Latest news with #Iain
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- General
- Scottish Sun
I built an authentic Scots pub in my garden for less than £1k – everything inside was under a tenner
Iain revealed how he managed to keep costs low CHEERS TO THAT! I built an authentic Scots pub in my garden for less than £1k – everything inside was under a tenner A SCOTS man has built an authentic pub in his garden for under £1,000 complete with roaring open fire, cask ale pumps and branded beer mats. Iain Mason, 55, has converted his garage into 'Stoaters', a cosy six-seater boozer filled with genuine pub memorabilia. Advertisement 6 Iain Mason built his own pub in his garden for less than £1,000 Credit: SWNS 6 Iain believes he spent around £900 creating Stoaters over a four-month period Credit: SWNS 6 He kept the budget down by ensuring everything inside cost less than £10 Credit: SWNS 6 He even got his own branded beer mats and dart wings Credit: SWNS He kept the budget down by ensuring everything inside cost less than £10 or was being given away for free. Iain sourced everything from pint glasses and tables to a dartboard and even the bar from charity shops and Facebook Marketplace. He used timber from old palettes and wardrobes, and scoured Facebook Marketplace and charity shops deals and within four months he had constructed Stoaters, his garden pub. Iain, of East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, said: "My younger brother had a pub down the bottom of his garden. Advertisement "I thought it was brilliant - just to walk down to the bottom of your own garden, sit in your own pub, have your own music on, and to feel like you're somewhere different. "I didn't have an overall budget in mind - but I'd seen other ones where people had end up going wild. "I think the sense of accomplishment is greater when you do have a budget and you can save here and there. "By finding bargains and finding things to repurpose, there was a much greater sense of achievement. Advertisement "I set an initial budget of £10 and under for everything. It's been really well-received. It's probably the best thing I've ever done.'' Iain travelled the country on his days off - finding furniture being sold for cheap or given away for free, and repurposing them to add to his 13 sq m bar. BrewDog to close TEN pubs across UK as staff set to be axed The only exceptions to the rule he says, were the fridge and TV, which required a little more of a splurge. Overall, Iain believes he spent around £900 creating Stoaters over a four-month period. Advertisement "I'm not a handyman - but my dad is very good at DIY and has taught me a few things over the years," he said. "Once I had the layout of the bar, I was determined to do it properly. When I made a mistake, instead of living with it, I'd take it down and start again. "I had to pay for things like wood stains and screws, but I didn't pay for any timber - it was all palettes and old wardrobes. "I did have to spend a bit more on the fridge, which was new. The TV was secondhand, but that was still a little bit more. Advertisement "There were a couple of things I had to spend a little bit more on, but the initial budget was everything £10 or under - and I was so determined to do it like that. "The dartboard I got from a young couple in Greenock, who had just moved into a new flat and found that in a cupboard - that was £10 and I drove to get it as soon as I saw it. I was really happy with that. 6 Iain unveiled his bar to his family and friends after keeping his progress secret Credit: SWNS 6 The pub with roaring open fire, cask ale pumps and branded beer mats Credit: SWNS Advertisement "The top of the bar itself was an old table that was broken, so that was given away. It's quite a long bar, so finding a big table probably would have been quite expensive. "There's a small table in the corner that was being given away for a fiver by a cricket club. The fireplace was also being given for scrap. "The shelves behind the bar that all the bottles are on - that was an old sideboard that a couple was getting rid of in Paisley. "That was a great find - a really nice, sturdy old sideboard. Advertisement "When I put that up in the corner of the bar, that's when it really started to turn into a bar and not just a room." Iain unveiled his bar to his family and friends after keeping his progress secret from even his wife Sheena and daughter Olivia, 16. He said: "My wife was genuinely impressed. The biggest compliment I have is when people say it's like a real pub." Iain has two rules for visitors to his pub - everyone must take a turn behind the bar, and punters should leave behind a foreign banknote or a business card, in homage to a bartending job Iain had 30 years ago. Advertisement "We've had some great nights," he said.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Huge Channel 4 show being revived after 25 years off air and it's set to be ‘very rude and funny'
