A 1970s-inspired cocktail bar built by a social media influencer has fought off stiff competition from a bra-fitting boutique and a fairytale castle to be crowned Shed Of The Year.
Creme de Menthe, a mint green entry by Danielle Zarb-Cousin, beat more than 300 entries to take the top prize in the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2021 after a public vote.
The 29-year-old from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, transformed a rundown old brown shed into a retro bar complete with seating and orange interior.
She made the renovation during lockdown after splitting with her fiance, former Love Island star Jonny Mitchell, last year.
She said: 'I went through a bad time with the break-up... building the shed became a focus in a time of chaos.
'Moving back in with my parents for lockdown was not ideal and I needed my own space, so (once built) it was a place I could go and write and not be disturbed.'
Ms Zarb-Cousin will be awarded £1,000, a plaque and £100 of Cuprinol products for her victory, which included taking top spot in the pub/entertainment category.
A 1970s-inspired cocktail bar built by a social media influencer has fought off stiff competition from a bra-fitting boutique and a fairytale castle to be crowned Shed Of The Year
Creme de Menthe, a mint green entry by Danielle Zarb-Cousin, beat more than 300 entries to take the top prize in the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2021 after a public vote
The 29-year-old from Southend-on-Sea, Essex, transformed a rundown old brown shed into a retro bar complete with seating and orange interior
Danielle Zarb-Cousin with her shed Creme De Menthe - a 70s themed Summer Bar in Thorpe Bay Essex, which took the overall title of Shed of the Year 2021
She made the renovation during lockdown after splitting with her fiance, former Love Island star Jonny Mitchell, last year
Ms Zarb-Cousin will be awarded £1,000, a plaque and £100 of Cuprinol products for her victory, which included taking top spot in the pub/entertainment category
The award-winning Creme De Menthe shed features a cosy orange interior, with comfortable chairs for guests to relax in
Aside from the top prize, this year the outbuilding contest included seven categories and more entries - 331 - than ever before
Joanna van Blommestein, from Faversham in Kent, specialises in helping women post-surgery, such as those with breast cancer, and won the cabin/summerhouse category by making a bra-fitting boutique in her back garden
Mark Campbell, from Wingerworth in Derbyshire, landed the lockdown category by building a fairytale-inspired castle for his granddaughter while the UK was shut down last year
Topping the unexpected/unique category was John Williams's pop-up pub in his back garden in Plymouth
A bird-watching sanctuary took the equivalent of Olympic gold in the nature's haven category, created by holistic therapist Rosie Hoult, from Shrewsbury
After losing her mother and her job in the last year, Ally Scott from Southampton produced the best workshop/studio - a space for her to pursue her dream of becoming an artist and signwriter
Artist Les Rowe, from New Brighton on the Wirral, took top spot in the budget category. The 67-year-old produced a seven-sided refuge using predominantly second-hand materials - including stained glass windows recovered from a synagogue
Aside from the top prize, this year the outbuilding contest included seven categories and more entries - 331 - than ever before.
Joanna van Blommestein, from Faversham in Kent, specialises in helping women post-surgery, such as those with breast cancer, and won the cabin/summerhouse category by making a bra-fitting boutique in her back garden.
The 33-year-old said: 'Lots of people don't really enjoy bra fittings... it can be quite overwhelming or quite daunting.
'I
