Why have an average shed full of cobwebs and lawnmowers, when you could design your own escapist retreat? 

Britain's annual Shed of the Year competition celebrates the most weird and wonderful of garden dens across our fair isles.

This year's shortlisted entries cover everything from a tree-top "Pirate Retreat" complete with parrots, lanterns and an electrical drawbridge, to a wonky blue and yellow "Cliffhanger" abode situated 50 feet from the cliff edge in Norfolk.

There's also a spectacular lake-side "Eco Dome" with a seven-metre aluminium roof that houses a woodwork workshop, an office and a gym.

And there's "The Pixie Cabin", a Hansel and Gretel-type miniature house balanced on a trailer.

Not to mention the former hen house in Scotland that's been converted into a Wild West themed gin joint (including a velour-clad piano bar). 

Finalists can be voted for at amazingsheds.co.uk and they'll appear in the Channel 4 show Amazing Spaces Shed of the Year later this summer. Come take a look at a few incredible designs - and grab some inspiration for your own shed conversion - below: 

This Caribbean-themed hangout in Croydon is filled with pirate-themed objects and trinkets, as well as a fully stocked bar, a dining area which seats up to 10 people, a dance area, a state-of-the-art sound system, disco lighting and an electric drawbridge and moat.

This Cumbrian getaway features a spectacular seven-metre domed roof made from aluminium, and is used as a woodworking workshop on the ground floor, with an office and gym upstairs.

An Art Deco-style homemade retro diner in Chichister, this Grease-feel retreat comes with vintage jukebox machines and dining booths made out of old boat seats. 

Built from leftover bits of timber, discarded pallets, broken branches, logs and trees, the Pixie Cabin in Surrey is a fully mobile structure that's used as a site office, tea room, office and tool box. 

This Gloucestershire shed lies 4.5metres off the ground. It's supported by four oak trees and boosts panoramic views of the Cotswold Escarpment, Malvern Hills and Welsh Mountains. Inside, it seats 10 people, houses two beds and has a central barbecue.

Situated 50 feet from the cliff edge in Norfolk, The Cliffhanger is made from beach hut debris following a tidal surge. As a result the shed cost just £250 to build.

A one-time dilapidated hen house, this converted distillery in Aviemore has become a farm shop and a Wild West themed gin joint. It's home to a velour upholstered piano bar, which hosts regular parties.

The outside of this Chelmsford-based escape is based on a westernised version of a Japanese Tea House. Inside, the shed features Japanese ornaments, a tropical fish tank as well as a small bar, tea making facilities, a fridge, a television and sound system.