A Lancashire hobby shed built to bring friends together and honour the memory of a close friend has been named the best shed in the UK.
Chris Otterburn's Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 has been crowned the overall winner of the 20th annual Tiger Shed of the Year competition.
The shed, based in Croston, near Chorley, first secured victory in the Pub & Entertainment category through a public vote, before being selected as the overall winner by the judges.
The award-winning space was entered into the competition by Chris's friend Dave, who said he wanted to recognise the years of dedication, craftsmanship, and friendship that had gone into creating it.
Dave said: "I nominated Chris's shed because he's rubbish with tech and social media and would never have entered it himself.
"He'd also never admit just how much work has gone into creating it or how much it means to all of us.
"It's become somewhere we meet every week, enjoy our hobby, make endless cups of tea, and remember our friend Scott."
Originally built to house Chris's passion for tabletop wargaming, the shed evolved into much more than a hobby room.
Friends came together to help build the larger space while one of their closest friends, Scott Forrest, was undergoing cancer treatment, hoping he would be able to enjoy it with them.
Sadly, Scott died before the project was completed.
Today, Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 includes an 18-foot gaming table, storage for battle boards and miniatures, a dedicated tea-making station, and a memorial area where Scott remains part of the group's weekly Thursday evening gatherings.
Chris said: "Winning Shed of the Year is an incredible honour and means so much to everyone who's been part of this journey.
"What started as a hobby project has become somewhere our friends can come together every week, enjoy our shared passion, and remember Scott.
"It's far more than just a shed, and knowing other people have connected with our story makes this award incredibly special."
Andrew Wilcox, founder and head judge of Shed of the Year, said Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 stood out because of the story behind it.
He said: "It's an outstanding build, but it was the story behind it that made it our overall winner.
"More than a garden building, it's somewhere friendships are strengthened, memories are preserved, and people come together to share the hobbies they love.
"It perfectly demonstrates how a shed can become a truly special sanctuary."
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Sam Jenkinson, head of marketing and chief sheddie at Tiger, said judges had been impressed by both the quality of the build and the community spirit behind it.
He said: "It's a place built around friendship, community, and shared experiences, showing that a shed can be so much more than somewhere to store tools.
"It's a space where people can unwind, pursue their passions, and create lasting memories together.
"While every category had a unique story to tell, Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 truly captured the spirit of what makes this competition so special."
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