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

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Irish Sun

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

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. 8 Glen Candy built Cognitos with the help of his friends Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel' Credit: SWNS 8 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. Most read in Money 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." 8 Cognitos even has its own beer garden Credit: SWNS 8 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. Read more on the Irish Sun 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." 8 Cognitos was finished in April 2025 Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed even has a separate room for brewing beer and cider Credit: SWNS 8 BrennInn has an Irish-themed interior Credit: SWNS

Drop-shed gorgeous! Traditional pub, Irish bar and Wolverhampton Wanderers shrine with a HOT TUB are shortlisted for Britain's Pub Shed of the Year
Drop-shed gorgeous! Traditional pub, Irish bar and Wolverhampton Wanderers shrine with a HOT TUB are shortlisted for Britain's Pub Shed of the Year

Daily Mail​

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Daily Mail​

Drop-shed gorgeous! Traditional pub, Irish bar and Wolverhampton Wanderers shrine with a HOT TUB are shortlisted for Britain's Pub Shed of the Year

These three incredible back yard boozers are going head-to-head to be named Britain's Pub Shed of the Year. The trio of DIY man caves have all been built in back garden sheds by proud beer-loving 'sheddies' across the UK. 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 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, West Midlands, was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel' like the locals he went to as a youngster. 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, Lancahsire, 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. 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. He added: 'With the help of friends, we started and finally got it built. The bar is block and render and fully insulated. 'I wanted to create a warm and welcoming space for family and friends to come and enjoy and make great memories. 'The bar, console, and back bar we built ourselves again with the help of friends. 'We finished in April 2025 and we've had some amazing nights so far and got a few more lined up over the next couple of months. 'I have three passions - music, Wolves FC and entertaining. 'The bar is always fully stocked and 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. Also there is 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 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 said: 'As Christmas approached, we decided to buy a pool table for our kids - with no consideration of where it was going to go. 'So the VW was sold and the home pub idea began. I knew I wanted a "proper pub" feel, homely and cosy like they were when I was a kid. 'It became not only somewhere where we wanted to sit and enjoy the odd beer or two, but somewhere where our kids could invite their friends round and enjoy the evening in a safe environment. 'With three children now aged 19, 17 and 15, and the two eldest being girls, that became quite important to us. '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. 'With adding radiators and the log burner it's always toastie. My wife and I relax in here way more than we do in the house. '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. '|'m so happy to be chosen as a finalist and wish all the luck to both other finalists.' 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. 'So we bit the bullet and bought the shed and within a month it turned up and four days after that it was built. '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.' 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. 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.'

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

Scottish Sun

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Scottish Sun

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 winners will be announced next month SHED LOAD Irish bar, BBQ haven & hot tub tavern go head-to-head for Pub Shed of the Year… would YOU DIY a back-yard boozer? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Glen Candy built Cognitos with the help of his friends Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a 'proper homely pub feel' Credit: SWNS 8 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, West Midlands, was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a "proper homely pub feel" like the locals he went to as a youngster. 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. 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." 8 Cognitos even has its own beer garden Credit: SWNS 8 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. 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." 8 Cognitos was finished in April 2025 Credit: SWNS 8 The Cattle Shed even has a separate room for brewing beer and cider Credit: SWNS

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

time14-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • The Sun

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

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. 8 8 8 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, West Midlands, was built by Kev Cattell who wanted a "proper homely pub feel" like the locals he went to as a youngster. 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. 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". 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." 8 8 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. 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." 8 8 8

Trump approval rating tanks as Americans oppose GOP agenda
Trump approval rating tanks as Americans oppose GOP agenda

The Herald Scotland

time21-06-2025

  • Business
  • The Herald Scotland

Trump approval rating tanks as Americans oppose GOP agenda

It's summer now, and the report card has arrived. Americans give Trump a failing grade on the budget, trade and immigration. That's tough to swallow for a politician who gauges everything on public perception. Trump, being Trump, is now pivoting to distractions, touting a military parade that flopped as an expensive boondoggle and then flipping from diplomacy with Iran to potentially ordering air strikes on that country. Take our poll: Should US go to war with Iran or support Israel from afar? | Opinion Americans disapprove of budget bill slashing Medicaid Let's start with Trump's budget, which Republican leaders in Congress call the "one big, beautiful bill" in honor of their continuing deference to whatever he wants and the dereliction of their duty to serve as a coequal branch of our government. The version that narrowly passed the House slashed federal safety net programs to boost tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans. Some senators, seeking to make things even better for the rich at the expense of the poor, want bigger cuts to Medicaid, food stamps and other programs. Opinion: Trump lied about the LA protests so you wouldn't see what he's really doing A batch of recent polls shows Americans reject that: A June 11 Quinnipiac University poll found that 53% of American voters oppose the budget bill, while 27% approve it. Nearly half of the voters polled said funding for Medicaid should go up, not down, while 40% said it should stay the same and just 10% wanted it cut. A June 16 Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll found that 50% of Americans think we spend too little on Medicaid, while 31% say we spend enough and just 18% say we spend too much. Forty-five percent of Americans think we should spend more on food and nutrition assistance, while 30% say we spend enough and 24% say we spend too much. A June 17 KFF Health Tracking Poll found that 64% of Americans hold an unfavorable view of Trump's budget bill, while 83% of them hold a favorable view of Medicaid. Republican support for the bill came in strong at 61% at first, but then dropped by 20 points when the Republicans polled heard details about how the legislation would force millions off their health care plans. Polling finds Americans disagree with Trump on immigration, economy, border security This much seems clear: The more Americans learn about Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the more they find it small-minded and ugly. That explains the artificial deadlines. Opinion newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter on people, power and policies in the time of Trump from columnist Chris Brennan. Get it delivered to your inbox. Trump and his Republican allies in Congress want to wrap this up by July 4. But Republican infighting - moderates who fear it goes too far, far-righters who complain it doesn't go far enough - will make for a contentious Congress for at least the next two weeks. While we wait, Trump is seeing his support on immigration - once his strongest issue - melt away in the summer of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The Quinnipiac University poll found 54% of the registered voters surveyed opposed his approach to immigration, while 43% approve and 3% had no opinion. Trump campaigned in 2024 on reviving America's economy. But his trade wars, which have hit our country's international allies just as hard or harder than our geopolitical foes, are unpopular. Quinnipiac found that just 38% approve of Trump's trade policy, while 57% disapprove and 6% had no opinion. The AP-NORC poll found that 32% of Americans think we spend too much on border security, while 37% think we spend the right amount and 29% think we spend too little. Trump's approval rating continues to tank. Does it matter? In this time of divisiveness, a majority of Americans can agree on one thing: Trump is disappointing them as president. Just 38% of the votes surveyed by Quinnipiac approve of Trump's job performance, while 54% disapprove. Opinion: Threats against judges nearly doubled under Trump. Republicans blame the victim. That tracks with a Pew Research Center poll released June 17, which found that 41% of those polled approve of Trump's performance while 58% disapprove. Pew noted that Trump has lost ground in his approval rating since he was sworn into office again on Jan. 20. Don't expect Trump to spend too much time worrying about what Americans tell pollsters. He has a long history of touting polls when they hold good news for him and dismissing them when they don't. He also suggested just before the 2024 election that releasing poll results he didn't like "should be illegal." Here's what you can expect: more distractions from Trump as the Republicans fights it out on which version of his budget bill passes or fails in Congress. If they listened to Americans, they would kill the bill and start from scratch. Follow USA TODAY columnist Chris Brennan on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ByChrisBrennan. Sign up for his weekly newsletter, Translating Politics, here.

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