How a Garden Shed Became London’s Top-Rated Restaurant on TripAdvisor
In a world where online reviews can make or break a business, one man in the UK decided to test just how far he could push the system.
The result? A fake restaurant — quite literally a shed in his backyard — became the #1-rated restaurant in London on TripAdvisor.
Sounds unbelievable? It happened. Here's the story of The Shed at Dulwich.
The Mastermind Behind the Hoax
The man behind the idea was Oobah Butler, a writer who once got paid to post fake restaurant reviews online.
Tired of writing lies for other people, he had a wild thought:
“What if I created a restaurant that didn’t even exist?”
And so began one of the internet’s most iconic hoaxes.
Creating “The Shed at Dulwich”
- Location: A garden shed in his backyard
- Photos: Fake dishes made from household items like bleach tablets, shaving cream, and painted sponges
- Vibe: Exclusive and mysterious — “appointment-only” dining
- Reviews: Written by friends, all 5-star, carefully posted over time
The Power of Online Hype
Within months, the fake restaurant started climbing TripAdvisor's ranks.
People were desperate to book a table. Influencers, journalists, even real foodies started calling.
Soon enough, The Shed at Dulwich hit #1 on TripAdvisor’s list of London restaurants.
From Joke to Reality
To complete the prank, Oobah actually opened the shed for one evening and invited real people.
He served frozen food, dressed it up, played ambient music — and everyone loved it.
Why? Because the hype, the exclusivity, and the online reviews had already shaped their expectations.
Why This Went Viral
This wasn’t just a funny prank.
It made people question:
- How reliable are online reviews?
- How easily can digital platforms be manipulated?
- How much does presentation matter over reality?
Major global media houses like BBC, VICE, and The Guardian picked up the story. The prank became a global sensation.
Final Thoughts
The story of The Shed at Dulwich shows how powerful — and dangerous — digital trust can be.
In the age of filters, fake reviews, and curated perfection, maybe we all need to take a closer look at what we believe online.
🤔 Would You Have Fallen For It?
Drop a comment below or share this story with a friend who always books places based on online ratings.
Because sometimes, even a shed can serve five-star vibes — if the internet says so. 😉