Vernon Kay’s Garrison Garden Workshop Installation
We recently had the pleasure of manufacturing and installing a Garrison Plus 3 garden shed for TV and radio presenter Vernon Kay.
Vernon was looking for a large, practical space with serious security, and the Garrison Plus 3 certainly fits the bill. It’s the biggest garden workshop we offer, designed and manufactured by our team here in Yorkshire before being delivered and professionally assembled at his home.
Once the installation was complete, Vernon showed us around and shared his first impressions of his brand-new shed.
Who is Vernon Kay?
Bolton-born Vernon Kay has worked across British television and radio for more than two decades. Many viewers will remember him from Channel 4’s T4 and programmes including All Star Family Fortunes, while radio listeners will know him as a presenter on BBC Radio 2.
He’s also known for his lively, down-to-earth presenting style, which was very much on display when he introduced his new garden workshop.
After a cheeky reference to Ewan McGregor’s Centurion shed, Vernon summed up his new Garrison rather perfectly, describing it as the “perfect man shed”. We can’t argue with that!
Building the garden shed
The Garrison Plus 3 is a seriously substantial garden building, so professional installation is required and included as standard. Vernon’s shed arrived with our trained installation team, who unloaded the components and assembled the structure on its perfectly prepared base.
Despite the size of the unit, the complete build took the team around four hours.
“They know exactly what they’re doing. It arrived, they got it out, put it up, and it’s built to perfection!”
Vernon’s first thoughts
It was unsurprisingly the sheer amount of space that first caught Vernon’s attention. Standing inside the empty workshop, he declared that he was going to fit “a lot of stuff” inside. Judging by the size of the Garrison Plus 3, he certainly has plenty of room to work with!
That flexibility is one of the main benefits of choosing a larger garden workshop. Rather than restricting the space to one job, owners can organise it around their needs. It could provide room for tools and gardening equipment, a workbench, hobby materials, bikes or bulky outdoor kit.
The integrated electrical mounting plates also provide designated positions where power can be added. Electrical sockets and wiring aren’t supplied with the shed, but they are something Vernon is setting up for future use.
Why security stood out
Although Vernon enjoyed the scale of his new workshop, there was one feature he kept coming back to: security.
“Security with an outdoor building is key.”
The Garrison Plus 3 is constructed from reinforced galvanised steel panels and includes an integral metal floor that can be secured to a suitable solid base. Its reinforced double doors are fitted with welded hinges and a five-point locking system. The euro-cylinder lock is rated to EN 1303 and designed to resist picking and drilling.
The complete shed is listed by Asgard as certified to LPCB Level 1, tested and approved by the UK Locksmiths Association, and accredited to the Secured by Design Police Preferred Specification.
Secured by Design is the national crime prevention initiative operated by the UK Police Service. Its Police Preferred Specification identifies security products that have met recognised standards designed to demonstrate resistance to criminal attack.
What to consider before choosing a large workshop
A secure metal garden workshop can provide valuable extra space, but preparation matters.
Before arranging an installation:
- Decide how the workshop will be used so shelving, lighting and equipment can be planned sensibly.
- Make sure there is a solid, completely flat and secure base ready for the building.
- Check the complete product’s security credentials rather than looking only at the lock. Some companies have sneaky ways of claiming stronger security. At Asgard, though, we don’t cut corners.
- Consider the placement of the unit for ventilation as well as security, particularly when storing tools, bikes or equipment throughout the year.
The Garrison Plus 3 includes roof and side-panel ventilation to maintain airflow and help minimise condensation build-up.
A spacious new workshop for Vernon Kay
From the speed of the installation to the finished door alignment and security features, Vernon was clearly pleased with his new garden workshop.
For us, it was a pleasure to manufacture and install another secure storage building and see the finished Garrison ready for use.
“I’m really, really pleased with it. It’s going to be the perfect man shed!”
We think that’s a pretty good first impression.
