Hello from Patchway Men’s Shed!

A place to tinker, chat, laugh – and maybe even measure things properly…

Did you know there’s a Men’s Shed right here in Patchway? No? You’re not alone – and that’s exactly why we thought we’d take a moment to tell you a little more about who we are, what we do, and why you might want to pop in and say hello.

Let’s face it, once work life ends, a lot of men find themselves wondering, “What now?” The mates from work aren’t around every day, and it can get surprisingly quiet, and lonely, pretty quickly. While there are plenty of groups out there, they’re often not quite the right fit for men who just want a bit of banter, a project to get stuck into, or even just a cuppa with good company.

That’s exactly why Patchway Men’s Shed came into being.

Rewind about ten years: a local community group noticed that while older folks were getting involved in all sorts of activities, the men were noticeably missing. So, a meeting was called to see if there was any interest in starting a group “for the blokes.” The first meeting had two people. The second? Five. And from there, Men in Shed was born.

At first, we were granted a rather humble home – a cupboard in the sports pavilion at Scott Park. Yep, a literal cupboard in a changing room! But from those tiny beginnings, we've grown steadily – in numbers, in spirit, and in space.

These days, if you’re near Blakeney Road or the allotments, you may have seen a few new additions. We’ve added a safe hardstanding area, two 20-foot shipping containers which we have turned into a spacious workshop; and, with the generous help of local companies, put a roof over the lot – so we can now carry on rain or shine. So we now have proper workshop space, where we can tinker, fix, build, and natter all year round.

Now, before you panic at the mention of “work,” let us reassure you – what goes on in our Shed is far from hard graft. It’s more like:

🎯 Hobbies

🪚 A bit of DIY (when we feel like it)

🤣 Plenty of laughs and light-hearted teasing

☕ And of course – tea, biscuits, and great company.

We’ve got members in their 80s and others still in their 50s (and younger!). Everyone brings something different to the group – and everyone leaves with a smile.

So, whether you fancy learning a new skill, dusting off an old one, or simply enjoying a bit of chat over a cuppa – come and join us. We’re always happy to welcome new faces.

Until next time, stay well – and don’t be a stranger. Come and see what all the fuss is about at Patchway Men’s Shed. We’ll put the kettle on.

You can find us on Facebook (just search Patchway Men’s Shed) or look us up via the UK Men’s Sheds Association (UKMSA) website – we’re listed on the “Find a Shed” page. Or simply pop in and visit us at the Blakeney Road allotment site.

We are holding an open day on Saturday 6^th September to showcase our new workshops and the work we do! So why not pop in and see for yourself what we get up to and join us for afternoon tea from 12.00pm to 4.00pm. We look forward to seeing you.