AN AWARD-winning micropub described as being “like a tardis”- The Firkin Shed is Pub of the Week.
Found in Holdenhurst Road in Springbourne, The Firkin Shed is a quirky and unique micro-brewery designed to resemble a shed.
The pub is run by Paul Gray and his wife, Lisa, who converted the former Blockbuster video shop in 2015.
Although small, the interior is packed with an array of decorations, including flags, musical instruments, puppets and skulls.
Paul said: “It’s like a tardis.”
Whilst the premises were closed due to the Covid pandemic, The Firkin Shed was able to undergo a reshuffle and revamp.
Paul said: “We were shut down all through Covid, but I was still busy.
“What was the beer room, we turned into another seating area and a small kitchen. We turned it into a kitchen right before they said you could only open if you could serve a substantial meal.
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“So, we were able to reopen. We were lucky.”
During its closure, Paul also bulldozed a garage behind the pub to make space for a new outdoor seating area, offering visitors a table under the sun to enjoy their drinks.
He added: “Covid gave us the chance to do all the things we couldn’t do whilst we were open.
“There's no way we could’ve done all this work.”
Now, and back operating as usual, The Firkin Shed is as popular as ever. Live music performances are also held regularly, as Paul continues to support Dorset artists.
Until recently, the pub operated a strict no mobile phone policy at the bar, and anyone with their devices out would be asked to pay a fine in the form of a £1 donation to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.
Paul told the Daily Echo why this was no longer a bar rule, saying: “Since 2015, everything has moved on. You can’t ban phones when people are coming to the bar and paying with them.
“Although, we did raise about £3500 for the air ambulance doing that.”
Since its opening, The Firkin Shed has been showered with awards, winning both Cider Pub of the Year and Beer Drinkers’ Pub of the Year in 2017.
The micropub was also named as one of the best in the country in CAMRA’s Good Beer Guide 2020.
So, to see the award-winning premises for yourself, visit the Firkin Shed at 279 Holdenhurst Rd, Boscombe, Bournemouth BH8 8BZ.
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