Shed hotel

I'm coming late to the game on this one as I was sent details about this on April Fool's Day and thought it a clever prefab joke, but since then The Observer and Sunday Times have both featured it as has Wilco over at readersheds.co.uk, so the joke is on me. Essentially, The Bothy Lodge Company - the baby of TreeHouse Company mogul John Harris - is providing hotels with very, very upmarket 'sheds' to sleep in. The concept has taken two years to develop and the first ones are already in place.

Each Bothy (there are four designs) is built with superior 'Thermowood' which can be stained in a range of colours, Canadian Cedar Shingle roof tiles and solid copper facings - the idea is to be hardwearning but also to mingle in gently with hotels' grounds. Built in Scotland, they are then re-assembled onsite. Inside you've got underfloor heating, luxury bathrooms with Grohe showers, high insulation and a built in wardrobe and dressing table, as well as single or double beds. All are designed to four or five star specifications.

John Harris says: "The Bothy is a premium product, which will help hotels to differentiate their offer and command premium room rates. The purchase price is very favourable when you compare it to extending or refurbishing hotel accommodation and hotels can expect a return on their investment in less than three years." Rather like a common or garden garden office. In a way.

Have a look around the site here. It's marvellous.