Inside the extraordinary Viking-themed brewhouse in Otley competing for Shed of the Year
There are Viking swords on the walls, hand-carved Norse designs in the furniture, home-grown hops climbing outside and beer flowing from taps inside.
What was once a concrete garage in an Otley garden has been transformed into a striking timber shed – a Viking-themed brewhouse and tap room that is now competing for a national title.
Graphic designer Gareth Hughes has spent years combining his passion for home brewing with a lifelong fascination for Viking history. The result is Miðgarð Brewhouse, one of Yorkshire's entries in this year's Shed of the Year competition.
"I've always liked the Viking history in York," he says. "When I started thinking about a name for my home brewing, I went down that route and called it Midgard Brewery using the Old Norse spelling."
The building stands on the footprint of a former garage that was demolished during extensive work on the family’s 1930s property. Gareth, 45, had already experimented with a Viking-themed garden building at his previous house and used the opportunity to create a larger and more practical version.
"There were things I'd learned from the old one," he says. "This was really about using the space better so I could fit all the brewing equipment in but also have room for people."
The timber-framed structure, built on a brick base because of the steeply sloping garden, is divided into two sections: a brewhouse and a tap room where friends and family can gather.
Although Gareth estimates the project cost around £30,000, much of that included groundwork, utilities and infrastructure completed alongside the house renovation. Having builders already on site helped speed up construction, with the framework and roof largely completed over the course of a few months.
One of the most distinctive features is the green roof, which was installed as part of a wider effort to transform what Gareth describes as an "unloved" garden into a wildlife-friendly space.
"We're keen gardeners and wanted to increase the amount of green space and biodiversity in the garden," he says.
Inside, the Viking theme is evident in almost every detail. Oak panelling lines the tap room walls while additional timber left over from the project was used to create a staggered effect across the ceiling. The spaces between the boards were decorated with stars, creating one of the building's most talked-about features.
The room is filled with handmade and carefully sourced items. Gareth built a shield from a wooden pallet and created a carved horse-head detail on a bench using designs based on archaeological discoveries from Scandinavia. Replicas of Viking weapons and artefacts are displayed throughout, including a reproduction of the famous Cawood Sword, discovered near the village where Gareth previously lived and now housed in the Yorkshire Museum.
"I've tried to make anything Viking-related in there as authentic as possible and based on actual archaeological finds," he says.
Not everything follows strict historical accuracy. A replica of Sting, the sword from The Lord of the Rings, also hangs on one wall after Gareth struggled to find a suitable place for it inside the house.
Many of the decorative pieces were commissioned from craftspeople, including artists originally based in Ukraine who specialise in hand-carved wooden figures inspired by Norse mythology.
Elsewhere, antler-style lights were created from old horns, some inherited from Gareth's father, fitted into toothbrush holders and illuminated with LED candles.
The brewhouse is more than a display space. Gareth has been home brewing for more than a decade and regularly produces a range of beers for personal use, including pale ales, stouts, porters and Belgian styles.
The brewing side contains specialist equipment and a kegerator, allowing beer to be served on draught in the adjoining tap room. The beers often take their names from Viking mythology and Old Norse language.
Outside, hops climb up the side of the building. Gareth brought an established plant from his previous home and harvested enough from it last year to use in his brewing.
The space is designed for year-round use. A split heating and cooling system, recommended by the electrician, provides warmth during winter and air conditioning during hotter weather. Much of the seating was built from leftover timber salvaged from the building's frame and materials reused from the previous cabin.
Miðgarð Brewhouse is one of the Yorkshire entries hoping to impress judges in this year's Shed of the Year competition, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
Now backed by Leeds-based garden building retailer Tiger, the competition features 12 categories ranging from workshops and studios to entertainment spaces and community projects. Entries have closed and the overall winner is due to be announced next month.
The deadline to enter Shed of the year 2026 has been extended to June 14, 2026. For more details, including previous winners, visit readersheds.co.uk