Our posh romantic hide away is a cut above—everyone love sit

BUSINESSWOMAN Mary Gallon, 51, runs a hair salon near her home in inverurie, scotland, where she lives with husband neil, 48, a draughtsman, and children Liam, 22 and Jodie, 21.

IT WAS a toss-up between a kitchen extension and buying what we’ve nicknamed ‘The Hut’ — which looks exactly like a little Hobbit house. I’m so pleased The Hut won.

It cost us £16,000, which I know many will think extravagant just so you can barbecue in comfort, but you can’t put a price on fun.

And because our 16.5-metre pine cabin, which comes from Norway and was supplied by Echt- based Forest Products, is small, it didn’t need planning permission.

It has a shingle roof and a little chimney, so all the smoke escapes. The windows are double glazed so it gets really toasty.

There are four benches around the Viking gas grill, and each bench comfortably seats three people.

Two extend so Neil and I could sleep in it if we fancied. Included in the price is a proper cement base — essential if you want to use the hut, as we do, for parties.

On New Year’s Eve we had a Christmas tree in it and threw a party with everyone whirling round inside until the early hours.

We also had a metre-large extension added on the side which we have kitted out as a bar and Neil loves.

When we’re not throwing parties, it’s a lovely romantic hideaway. It may sound mean but children are banned unless we invite them. I

certainly don’t boast about my posh barbecue hut but, when you’re a hairdresser, it’s impossible to keep secrets.

So far, everyone has been very positive. When I come into work on Monday morning they all want to know what we’ve got up to in The Hut over the weekend.