And finally… Former Highland hen house named Shed of the Year
A converted chicken house in Aviemore has fought off competition from 2,519 other sheds to win Shed of the Year.
The Inshriach Distillery in the Cairngorms National Park, which creates gin from 100 per cent Scottish juniper, was nominated in and won the pub category of the contest before taking home the coveted title after a head-to-head battle with eight other category winners.
Revealed by George Clarke on Channel 4’s ‘Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year’, the competition ended with owner Walter Micklethwait, 36, winning £1,000 courtesy of sponsors Cuprinol, £100 of Cuprinol products, a winner’s plaque and a giant crown for his shed.
For the first time ever, the competition went to deadlock, causing organisers to refer back to the majority public vote to determine Walter’s shed as the winner.
Once a dilapidated hen house, the ‘Inshriach Distillery’ has been transformed into four quirky themed rooms including the ‘General Stores’ farm shop, which sells an eclectic mix of vintage clothing, food produce, post cards and hand carved items, a ‘Ladies Waiting Room’ decked out with comfy arm chairs and a piano, the ‘Saloon’, a Wild West-themed gin-stocked bar, and a fully functioning distillery.
Made out of mostly recycled items including parts of a dismantled railway station, the Inshriach Distillery has a unique charm and is home to regular parties.
Asked about his winning shed, Walter said: “We were up against some proper craftsmen, brilliant eccentrics and most of all a really nice bunch of people - so it is an absolute honour to have won Shed of the Year 2015.
“A huge ‘thanks’ to everyone who voted for us. We’re now looking forward to celebrating with a gin from the distillery in our shed!”
George Clarke added: “The nation’s love for transforming their garden shed to an extension of the home is really on trend right now.
“People are embracing the fascinating world of sheds like never before as the TV show highlighted some of the most creative, beautiful and unusual sheds in the country, as well as allowing me to meet the talented people behind their creations.”