A diehard member of the Tartan Army from Aberdeenshire has completed a huge five-year project to transform his back garden into a fully functioning sports bar.
Chris ‘Gibbo’ Gibson from Maud founded the North East Tartan Army in 2016 and has now created his own incredible boozer – complete with a Tennent’s tap on hand and pool table.
With the Aberdeenshire village having very few pubs nearby, Chris and his pals now have their very own Scotland themed sports bar at the back of Gibbo’s home.
The 48-year-old, who is a builder by trade, first got the idea to build a small shed when the 2020 Euros was postponed during the pandemic, but finally completed the project after this year’s tournament, the Daily Record reports.
Chris pictured with his dogs Banger and Meatball at The Terrace
(Image: Supplied)
This summer, Chris took part in Tennent’s ‘Race to Germany’ and after the epic dash across Europe the brewers came and fitted his bar – dubbed ‘The Terrace’ – with its own tap.
The bar has also been kitted out with Tartan Army memorabilia, a foosball table and a number of murals displaying national team heroes.
Chris said: “After I showed Tennent’s the pictures of the project, they came up and fitted the tap for me, which was amazing. I already had the cooler and a few taps, but now we have the Tennent’s keg too.”
Chris now uses The Terrace as a base for North East Tartan Army AGMs as well as for various other charity events and parties.
Scotland legend Colin Hendry chats to the North East Tartan Army group at The Terrace
(Image: Supplied)
Chris has named the home bar ‘The Terrace’
(Image: Supplied)
Scotland legend Colin Hendry even joined them on their latest 15 mile fundraising trek from Peterhead to the home.
Chris laughed: “Colin joined us which was great, but he said it’s the first time he’s ever done one of his talks from a back garden.
“We’ll be doing another charity walk in March and he’ll be coming with us again for that. We don’t miss many away games these days but a big group of us watched the Gibraltar match in the bar ahead of the Euros this summer.
“We also watch some league football here at weekends and it’s just a good place to chill out. You would never know how extravagant it is from the road. Whenever people come in and walk through the house to see it they just say, ‘wow’. It’s got an amazing reaction.
“We’re looking forward to getting a lot of use of it next year with various events and committee meetings. The most we can get in there with the outside area is about 100 – and the view is amazing too.”
Speaking of the bar’s journey to completion, Chris added: “I got the idea when the 2020 Euros was postponed during the pandemic. There was talk about it going ahead with no fans so I thought I need to build somewhere for us to watch the games.
The garden pictured before Chris began building the bar
(Image: Supplied)
“It just started off as an idea to have a shed with a TV in it, but it just grew arms and legs. I’ve not had to spend that much money on it. I’m a builder by trade so I was able to do most of the work myself.
“I got a few of my joiner friends to help me too but the whole thing has probably cost about £4,000. A local graffiti artist came and did all the artwork and the latest addition was the beer garden which I built outside it.
The home bar has a pool and foosball table
(Image: Supplied)
“When I first started building I put the decking down and was just planning on putting in a big projector screen. After I built it I realised I could put a roof on it, and from there it has just evolved over the years. Now it’s complete it looks amazing.”