Paul Brimecome's The Pampered Chicken, a pub built in his back garden in Portsmouth, Hampshire, is among three finalists vying for the title of Britain's Pub Shed of the Year 2026. The pub, measuring 9.6m by 4.8m, was constructed almost entirely from recycled materials, including pallets, Facebook Marketplace finds, and salvaged items.
Recycled Construction and Tribute to a Friend
Brimecome said: "Our home pub is built on the original site of our chicken coop. Built by family, friends, and neighbours starting in May 2022, it is a vibrant social hub." The pub is named in memory of a friend, Carol, who joked that his chickens were the most pampered in the world. The historic bar originally belonged to a Hong Kong sailing club, windows came from a local renovation, and soundproof insulation was salvaged from a music studio. The pub includes a toilet, shower with disco lights, a second-hand 10-line beer chiller, pool table, fruit machine, and a hand-painted dartboard wall. Brimecome added: "We even have our own darts team, The Pampered Peckers. The Pampered Chicken perfectly represents friendship, sustainability, and community."
Other Finalists: The Mucky Pub and Hibbys
Adam Cockroft of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, built The Mucky Pub after moving into his home two years ago. The pub features a traditional theme with a games room including pool, air hockey, table tennis, shuffleboard, table football, and arcade machines. Cockroft said: "The main buying point of the house was the outbuildings... We opted for a traditional pub theme and bought all the furniture second hand." The name originated from a phrase used when his children were young. The pub opened in May 2025.
Tina and Rich Hibbs of Rugeley, Staffordshire, are finalists with Hibbys, a bar decorated with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC memorabilia, featuring an outdoor play area and beer garden. Tina said: "It was initially a bolthole for hubby to escape and watch the football... The bar has since evolved into the perfect place to cater for large occasions." The bar has two Blade beer machines and a vast selection of spirits, with no clock or bell as it is always open to family and friends.
Competition Background
The annual competition, run by Twofatblokes.co.uk, received over one thousand entries, whittled down to three finalists. The winner receives £500 worth of prizes. Ashley Turner from Two Fat Blokes Bar Sign Emporium said: "This is our sixth year running the competition, the quality of the entries makes judging harder every year." It is believed more than two million back garden pubs now operate in Britain, a trend that exploded during the coronavirus pandemic. The winner will be announced live on Ngageradio.co.uk next month, with public voting available online.
