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Firefighter wins Pub Shed of the Year 2023
The Engine House in Hampshire, built by ex-firefighter Kevin Francis, has been named as the winner of the 2023 edition of Pub Shed of the Year.
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The competition to find the best backyard boozers in Britain was set up by Pub Shed Radio, The Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs Facebook group (which has 280,000 members) and Two Fat Blokes Bar Signs. Last year, the title was claimed by The Dog & Ball in Portsmouth, but this year it was former fireman Kevin Francis who brought the heat with his firehouse-themed garden pub.
Francis actually began work on the project in 2017, when he was still a firefighter (he retired after a 33 year career in the service this May and now works for the ambulance service). He claimed that he was prompted to develop the Engine House after his wife told him he would have to “clear out the memorabilia” he had been keeping in the loft: “The 07 is the station where my dad and I served together. My collection and the building itself have had some additions since then, but still used regularly as a meeting place for friends, family and work colleagues.”
In total, the project cost Francis around £3,000.
“For me it has been a great place to relax and reflect on the great times I had in the fire service, but also be able to share with others. The bar and stools came from Basingstoke Fire Station before it was demolished to make way for the new station, and I also brew my own fire service-named beers.”
These beers include Brass Helment, Old Steamer and Smokey. There is even a small fireman’s pole in the pub, as well as all manner of other items though, wise from a safety perspective given it is largely made from wood, there does not appear to be a log fire.
This year’s runners up were the Irish Pirate in Cornwall and The Nag’s Head in Staffordshire. To see pictures from all three finalist pub sheds, click here.
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