Mellor man's Clutterbuck Lodge makes Shed of Year 2021 finals

But it's Martin Gabbutt's Clutterbuck Lodge that will be getting our vote in the annual competition, hosted by Cuprinol.

The retired vet, who lives in Mellor, has created his summerhouse out of recycled furniture, using wardrobes, desks and tables to craft the exquisite drinking den which looks like a hunters log cabin.

Mr Gabbutt said: "It's the perfect place to enjoy a drink with a friend when its allowed.

"I'm going use it as an artists studio.

"It has great views as it's on the first foothills of the Pennines and on a clear day you can see the Welsh mountains."

Adorned with taxidermy and painted in glass bottle green, Mr Gabbutt said that he uses the local auction house as his wood yard and joked that 'only two wardrobes, three desks, five tables and six chests of drawers were harmed in the production of his shed'.

Undated handout photo issued by Cuprinol of Cuprinol Shed of the Year category cabin/summerhouse entry by Martin Gabbutt of his shed Clutterbuck Lodge, in Blackburn, Lancashire. Issue date: Wednesday June 2, 2021.

The “lockdown” category introduced in last year’s competition has been retained, with several DIY bars created due to pubs in England remaining closed until coronavirus restrictions began to ease in April.

This year, 331 entrants are vying for the title of Cuprinol Shed of the Year, more than double the number in 2020.

Undated handout photo issued by Cuprinol of Cuprinol Shed of the Year pub/enterainment category of Danielle Zarb-Cousin in her shed Creme De Menthe-70s Summer Bar in Thorpe Bay, Essex. Issue date: Wednesday June 2, 2021.

Influencer Danielle Zarb-Cousin impressed the judges with her 1970s-inspired Creme de Menthe bar in her parents’ garden, while other finalists include specialist bra-fitter Joanna van Blommestein, who built lingerie boutique Bra Boss of Kent in her summerhouse, and Isle of Wight resident Nicholas Pointing, who built a Chitty Chitty Bang Bang-inspired shed.

Undated handout photo issued by Cuprinol of Cuprinol Shed of the Year category cabin/summerhouse entry by Joanna van Blommestein of her shed The Bra Boss of Kent HQ, in Faversham, Kent. Issue date: Wednesday June 2, 2021.

Hundreds of entries were whittled down to a shortlist of 22 over nine categories, with the winners decided by a public vote.

Voting opened on Wednesday and will close on July 12. The overall winner will receive £1,000, a plaque, £100 worth of Cuprinol products and “eternal shed glory”.

Head judge and founder of the competition, Andrew Wilcox, said: “The past year has been an incredibly challenging time for all of us and, now more than ever, we’re aware of how important the humble shed can be.

Undated handout photo issued by Cuprinol of Cuprinol Shed of the Year workshop/studio category by Nicholas Pointing of his entry Chitty Inventor's Workshop, in Sandown, on the Isle of Wight. Issue date: Wednesday June 2, 2021.

“Sheds are not just unloved, brown structures at the bottom of the garden that house tools and household junk – they are vital spaces where you can go to relax, work on a project or burn off some steam.

“The high-calibre entries this year really prove why we set up the competition in the first place – to highlight the valuable role sheds can play in our lives, in our businesses and the positive impact they have on our wellbeing.”

To vote for Mr Gabbutt's shed head to readersheds.co.uk.

Undated handout photo issued by Cuprinol of Cuprinol Shed of the Year category cabin/summerhouse entry by Martin Gabbutt of his shed Clutterbuck Lodge, in Blackburn, Lancashire. Issue date: Wednesday June 2, 2021.