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A floating shed on the Dyfi Estuary near the pretty Mid Wales seaside resort of Aberdovey was judged runner up in the prestigious international 'Shed of the Year' competition.
The Water Shed at Frongoch Boatyard, near Aberdovey stood a chance of collecting £1,000 prizemoney after winning the 'Unique Shed' category, beating 380 rivals to the coveted title.
Proud owner Geoff Hill was given the news that he was runner up to a pub shed in the Midland this week, which was designated National Shed Week.
Geoff describes the Water Shed as a "bog standard, flat-pack shed" situated on a floating platform and moored on the Dyfi Estuary. "I didn't build the shed to enter the competition, but it has attracted a lot of publicity for the boatyard and town of Aberdyfi, which has got to be good," he said.
Having never won anything in his life before, he had pledged before the Shed of the Year contest result to spend the £1,000 prizemoney "on something suitably silly" if he had won.
The floating shed has been in place since last summer, when it attracted around 10 visitors a day. Comedian Arthur Smith even gave a performance from the Water Shed earlier this year.
Geoff is an entrepreneur who runs a boatyard, manufactures and hires large tents for the international events industry and owns Tywyn Cinema and four star holiday cottages - http://www.smugglerscove.info.
The Water Shed is moored off Smuggler's Cove and access is by canoe, rowing boat or swimming. The shed is used to store "useful things" and visitors are encouraged to take anything they need to complete a project or to leave things that might be useful to someone else.
"I have discussed the Water Shed with a number of people, some of whom get it and some of whom don't and that's okay," said Geoff. "The Water Shed has no agenda - it's not environmental or political and it's not an installation. It's a shed. It is not a specialised shed like a bicycle shed and certainly having a cigarette round the back of it could be quite wet."
