After setting off on a mission to visit every Red Lion in the country, Cathy Price has opened up her own bar – in her garage!
Eccentric Cathy, 53, has opened up her very own Red Lion bar in the double garage of her home in Duddle Lane, Walton-le-Dale.
The garage is complete with Red Lion glasses, drinks stirrers and shot glass holders.
Cathy, a personal trainer, said one of the things that inspired her to build her own bar came after she was given a Red Lion sign from one of the pubs she visited – because they were having a revamp.
The mum-of-one said: “I just decided to build a bar. I have seen lots of different bars, I just thought I would open one for my friends and family.
“It is like a party room.
“They (friends and family) think I’m mad, but we have a right laugh.
“I have a little system, people volunteer to go on the bar and I sell six raffle tickets for £10 for people to buy the drinks with.
“I don’t make any money it is just to cover the cost of all the drinks.”
She added: “I have lots of cans and bottles and the optics for the four main spirits.
“In the summer I will probably just get a barrel.
“Last time about 40 people came and it was just really nice.
“Since I have done it I have heard a few people have little bars in their houses.”
Since she set out on her mission Cathy Price has visited 273 Red Lions up and down the country – of a possible 620.
She said: “I’m nearly half way, I’m aiming to get to 300 by the end of the year.
“When I started it I thought somebody would already be doing it.”
Cathy has shared her mad mission with her daughter Hayley, 30, and mum Jean, 79, as well as her friends and admits that none of the two pubs are ever the same.
She said: “I went to Coventry to the Red Lion truck stop where all the lorry drivers stay over and have a greasy breakfast, then a few miles away I was in another one drinking Prosecco.”
After appearing in the news about her antics Cathy was asked to appear on a television show called ‘I Love My Country’.
Filming for the programme took place this month and is set to screen in the New Year.
n Have you converted your garage, lockup, shed or basement for an unusual use? If so, contact Laura Wild on 01772 838 167.
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