OUTDOOR hospitality has been booming in recent weeks, and the owners of a plastic-free shop have created a new venue which is proving popular with locals.

Mary Elizabeth Webb and Adam Carroll from The Only Weigh Out in Stokesley have created such a beer garden from scratch on waste ground at the back of their premises.

When they bought the shop, which was originally the HSBC bank, they saw the potential for using this large outdoor space for their business, but they knew it would take an incredible amount of work to make it useable.

“It used to belong to the bank manager about 40 years ago and was a beautiful garden, but when we bought it, it was the land of the lost," said Mary. “It was overgrown, full of rubbish, tree stumps and bricks, so we had to clear it.

Step forward Adam and his pick axe, and handy assistant George Webb, to begin the clearing at the beginning of the year. Adam landscaped the garden, laid the turf, and then made 27 wooden tables and benches in three days in order to get ready for the Bank Holiday opening at the end of May.

The couple are very grateful to the Three Brothers’ Brewery who installed their pumps in record time. They stock their draft beer and lager, gins from the local distillery, Captain Cook, where an Orange Blossom gin was created just for them. They also use local breweries and buy Newhouse Wines from Great Ayton.

A pizza oven has just been installed and they are looking to extend their food range, through creating a commercial kitchen.

“It’s a lovely green space for people to enjoy,” said Adam, “and we plan to make use of it all year round, by installing yurts with fires in the winter for wine tastings, and having ticketed music events and themed food nights. We are also expanding the shop into a proper Deli. It’s as exciting for us as it is for the area.”

And for all fans of retro nostalgia, there is an artistic surprise from anonymous, mysterious artist ZX.8bit for people to discover.

Keep up to date with The Only Weigh Out on Facebook and on their website: www.theonlyweighout.co.uk