Revisiting Anderson Jones and his Spectacular ABC Cinema Shed

For any true Sheddie, the space at the bottom of the garden is far more than just a place to store lawnmowers, rusty trowels, and half-empty tins of wood stain. It is a completely blank canvas. It is a space for imagination, refuge, and extraordinary craftsmanship. But even in the highly inventive world of garden builds, Anderson Jones of Fenton in Stoke-on-Trent has managed to create something that completely defies belief. Back in 2017, Andy’s jaw-dropping ABC Cinema shed took the ReaderSheds community by storm, earning a well-deserved finalist spot in the fiercely contested Unexpected/Unique  category of the Cuprinol Shed of the Year competition. It was the perfect category for a build that completely blurs the line between a traditional wooden outbuilding and a fully functioning commercial venue. Now, thanks to a brilliant recent tour by the ‘Movie Collector‘ YouTube channel, we can see that this spectacular tribute to the golden age of cinema is not just surviving in his back garden, it is thriving.

To understand the sheer scale and ambition of this project, you have to look back at Andy’s childhood. His passion for the magic of film is quite literally built into his DNA. His grandfather, Eric Jones, worked as a projectionist, and his grandmother, Katrina Mason, served as an usherette at the local Hanley Odeon cinema. In fact, that very cinema is exactly where they first met. As a young boy, Andy was treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the cinematic world. Those magical childhood trips up to the projection booth, getting to see the hidden machinery, feeling the hum of the heavy projectors, and watching his grandfather operate the equipment left a profound and lasting impression. Determined to keep that family magic alive, Andy first collaborated with his father, Keith Jones, to build a miniature nine-seater cinema in a spare back bedroom, affectionately dubbed the Odon. However, Andy always dreamed bigger. Years later, he decided to transform a quarter-acre patch of his own semi-detached property into a monumental brick structure.

Building this masterpiece was an exercise in pure stamina and unyielding dedication. Working tirelessly on evenings and weekends over a grueling five-year period from 2012 to 2017, the former kitchen fitter poured his heart, soul, and a reported life savings of around seventy thousand pounds into the ambitious project. He completed the work entirely by himself without any outside labour. The final result is a colossal 40-foot-long, 22-foot-wide, and 20-foot-high building that houses a completely legitimate 34-seat auditorium. The structure itself is built to absolute perfection and designed to outlast us all. The heavy, robust oak timbers that sit beneath the floorboards were salvaged from a local demolished high school in Blurton, ensuring complete structural stability. As Andy noted during his recent video tour, with twelve large fourteen-inch beams acting as the rock-solid foundation, the floor is going absolutely nowhere. It is a true monument to DIY dedication, patience, and expert craftsmanship.

What truly sets this home ABC Cinema apart from standard garden builds is the forensic attention to historical detail. Stepping through the front doors, you are instantly transported to the grandeur of the 1930s, cleverly updated with classic 1970s interior styling. There is a proper, fully outfitted foyer featuring an original vintage ticket machine that still bears the classic ABC logos on the back of the tickets. Andy’s wife, Jayne, often helps out by running the sweet counter and serving drinks, while Andy issues the tickets and shows guests to their seats, giving the whole experience an undeniable and charming authenticity.

Every single element inside the building tells a beautiful story of British cinematic history. The thirty-four plush red seats were carefully rescued from the Hanley ABC cinema before it was sadly demolished in 2000. Andy even tracked down original illuminated exit signs, authentic brass door handles salvaged from the Stockport Plaza, and vintage heavy radiators from the old Doncaster Odeon. When he could not find enough of the original patterned ABC carpet, he went the extra mile and hired a specialist firm to weave an exact, bespoke replica. It was a massive expense, but he insists it was worth every single penny to capture the exact feeling of his youth.

The auditorium itself is a visual triumph. Andy originally planned a barrel-type ceiling with ornate plasterwork, but ultimately opted for the classic 1970s style of his local ABC’s screen three, utilizing sweeping pleated curtains. The curtains framing the massive 17-foot by 7-foot screen were salvaged from a demolished Cineworld in Chester and meticulously cut down to fit the space. Hidden behind the scenes, the sound system features genuine JBL cinema speakers, ensuring that the audio experience matches the visual majesty of the room.

As showcased beautifully in the recent YouTube video by Movie Collector, this is a working cinema in every sense of the word. Upstairs sits a dedicated projection room equipped for both modern digital screenings and classic 35mm film. During the tour, visiting film collectors traded prints, and Andy proudly discussed his rare 35mm print of Back to the Future, one of his all-time favourite 1980s classics. Watching the film collectors go through the sacred ritual of checking every leader from every reel before a screening is a true film lover’s dream. It offers a tactile, mechanical experience that modern streaming platforms simply cannot replicate.

Despite the sheer scale, the professional finish, and the intense media attention over the years, the ABC Cinema remains a deeply personal community space. Andy keeps a rich guestbook filled with signatures and photographs of famous visitors. The pages feature entries from George Clarke from Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces, the presenters of the Gadget Show, the cast of Bargain Hunt, and former BBC voiceover artist Reg Sanders. Oscar-winning actress Rachel Shenton even hosted a private premiere for her film The Silent Child right there in the garden. Yet, despite the fame, it operates strictly for family, friends, and the occasional charity event, taking modest donations rather than selling commercial tickets. It also doubles as the ultimate family entertainment room, with Andy’s children occasionally hooking up their games consoles to the massive screen for epic marathon gaming sessions.

Nearly a decade after its completion, Anderson Jones’s ABC Cinema remains one of the greatest feats of engineering the UK Sheddie community has ever witnessed. It proves that with enough vision, skill, and sheer stubbornness, you can build a world-class attraction at the very bottom of the garden. It is a stunning tribute to a bygone era of entertainment and a touching homage to his family’s rich history in the cinema industry. If you have not seen the latest footage yet, you absolutely must head over to the Movie Collector channel and watch the full twenty-minute tour. Just be warned: seeing a fully operational, gorgeously decorated 35mm projection room sitting happily in a back garden might make your own humble potting shed feel just a little bit inadequate!

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