A man with two children invested £20,000 to create his very own sports bar in the backyard as a tribute to a comedy colleague who passed away during a performance has been named the champion of Britain’s Most Unique Pub Shed.
Glen Gandy, aged 51, invested two years building a “man-cave” at his residence in Willenhall, West Midlands.
The bar named Cognitos features a DJ setup with turntables, a Space Invaders game console, a music player, an outdoor seating area, a hot tub, and also includes a restroom and shower facility.
Dressed in Wolverhampton Wanderers FC souvenirs, the sports-inspired pub surpassed 1,000 competitors to win the title of Pub Shed of the Year.
Mr. Gandy mentioned he didn’t anticipate winning, and the triumph feels more rewarding since one of the remaining three contestants supports Wolves’ main rival, West Bromwich Albion.
Mr. Gandy, a construction worker, stated, “I felt truly privileged to make it to the last three, I didn’t anticipate winning at all.”
We hosted a large gathering to mark the occasion, which is precisely why this bar was originally designed.
It feels amazing to win – particularly defeating a Baggies supporter.
Strangely enough, I know him, and I once decorated his house, so I’ll definitely tease him about it.
I genuinely placed some Wolf-related items behind the wall for him, such as a few programs, so when he removes it, he’ll realize which team is superior.
It’s amazing that he reached the finals from a thousand submissions. I never thought I’d even be among them, let alone come out victorious. I’m thrilled.
The workshop owned by Mr. Gandy was constructed with assistance from friends, starting in June 2023 following his initial preparations for the project during the quarantine period.
Having obtained materials from nearby building suppliers, he subsequently invested 24 months into constructing the project, which also features canopies and chairs outdoors, as well as a grill and dining space.
The pub features Wolves jerseys hanging on the walls, a refrigerator completely filled with beer, and a big-screen television.
He has continued to organize numerous gatherings and social events for friends and relatives — such as his daughter’s latest 18th birthday celebration, which welcomed over 100 attendees.
He said: “When we first began and eventually managed to build it, I have to say I became quite enthusiastic about it – I aimed for everything to be as flawless as possible.”
There had been a vacation home on the site previously, and we simply demolished it and began anew from scratch.
The pub has a blocked and rendered bar with full insulation; some benches in the beer garden came from my local and were restored before they were discarded.
I aimed to design a cozy and inviting environment where relatives and acquaintances could gather, have fun, and form lasting recollections.
We constructed the bar, console, and back bar once more with the assistance of our friends.
We concluded in April 2025, and we’ve experienced some incredible evenings so far. We’ll host gatherings, view movies there, and I’ll occasionally head up to play music.
I am deeply passionate about three things: music, Wolves FC, and entertainment.
The bar is consistently well-stocked and features an excellent audio setup including ceiling-mounted speakers, a powerful amplifier, a DJ mixer, a jukebox, an 85-inch television, and an arcade game.
There is additionally a sauna and a restroom with shower facilities. Furthermore, there is a split-type air conditioner that allows for use throughout the entire year.
I’m generally quite lazy and tired of removing debris from the outdoor hot tub, so I decided to have one indoors – now there’s no need to clean up leaves.
We also constructed an outdoor barbecue space for those rare moments when the weather permits sunlight. It has definitely been a labor of passion.
The tavern essentially follows two guidelines – 1. An invitation isn’t required and 2. No one leaves without being drunk.
The bar named Cognitos honors a comedian he was acquainted with—Ian Cognito—who turned into a close friend prior to passing away onstage during a performance.
He said: “I once managed comedy venues and became quite familiar with Ian before he passed away onstage in his sixties, somewhat like Tommy Cooper did.”
I have always maintained that this is how it will be named. It will serve as a tribute to him.
TwoFatBlokes.co.uk and Ngage Radio host an annual contest where beer enthusiasts known as “sheddies” can participate in the Converted Pub Shed of the Year award.
Ashley Turner, representing Two Fat Blokes Bar Sign Emporium, stated: “This marks our fifth consecutive year hosting the contest, and the standard of submissions continues to make the selection process more challenging each year.”
The champion, Cognitos, has rightfully claimed first position; what an incredible bar atmosphere.
The victor was revealed during a broadcast on Ngage Radio on Saturday evening.
DJ Danny Drayton stated: “We are extremely pleased to be part of the Pub Shed of the Year once more; we have numerous dedicated fans from the pub shed community.”
They are very involved with our station, so having the chance to visit the winner’s home live on air was an amazing opportunity.
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