The first Men’s Sheds were set up in Australia in the 1990's based on the idea of garden sheds – a place to pursue practical interests at leisure, to practice skills and enjoy making and mending.

The difference is that garden sheds and their activities are often solitary in nature while Men’s Sheds are the opposite. They’re about social connections and friendship building, sharing skills, knowledge, and laughter.

Sheds spread around the world and came to the UK, where there are now well over 1,000 Men's Sheds

Every one of these is different and are shaped by what their members want them to be.

Although labelled sheds, they often aren’t sheds at all. Our "shed" is currently in a small business unit. Some Sheds are purpose built workshops, but they rarely start out that way.

Like many other sheds we didn’t have premises at all in the beginning and instead formed a group that met regularly for the social connection, company and camaraderie until we could find somewhere to kit out with tools.

Sheds typically attract older men but we didn't want to restrict membership only to men. Hence, we operate as Bridlington Community Shed.

An earlier Bridlington Men in Sheds closed in 2022 because of Covid restrictions. Early in 2025 Bob Bunce decided to see if there was enough support to try again and he organised three public meetings in April that year.

As a result a small group got together, initially meeting at the cafe in Boyes. Andy Long had been recruited and agreed to chair the Trustees.

He identified premises and we moved into our Shed in early November 2025. Over the next three months volunteers transformed it into a welcoming and practical space.

The Bridlington Community Shed was formally opened by the Mayor of Bridlington, Angela Walker, by cutting a plank of wood placed across the entrance, on 12 February, 2026.

Membership is growing and the Shed is regularly buzzing with activity.