Dad who built Shaun of the Dead – inspired boozer in garden named winner of Britain’s Pub Shed of the Year
A DAD who built a Shaun of the Dead- inspired boozer in his back garden has been named winner of Britain’s Pub Shed of the Year.
Kev Marchant, 55, spent six weeks and £10,000 constructing The Winchester — complete with poker table, dart board, beer pumps, vintage decor and ornate stained glass.
The name is a nod to the city where Kev and wife Gina, 54, grew up — as well as being the pub in the 2004 zombie comedy starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
Tiler Kev used his contacts in the building trade to source materials for the project at his home in Eastleigh, Hants.
The dad-of-two said: “I remember my dad taking me into the local working men’s club.
“I have fond memories of that such as the cigar smoke and pints being poured.
“It’s a kind of old school-style pub.
“Being 55 things were a bit more old school back then.
“I think those kind of pubs have a lot more character so I thought why not stick one in the back garden.
“Its the best thing we ever did – plus it’s a cheap taxi ride home.”
It has Stella, Fosters, Guinness and Carlsberg on tap and also stocks a range of spirits and bottled drinks with stools lining the bar and historic brewery badges hanging on the walls.
Kev added: “One of my good friends who I grew up with had a pub shed in his back garden.
“I often joked I had to get one and go bigger and better.
“It was always on my mind.
“We sold the camper and that freed up the garage.
“It was a case of sourcing the bar first.
“We found it on Gumtree.
“I went down there with a van.
“We put the bar in and built everything around it at the end of 2020.
“It was complete by the end of February.
“It only took five or six weeks.
“We were in the weeks of lockdown so I ploughed on and put a lot of hours in.
“I would guess I’ve spent around £10,000 for it all.
“I got the doors cheap.
The bar would have been £16,000 new but I got it for £1,500.
“The actual bar is probably my favourite part, the craftsmanship is incredible.
“A friend came to help me with the installation.
“Everyone who worked on it I knew.
“It saved me a lot of money.
“Gina’s dad did the decorating.
“We were quite lucky.
“My boys are 28 and 26, they love their poker so we have poker nights in there.
“It’s also used for family events, like birthdays.
“Any excuse to throw a little party.
“The name is because me and the wife were both born in Winchester.
“Also the pub name in Shaun of the Dead – albeit a different pandemic – was also called The Winchester.”
Kev beat off over 1,000 other contestants in this year Pub Shed of the Year contest to crowned winner on Saturday.
Bar sign firm TwoFB runs the annual contest.