Inside Britain’s best man caves – including shed that is so nice couple got MARRIED there
THESE three incredible back yard boozers are in line to be named Britain’s Pub Shed of the Year 2023.
From an incredible fire station-themed pub to a traditional Irish bar, these man caves are the cream of the crop.
The trio of stunning pub sheds will now go head-to-head to be crowned the winner of this year’s national contest on November 11.
They include an Only Fools & Horses tribute called the Nags Shed, in Staffordshire, complete with a Trotters Independent Trading retro arcade games machine.
Lee Doherty, who built the Irish Pirate, even got married in his man shed in June this year after constructing his bar during the pandemic.
He added:” I’m an upholsterer by trade and was working from my garden shed, then covid hit and the world stopped and as my good lady says I can’t sit still for a minute.
“So, I decided to do something with my workshop shed, as I’m an Irishman living in Cornwall what better name than The Irish Pirate with a Guinness and Cornish theme.
“We both visit Ireland regularly and I’m always picking up mementos particularly anything Guinness related.”
After continuing to add bits and bobs to his man cave over the years, Doherty said he doubts it will ever be fully finished.
The Engine House, in Hampshire, is based on a fire station where a retired firefighter worked with his dad – and boasts its own home brewed fire service named brews.
The Irish Pirate, in Cornwall, has a cosy Irish-pub feel with wooden decor and is plastered with Guinness memorabilia, including a pool table and dart board.
Former firefighter Kevin Francis built the Engine House man cave in 2017 after his wife told him to clear out his memorabilia from the loft.
He said: “For me it has been a great place to relax and reflect on the great times I had in the fire service but also be able to share with others.
“The bar and stools came from Basingstoke Fire Station before it was demolished to make way for the new station, and I also brew my own fire service named beers.”
Even though he recently retired from the fire service after more than three decades and joining the ambulance service, Francis said he will not be painting the doors green.
Shane Rankin is the brains behind The Nags Shed, which also has a fully-functioning bar, seating area, dart board and big screen TVs.
He said he wanted to pay tribute to the Trotters favourite watering hole The Nag’s Head from the classic comedy Only Fools & Horses.
Shane added: “We were sat in our local on that fateful day as the Covid announcement came in that all establishments were closing that very night.
“As avid pub goers we were distraught and declared no-one’s going to keep us out of the pub’, so built our own.”
It is estimated in excess of 2 million back garden pubs and bars are now in operation after their popularity exploded during the pandemic.