Sharon Rivers steps into her garden in Michaelston-super-Ely on the outskirts of Cardiff and is instantly transported into an old pub. The 62-year-old, who works part-time as a receptionist at a salon, has spent four years transforming her back garden shed into The Staying Inn, an authentic pub crammed with antique furniture and knick-knacks she has collected from car boot sales, flea markets, auction houses and items given away for free.
The idea was first dreamt up by Sharon and her family during lockdown when pubs were closed and everyone had to stay at home. At the time, Sharon didn't even have a shed, but she thought the name was too good an opportunity to ignore.
A hobby born from lockdown and health advice
Sharon suffers from fibromyalgia, a long-term condition that causes pain all over the body, and her GP told her it would be a good idea to find a hobby to ensure she is finding time for herself. "This is where it stemmed from," she said. "I can’t do anything physical like going to the gym or running, but this is collecting little items and putting it together. It started with a few things from boot sales and then got bigger and bigger."
She added: "People would message to say they had something I could have. My son would spot something on Gumtree that they were giving away. It’s all the things that people would be throwing away or would go to landfill otherwise."
A family project with a personal touch
Due to lockdowns, the shed couldn't be built in Sharon's garden until 2022. Once it was built, her son, Nicky Rivers, had the job to renovate the inside and ensure it was insulated and ready to be turned into the pub. Sharon said she keeps the pub just for use within her close family. "Apart from my neighbour, I'm not even sure if anybody on my estate knows we have it," she admits. "When we tell someone there's a bar in the garden they always say 'That’s lovely' and ask for some pictures. It then turns into ‘I thought you meant it was going to be just a little shelf with a bar behind it, not a pub."
She described the pub as "16 foot long by 10 foot wide. It's not huge, but I've crammed a lot of stuff in there." Sharon said she has never added everything up to see how much it has cost her, with some items costing 20p and others £60. Many items would have ended up being thrown away and going to landfill, but Sharon and her family have used what was considered other people's rubbish to create their own treasure trove.
Recognition and a growing family tradition
Her hard work has paid off, with The Staying Inn making the shortlist of a 2026 Shed of the Year competition. Sharon said her family laughs because she "doesn't drink very often". "It’s just my hobby for myself really. It’s just about making it and the enjoyment of telling people about it."
The pub has become so popular within the family that her son Nicky has decided he's going to recreate what he's helped Sharon to create in his very own dining room.
