BRITAIN’S Best Pub Shed of the year has been announced as a DIY garden sports bar that features a hot tub and is covered in football memorabilia.
Glen Gandy, 51, spent around £20,000 and two years to construct his now award-winning back garden man-cave.
Glen Gandy spent £20,000 building his own sports bar in his back garden[/caption]
It took around two years constructing the incredible DIY man-cave from scratch[/caption]
The boozer, called Cognitos, is located at the back of his home in Willenhall, West Mids.[/caption]
It even has a hot tub, crowning it the winner of Britain’s Best Pub Shed[/caption]
Given the name Cognitos, the private boozer boasts a DJ booth with decks, a Space Invaders arcade machine, juke box, beer garden and a jacuzzi that even has a toilet-shower room.
As a 51-year-old of Willenhall in the West Midlands, Glen has decked out the bar in Wolverhampton Wanderers FC memorabilia, making it a football-themed bar.
This includes a number of signed Wolves shirts decorating the walls, a as well as a large TV screen and a fully-stocked fridge of beer.
His garden also features a barbecue and seating area, along with umbrellas and benches outside.
Although never expecting get the win, he is especially happy to have beaten one of the other three finalists from the one thousand entries, who is a fan of rivals West Bromwich Albion.
The father of two, who is also a builder, said after getting receiving the award: “We had a big party to celebrate, which is exactly what this pub was made for in the first place.
“It feels brilliant to win – especially beating a Baggies fan.
“Funnily enough I know him and I plastered his home, so I’ll be sure to give him a bit of stick.”
Glen even put some Wolves “bits”, including a programme behind the wall to remind him of “the best team” when he pulls it down.
He added: “It’s crazy he made the final too out of a thousand entries.
“I just never expected to be one of them either, let alone win it. I’m chuffed.”
Plans for Glen’s pub project emerged during lockdown, and building started in June 2023 with the help of his friends.
He sourced materials from local builders merchants and spent 24 months on the build.
Many parties have now been hosted by Glen with his friends and family since the bar was completed in April, including his daughter’s 18th birthday recently which saw more than 100 guests.
“When we started and finally got it built, I must admit I did get a bit carried away with it – I wanted to get everything as perfect as I could,” Glen stated.
The bar, which is fully insulated, now sits where a summer house used to be.
There is also a hot tub and toilet and shower room, as well as a split aircon unit enabling it to be used all year round.
This is along with a console and back bar, all built with the help of Glen’s friends, where they can now have parties, watch films and DJ.
Glen said: “I have three passions – music, Wolves FC and entertaining.
He also outlined two main rules of the bar – 1. You don’t need an invite and 2. Nobody gets out sober.
There is also a barbecue area, with a dart board, benches and umbrellas outside[/caption]
Inside, there are DJ decks, a Space Invaders arcade machine and a fully stocked fridge[/caption]
“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,” Cognitos owner stated.
As a runner of comedy clubs, the garden pub’s name is in memory of a comedian Glen became good friends with – Ian Cognito – before he died on stage during a show.
“I always said that is what it would be called. It would be a legacy to him.”
The annual competition for beer-loving “sheddies” is run by Twofatblokes.co.uk and Ngage Radio, who are in their fifth year of the Pub Shed of The Year award.
Ashley Turner, from Two Fat Blokes Bar Sign Emporium, said: “The quality of the entries makes judging harder every year.
“The winner Cognitos is a well deserved first place, What an amazing pub feel.”
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 winner live on the radio was a wonderful experience.”
It combines Glen’s three favourite things of music, entertaining, and the Wolves[/caption]
There are just two bar rules for visitors to the pub[/caption]