Originally The Golden Pheasant Lodge was an unused farm store that was on the edge of collapsing, but I have managed to save it with around 400 hours of tender loving care. The lodge is now our garden pub where friends and family come for a pint of bitter or two when passing. The lodge holds a large array of memorabilia such as my Uncle Bobs old chain saw, an apple picking bag, a stuffed squirrel from a friend, a hay knife, my dads old pram, a seed drill, eel trap, fishing rod, an old cherry picking ladder and many more items including lots of old photos of friends and family. Its a place like to go after a long day farming. Gary Curd
I started in January 2013 and was completed in December of the same year. Firstly I had to prop the roof trusses up because the roof was collapsing, once up I insulated and resheeted the roof with corrugated iron. Once the building was dry (post leaking)I could start on the front of the building which I made from recycled timber and added in some windows which were recycled from some old French doors. Then I started on the inside - I insulated and cladded the walls with free bark offcuts from the saw mill. With the floor I had to chip out the old flooring way with a pick axe, so that we could lay a new more even concrete floor which we later on painted a dark maroon colour. Next on my list was creating a bar, the bar top was built from Douglas fir, with a surround of more off cuts. Electrics were added by a friend. The Golden Pheasant that sits on the top of the roof, looking out on passers by was found in a old farm sale and was erected once the lodge was taking shape. The last item to be added to the lodge was the sign itself, which was a gift from my shooting friends after hosted a shoot dinner for the opening.