knew it needed a fully functioning toilet and running hot and cold water for it to be practical, and a fully working bar was a must."
He added: "The recent addition of the brew room off the side of the pub means we can make our own beer and cider for optimum hangovers.
"I'm so happy to be chosen as a finalist and wish all the luck to both other finalists."
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Cognitos even has its own beer garden
Credit: SWNS
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Chris said he got the idea of creating BrennInn after seeing a surge in homemade pub sheds during the pandemic
Credit: SWNS
Chris said he got the idea of having his own bar after seeing a surge in homemade pub sheds during the Covid pandemic.
He added: "But I was late to the party when wood prices rocketed so put it on the back burner until later last year and thought me and my wife Abby don't really go out much.
"Having a five-year-old child, your social life in the local boozer and town takes a massive hit."
The couple "bit the bullet" and bought the shed and it was built four days after it arrived a month later.
Chris added: "Then from there Abby has to take all the credit for the design, interior of an Irish theme and then the name of the pub trying to incorporate it into our last name with it's Irish roots."
Two Fat Blokes
and Ngage Radio run the annual competition, now in its fifth year, for back garden publicans to enter the converted Pub Shed of The Year.
Organiser Ashley Turner said: "The humble back garden boozer is being built in record numbers.
"Exact numbers are hard to come by, but experts believe there are over two million pub sheds in the UK, a number only set to grow as the local pubs close at an alarming rate.
"To recognise excellence in the back garden pub shed builds Ngage Radio run an annual competition to find the Pub shed of the year.
"The public are now being asked to vote for their favourite."
The winner will be announced live on Ngage Radio at 8pm on August 23.
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DJ Danny Drayton said: " We're so proud to be involved with Pub Shed of the Year again, we have so many loyal listeners form the pub shed community.
"They are really engaged with our station so being able to knock on the door of the winners live on the radio is a wonderful experience."
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Cognitos was finished in April 2025
Credit: SWNS
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The Cattle Shed even has a separate room for brewing beer and cider
Credit: SWNS
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BrennInn has an Irish-themed interior
Credit: SWNS