A POPULAR Channel 4 show looks set to be making a comeback over 25 years on from its debut. The 11 O'Clock Show, was fronted by TV and radio presenter 4 Iain Lee is reviving a show he hosted for Channel 4 in the late 90s Credit: Getty 4 The TV presenter fronted the 11 O'Clock show for the network for four series Credit: Channel 4 While it is understood the show is not yet attached to a channel, Iain has firmly declared it is in "his power" to bring it back and has already begun to reconnect with those who worked on the show in 1999. Iain hopes to have the new series on air in 2026. He said of the show's return: 'Loads of you for years have been asking me to bring back The 11 O'Clock Show and I didn't think it was within my gift. "I thought it had to be a channel or something," he said, as per the Read More on Channel 4 Iain continued: 'But it is within my power to do it. So next year I will be bringing back Iain Lee's The 11 O'Clock Show. "I'm not quite sure how it's going to work yet, but I am talking to a few people who were connected to the show and we have got a few ideas bubbling around and it will be very rude, very funny, very 1999.' The show first launched in 1998 before coming to a close just two years later. While it has a number of presenters across its five-series run, Iain hosted the first four of them and was largely credited with its success. Most read in TV He worked alongside Daisy Donovan for three editions of the show. Jon Homes and Sarah Alexanders took over for the final series of the show before it was axed. Iain Lee says his life has changed after coming out as bisexual on Good Morning Britain It is known for launching the careers of stars including After leaving the show, Iain focused on radio broadcasting and could be heard across many major networks. He took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2017 but later took a step back from media work in 2020 to focus on training to become a counsellor. Iain was inspired to follow his new career path after struggles with addiction, sobriety and his sexuality. 4 Iain presented alongside Daisy Donovon Credit: Channel 4 4 Now he hopes to bring it back in 2026 Credit: Rex Features
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Huge Channel 4 show being revived after 25 years off air and it's set to be ‘very rude and funny'
The show famously launched the careers of a number of comedians tv comeback Huge Channel 4 show being revived after 25 years off air and it's set to be 'very rude and funny' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A POPULAR Channel 4 show looks set to be making a comeback over 25 years on from its debut. The 11 O'Clock Show, was fronted by TV and radio presenter Iain Lee, and now the star has confessed he is determined to bring it back. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 4 Iain Lee is reviving a show he hosted for Channel 4 in the late 90s Credit: Getty 4 The TV presenter fronted the 11 O'Clock show for the network for four series Credit: Channel 4 While it is understood the show is not yet attached to a channel, Iain has firmly declared it is in "his power" to bring it back and has already begun to reconnect with those who worked on the show in 1999. Iain hopes to have the new series on air in 2026. He said of the show's return: 'Loads of you for years have been asking me to bring back The 11 O'Clock Show and I didn't think it was within my gift. "I thought it had to be a channel or something," he said, as per the Daily Star. Iain continued: 'But it is within my power to do it. So next year I will be bringing back Iain Lee's The 11 O'Clock Show. "I'm not quite sure how it's going to work yet, but I am talking to a few people who were connected to the show and we have got a few ideas bubbling around and it will be very rude, very funny, very 1999.' The show first launched in 1998 before coming to a close just two years later. While it has a number of presenters across its five-series run, Iain hosted the first four of them and was largely credited with its success. He worked alongside Daisy Donovan for three editions of the show. Jon Homes and Sarah Alexanders took over for the final series of the show before it was axed. Iain Lee says his life has changed after coming out as bisexual on Good Morning Britain It is known for launching the careers of stars including Sacha Baron Cohen and his character Ali G as well as Ricky Gervais. After leaving the show, Iain focused on radio broadcasting and could be heard across many major networks. He took part in I'm A Celebrity in 2017 but later took a step back from media work in 2020 to focus on training to become a counsellor. Iain was inspired to follow his new career path after struggles with addiction, sobriety and his sexuality. 4 Iain presented alongside Daisy Donovon Credit: Channel 4
North Wales Live
2 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Live
House prices go up in one county with more increases expected across region
House prices in one North Wales county have increased with further rises across the region expected. Latest industry figures show they have risen in Flintshire, going up by 3.3% in the second quarter of 2025, to an average price of £238,455. The figures have been released from Principality Building Society's Wales House Price Index for Q2 2025 (April to June), which demonstrates the rise and fall in house prices in each of the 22 local authorities in Wales. Wales' largest building society's report also shows that there was also a 5.2% annual increase in average house prices in Flintshire, from the second quarter in 2024, where an average property cost £226,622. In the first quarter of 2025, an average property in Flintshire cost £230,902 - an increase in the second quarter of £7,553. Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now The average price of a home sold in Wales was £238,098 in the second quarter of 2025, showing a 0.7% increase from the same period last year and just 4.6% below its peak of £249,000 at the end of 2022. Despite ongoing affordability pressures, the steady rise in the number of transactions - which reached over 10,000 in the second quarter (up 13% on last year) - suggests growing buyer confidence despite persistent cost-of-living challenges and elevated rates. Speaking about the Q2 House Price Index, Iain Mansfield, Chief Financial Officer at Principality Building Society, said: 'The housing market in Wales continued to stabilise in the second quarter of 2025, with prices holding broadly flat compared to the start of the year. Encouragingly, the steady increase in transaction volumes signals increasing confidence among buyers. "While market conditions remain challenging, a downward trend in mortgage rates is helping to create a more favourable environment for buyers. This shift is contributing to a gradual uplift in consumer confidence as we move into the second half of 2025.' According to analysis of HM Land Registry data, there were over 10,000 property transactions in Wales during the second quarter. This marks a 13% rise compared to the same period last year, reflecting a trend in year-on-year recovery in property sales. Flintshire saw higher prices than neighbouring counties Conwy and Denbighshire, which both saw slight drops in average house prices for the second quarter this year. Conwy saw a fall of 1.7%, to £231,282, while Denbighshire's figures fell slightly to £219,004. However, Wrexham saw a slight increase, on the quarter, with an average price of £217,998 - an increase of 0.2% annually. Iain added: 'As a business, we remain focused on being part of the solution when it comes to the demand pressures within the Welsh housing market. As of this year, we're proud to support 19 of 32 housing associations in Wales - aiming to remove barriers to help support everyone to have a place to call home. "As the report demonstrates, price growth has eased this quarter. Looking ahead, we expect the market to gain momentum. A significant factor will be improving affordability which goes hand in hand with consumer confidence increasing - especially for first-time buyers. (This is) driven by falling interest rates and more favourable mortgage terms, likely boosting demand. "With demand rising and supply remaining a challenge for buyers across the country, we anticipate renewed market activity in the second half of the year.'
Daily Record
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scots dog lovers swiping right on 'dating-style' app to 'borrow' a puppy
Dog-lending service BorrowMyDoggy, where people are matched up with four-legged-friends, comes without the long-term commitment of owning a pet. More than 100,000 Scots dog lovers are swiping right on a canine dating-style app to 'borrow' a pup without the long-term commitment of owning a pet. Dog-lending service BorrowMyDoggy, where people are matched up with four-legged-friends, say they've now hit six figures across Scotland, with more than 20,000 borrowers in Edinburgh, 15,000 in Glasgow and 9000 in Aberdeen. Dog ownership doesn't suit everyone as the rush to buy pups during the pandemic showed, with thousands of pets later abandoned or given up, leaving Scotland's rescue centres inundated. The website has over a million members, with borrowers spanning all age groups and members ranging from people working, students and retirees to families with young children. Rikke Rosenlund, who founded BorrowMyDoggy in 2012 after taking care of a neighbour's dog, said: 'We now have more than 100,000 borrowers sign up in Scotland since we launched the app, which is an absolutely fantastic number. 'The app allows dog lovers to sign up to borrow a four-legged friend for a few hours a week as a stress reliever, combat loneliness or to try-before-they buy a pet themselves. 'If you are feeling isolated, borrowing a dog can help you feel less alone. Taking care of a dog requires a certain level of responsibility, from feeding them to walking them -- making sure they stay healthy to keeping them safe.' Retired marine engineer Iain Bell, 79, from Lenzie in East Dunbartonshire, has one of the longest-running pairings since the service was founded. He has walked over 5000 miles with borrowed sidekick Nero, 11, over the last decade. Iain said: 'My daughter in law signed me up for the app because she thought I was lonely when I was going out walking to get some exercise after I had a heart attack 10 years ago. 'It has been very beneficial for me in terms of my physical health and mental wellbeing. The retired engineer in me set a target of walking six miles a day after the heart attack and that's what we aim for during our walks.' Iain, who collects Nero from his home in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, up to three times a week, said he had become very attached to Nero over a decade of walkies. He added: 'Nero and I get along really very well and he is a great wee friend. Nero loves his walks and it is an added incentive for me to make the effort and get out walking to try to stay fit. 'I would recommend borrowing a dog for anyone who can't, for whatever reason, have a dog of their own.' Nero's owner Claire Stewart, of Uddingston, says a break-up with her partner meant she might have had to consider rehoming Nero if it hadn't been for Iain and BorrowMyDoggy. She said: 'Iain started borrowing Nero when he was just a puppy. My then partner and I worked full time so BorrowMyDoggy seemed like such a great option. 'I loved the idea of someone who wanted to spend time with a dog, but maybe not be able to commit to one full time, being able to build a real bond with him. 'When my partner and I separated Iain's help became vital as I tried to balance a full-time job in the NHS with making sure Nero got enough attention and exercise. 'All my friends worked during the day like I did, so I really would have had to consider rehoming him without Iain's support.' 'Nero goes berserk whenever he sees Iain's car pull up. I'm so glad he's stuck with us all these years.'
