BEER GARDEN!
Father and son convert shed into ‘Winchester’ pub
A FATHER and son who have transformed their garden shed into a stunning bar are in the running for a national prize.
Andrew and James Tittensor, of Westbury Park, have reached the final three in the pub/ entertainment category of the Shed of the Year competition – and are now looking for public votes to help them clinch the top spot.
If the pair win their category, their shed – dubbed the Winchester Tavern after the pub in zombie film Shaun of the Dead – will be reviewed by a judging panel, who will then select the overall winner.
Several previous winners of the competition, which is sponsored by Cuprinol, have been featured in a Channel 4 broadcast presented by architect George Clarke.
James and Andrew built their mini-pub mostly using reclaimed and unwanted materials that they salvaged from local tips, house renovations and Facebook Marketplace.
They also help to fund the project by buying and selling vintage pub memorabilia.
Their aim was to make the shed look as much like an authentic British pub as possible – a goal which was helped by 56-year-old Andrew’s role with the Merlin Group where he creates themed attractions.
It started life as a normal shed at the end of the family’s garden and has been extended and developed into a pub complete with a fridge and optics for spirits – although there is no room for beer taps.
The project began in 2018 when they extended the shed into a summer house and it became the Winchester Tavern in October 2019, shortly before they held a family party in there at Christmas.
But when Andrew was furloughed during lockdown work began on the extension that became known as the ‘Covid Lounge’, and the finishing touches were made last month during the Queen’s Jubilee. Fittings include a Victorian fireplace and a projector screen – although the whole pub is only around 13m by 1.5m in size.
James’s mum Joanne tends to the garden to create what her son calls ‘the best beer garden in the UK’.
James said the pub-shed was their ‘absolute pride and joy’.
The 28-year-old car salesman said: “We have built our pub out of things that people were throwing away so it has been very economical and sustainable.
“The interior has a traditional pub feel and a proper bar – and it is our absolute pride and joy.
“We don’t think we can make it much bigger because we won’t have any garden left, but there will always be redecorating to do. Maybe one day it will become a trendy craft beer place.
“We would love people to vote for us and help this local creativity get some national acclaim. I would love to have George Clarke in our garden looking at our shed, but it is the taking part that counts.”
The overall winner will receive a £1,000 cash prize and £250 of Cuprinol products.
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