Tinkuleles are a success

A NOVEL business selling ukuleles made from sweet and biscuit tins has proved a huge success since being set up in Clevedon.

Kevin Robinson decided to start making the fun ukuleles after spotting a similar idea online while looking for lessons in how to play the small string instrument.

Now, the 53-year-old has made more than 50 of the unusual creations and sold them through an online shop, at festivals and also at Clevedon’s Coach House Studio in Bellevue Road.

Kevin, of Tickenham Road, currently works as the caretaker at Clevedon YMCA and makes the ukuleles in his spare time. However, he is hoping his Tinkuleles business could become a full-time venture.

He said: “While searching online for ukulele lessons last Christmas I found a guy from America who had made one from a cookie tin and it just went from there really.

“I attended a ukulele festival in Cheltenham and they went down really well there.

“I make them as and when tins are available but people also send me tins to use for commissions.

“I have sent two to America and one to Australia.

“They take about four hours each to make and are all electro-acoustic which means they can be played through an amplifier.”

To find out more visit www.tinkuleles.com