General

The seeds of a very good idea! Damon's mobile grain bin bar grabs the interest of hit TV show

The final reveal of Damon Marshall's mobile grain bin bar in the grounds of Abbots Court Rural Escape.

By Staff Reporter [email protected]

Published: January 22, 2021 | Updated: 23rd January 2021

An old farm grain bin converted into a mobile bar in Dorset provoked nationwide interest after being aired on a Channel 4 show.

Described as the world’s first mobile grain bin bar, it was among the items featured on the January 14 edition of George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.

The bin bar is the brainchild of Damon Marshall, who works in events and marketing.

Filming of the conversion took place over several months with the final reveal in the grounds of Abbots Court Rural Escape at Winterborne Kingston, pictured left.

Damon, 39, said: “I’ve always been interested in conversions of quirky buildings.

“A chance online encounter with an architect in America led me to his grain bin tiny house.

“Inspired by the work he had done, I soon found myself scrolling the farming classified ads with nothing more than a few dreams.

“With equal amounts of excitement and trepidation I soon found six grain bins for sale in Essex.

“This was back in November 2017 and, despite no land to put them on and no prior experience collapsing these two tonne 40ft high structures, I made an offer.

“A deal was done on four of the grain bins and I agreed to remove them within two weeks.

“With the help of friends, several labourers, Youtube and a crane we eventually managed to collapse the structures in just over a week with nothing more than a stubbed toe after tripping on a generator.

“Collapsing them, alone, gave an immense sense of achievement but soon the realisation kicked in that the hard work was yet to be done.

“Like many projects that get started, I did nothing for the next two years.”

Damon said it was thanks to a little encouragement from his partner, Carina George, a Senior Account Manager at Bournemouth & Poole College, that the idea came to convert one of them into some form of mobile bar or cafe.

He added: “At the same time, we noticed the production company behind Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces were looking for new projects.

“Within a week of sending them an email of the idea, a cameraman and producer visited Poole to see the units all flat packed on pallets in storage.

“Filming of the conversion began in January 2020 but a dislocated thumb while cross country skiing in February meant that everything was put on hold.

“In part due to Covid, the project was eventually finished and filmed between June and the start of August 2020.

Carina and Damon pictured with George Clarke of Channel 4’s George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces.

“It’s the world’s first mobile grain bin bar and could be used as an event prop, festival fixture or, perhaps, a feature at a high-end wedding.

“George Clarke loved it especially as he likes things to be repurposed.”

Carina, 36, who is also a private yoga teacher, said there had been a number of approaches since the programme.

She said: “Damon has had some direct enquiries about possibly buying them for a permanent feature for an outdoor bar area.

“Also, and once the events world is up and running again. a possibility for it to be a portable bar for big events that last over for over a week or so.”

Damon and Carina have thanked the following for their help in the programme:

  • Abbotts Court Rural Escape for the kind use of their house and gardens for filming of the final reveal.
  • Rabbit & Rose for providing all the furniture, flowers and dressing of the bar for the final filming.
  • Rodeo Events for providing bar equipment and Espresso Martini’s on tap which proved a favourite of George Clarke.
  • Cinemattag for providing a selection of festoon, fairy and mood lights to dress the bar.
  • Jimmys Ice Coffee for deliveries of coffee throughout the build and during filming.

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