Shed of the year 2024, Sponsored by 
The Foxy Stoat is a cozy pub shed with a bar, comfy seating, dining space, stain glass windows, darts board, board games, built in sound system and eclectic decor.
The Foxy Stoat was built in memory of Matt’s half brother Michael, who used to love the comedy TV program 'Bottom' staring Rick Mayell. The name 'The Foxy Stoat' is in reference to a scene in the first episode. Michael would often let let Matt and his twin brother James watch Bottom when he would baby sit the twins. Michael sadly past away six years ago.
Matt and his partner Eleanor brought their first house with support from Michael and it was always their dream to build a pub shed in the garden. The house used to belong to a builder who had left wood, other building materials and random items in the garden. After lot of clearing and saving anything salvageable, Matt and Eleanor had the space and much of the materials to build The Foxy Stoat (we have included a photo of the garden when we purchased the house in 2020).
The Foxy Stoat was built over five weeks in April/May 2023. Ground screws were used for the foundations of the shed, then reclaimed pallets and scaffold boards for the base and floor. The roof is a kit gazebo, the walls are made form pallets and the windows and doors were found in the garden. Reclaimed fence posts were used to strengthen the structure and to extend the roof, creating the porch and bay window. The interior is clad with reclaimed wood and decorated with found items (many from the previous owner) and objects collected over the years. The bar was build by Matt and his step dad when Matt was at university 20 years ago.
The official opening of The Foxy Stoat took place on the May bank holiday 2023 for Matt's 40th birthday. During the build and leading up to the party, Eleanor set up a Just Giving for Matt's birthday and many friends and family donated to the costs of building The Foxy Stoat. Also, over those five weekends many friends and family came to lend a hand with the build. Key contributors have been given a named plaque on a chair in the pub. All the contributors are named in a group plaque, soon to be hung up inside, to say thank you.
