Three backyard pubs, including one constructed on the former site of a chicken coop, are in contention for the title of Britain’s Pub Shed of the Year 2026. These DIY retreats, created by enthusiastic shed owners across the UK, feature a classic countryside pub and two remarkable sports bars equipped with various games like pool tables, dart boards, table tennis, and fussball.
After a selection process from over a thousand entries, the finalists are now vying for the top spot. Among them is Paul Brimecome with his impressive creation, The Pampered Chicken, predominantly crafted from recycled materials. This recreational haven, measuring 9.6m by 4.8m, offers a pool table, a large darts wall, retro arcade games, and a fruit machine. Paul, hailing from Portsmouth, Hampshire, shared that the pub, erected on the original chicken coop site, symbolizes a vibrant social hub created with the help of family, friends, and neighbors.
Constructed with recycled elements such as pallets and Facebook Marketplace finds, The Pampered Chicken features a historic bar from a Hong Kong sailing club, windows sourced from a local renovation, and salvaged soundproof insulation for a cozy ambiance. The facilities include a toilet, shower with disco lights, and a second-hand 10-line beer chiller for beverages alongside entertainment like a pool table, fruit machine, and a custom hand-painted dartboard wall.
Adam Cockroft from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, developed The Mucky Pub two years ago as a traditional pub-themed space with a games room complete with a pool table, air hockey, table tennis, shuffleboard, table football, and arcade machines. Tina and Rich Hibbs from Rugeley, Staffordshire, are also contenders with their bar named Hibbys, adorned with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC collectibles, an outdoor play area, and a beer garden.
Organized by Twofatblokes.co.uk, the annual competition awards winners with £500 worth of prizes. The rise in popularity of backyard pubs, with an estimated two million now in operation in Britain due to the pandemic, has led to increased interest in such competitions. Ashley Turner from Two Fat Blokes Bar Sign Emporium expressed the challenge of judging entries due to the growing quality each year.
The announcement of the Pub Shed of The Year 2026 winner will be live on Ngageradio.co.uk next month. To participate in the voting process, visit: https://pubshedoftheyear.co.uk/.
