‘I built 7m-long Star Wars spaceship bar in my Northamptonshire garden - creativity has always been in my DNA’
Chester Walsh spent three months building a Star Wars-inspired spaceship bar and social space in his Northamptonshire garden.
Chester Walsh, 29, worked on the project at his home in Northamptonshire for three months. The end result is a 7m-long and 3m-wide spaceship complete with monitors to look like a windscreen, speakers in the walls and a fully-stocked bar.
Chester, a prop maker, said: “I am a big Star Wars fan and nerd in general. I had this idea for a good couple of years prior to build what looks like a spaceship as a bar and social space in the garden.
“Everyone thinks it is very unique and cool. None of them have asked me to build one in their garden yet but I have been asked to decorate some spare rooms. I am a bit of a perfectionist so I am not 100% happy, but overall I enjoyed building it and it is a nice thing to have. There are just minor details I would like to refine over time.”
Chester started the project in June 2025 as an extension was being built on his home which meant he couldn’t use his workshop - and he wanted to keep busy. He put in a concrete base and says the rest is essentially a glamping pod.
The structure consists of a frame covered with plywood and some rubber, with fibreglass used for the outside detailing. The base was the most expensive part, and the rest of the supplies and decorations added up - costing a total of £9,000. There are monitors and a PlayStation hooked up to play games, as well as a seating area which can be turned into a single bed for friends to stay.
Chester named his creation 'The Halikon' after the since-closed hotel in Florida which provided an immersive Star Wars experience. Luckily, he says his fiancée - who he met at a comic convention - is also a "nerd" and was very supportive of the project.
Chester said: “There were a lot of things to keep my mind occupied as there were always problems to solve. I had a lot of creative freedom with it being my own design so I could adjust things for convenience if I needed to rather than follow any strict plan.
“My fiancée was excited. I think she was worried it would look a bit more intimidating or overpowering in the garden than it has done in the end. She was quite happy with it in the end. It is not a subtle thing, but we have a decent sized garden so you don’t have to look at it.”
Chester started going to comic conventions aged 17 and made costumes - which evolved into his side hustle. Then, he took the leap and quit his day job at a law firm just over two years ago to make art and props full-time.
Chester said: “It was a good job but I didn’t get tons of joy out of it. I had the opportunity to turn what was my hobby and then a side hustle into my full-time thing and I took the leap.”
His favourite things to make are flexible urethane rubber costume arms, which look like metal, and plush wire-frame poseable cats. He has also made costumes including human Shrek from Shrek 2 and Ben 10 which he says have received the best reaction.
He said: “I like being creative. It has always been in my DNA in a way. When people see me at conventions it makes them remember something nostalgic that they forgot. I get quite a lot of joy bringing that smile to people’s faces.”
Chester has no plans in the immediate future for more big projects - but he hopes one day to build a Lord of the Rings-inspired pergola.