'Nerd' den with an 18-foot gaming table and battle boards is crowned UK 'Shed of the Year' - where friends gather every week to remember a pal who died from cancer

The UK's Shed of the Year has now been unveiled
READ MORE: Britain's Pub Shed of the Year finalists revealed: Ornate backyard 'man caves' feature beer gardens, pool tables and pints on tap
See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source

A man who built a board-game den in honour of his late friend - who passed away from cancer - has now been crowned the UK's Shed of the Year.

Chris Otterburn hosts a Thursday game night with his friends - and the set-up features an 18-foot gaming table, storage for battle boards and miniatures and a dedicated tea-making station.

It was originally built to house tabletop wargaming memorabilia, but quickly expanded into what has now been dubbed Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0.

Now, glass display cases line the navy painted walls, which also feature artwork, thematic decor to immerse the players - as well as 'nerdy' gear including Stormtrooper helmets and Lord of the Rings merch - and cosy chairs and sofas.

Friends rallied together to help build it up while one of their closest friends, Scott Forrest, was undergoing cancer treatment, hoping he would be able to enjoy it with them. However, sadly, Scott passed away before the shed was completed.

Today, there is a memorial area created just for him - meaning Scott remains part of every weekly game night.

Chris's friend, Dave, nominated him 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.'

A man who built a board-game den in honour of his late friend - who passed away from cancer - has now been crowned the UK's Shed of the Year

'Winning Shed of the Year is an incredible honour and means so much to everyone who's been part of this journey,' Chris said.

'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, praised the heart at the core of Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0.

'The standard of entries this year has been exceptional and proves that in our twentieth year the sheddies of the UK are still creating stunning spaces and inspiring others , and that almost any building can become a shed,' he explained.

'From museums and workshops to hobby sheds and peaceful garden retreats, the creativity has been incredible.

'Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 perfectly captures what Shed of the Year is all about. It's an outstanding build, but it was the story behind it that made it our overall winner.'

Chris Otterburn (left) hosts a Thursday game night with his friends - and the set-up features an 18-foot gaming table, storage for battle boards and miniatures and a dedicated tea-making station

It was originally built to house tabletop wargaming memorabilia, but quickly expanded into what has now been dubbed Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0

He explained that it's 'more than a garden building'.

Rather, it's 'somewhere friendships are strengthened, memories are preserved and people come together to share the hobbies they love'.

He added: 'It perfectly demonstrates how a shed can become a truly special sanctuary.'

Many of the materials used were reclaimed or recycled. Chris said that the base is tabletops from the local pub, while a lot of the cabinets built were made with discarded furniture.

The competition is run by Tiger, a Yorkshire-based garden building specialist, and the Shed of the Year contest has been running since 2006.

'We've been amazed by the quality of entries during the competition's 20th year, and it's been a privilege to celebrate the incredible creativity and craftsmanship found in gardens across the UK,' said Sam Jenkinson, Head of Marketing and Chief Sheddie at Tiger.

'With so many outstanding sheds and inspiring stories behind them, choosing an overall winner was incredibly difficult, and every finalist should be proud of what they've created.

'Otty's Hobby Shed 2.0 stood out not only because of the impressive build itself, but because of the purpose behind it.

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.'