It’s National Beer Day (15th June) and naturally, as an agency with over a decade of experience in pub and restaurant marketing, pubs are never far from our mind…
Beer gardens saw a renaissance over lockdown as hospitality businesses were incentivised to invest in outdoor spaces. This was primarily due to government restrictions not allowing customers to be served inside hospitality venues, but even when restrictions were lifted, outdoor spaces were perfect for those still not comfortable going inside.
We saw this outdoor investment first-hand with Wadworth pubs, one of our beloved clients, who heavily invested in their beer gardens, adding stretch tents, marquees, heaters, and beautiful outdoor lighting. This was so much more than a reaction to the pandemic, creating a resurgence of British beer gardens like no other for the summer of 2022.
So, to celebrate a day worth raising a pint to and the return of the British beer garden, we’ve asked the team what their favourite beer gardens are. If the weather’s on our side and you find yourself searching for “best beer gardens near me” or “garden pub near me,” you’re going to want to keep this list close all summer.
10 of the best beer gardens in Britain:
1. Best beer garden in Stirchley: The British Oak.
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“Purveyors of filth in traditional pub settings? Welcome to your new local.”
From that sentence alone, you can probably tell that spending an afternoon at The British Oak in Stirchley is going to be a good time, especially if the sun is shining.
With a beer garden that can hold up to 800 people—yep, you read that right—heaters, outdoor lighting, a marquee for when the weather isn’t on our side and weekly events like live music, live sport, and outdoor cinema evenings, The British Oak’s beer garden deserves a place on this list.
Book your seat at The British Oak.
2. Best beer garden in Northfield: The Great Stone Inn.
As a traditional pub that’s been around for hundreds of years, you know you can expect a classic pub experience when you visit The Great Stone Inn. Situated in a quiet residential area, you’ll be able to take a seat in the garden, drink in your hand, and just soak up the sun in peace. Unassuming British pub perfection.
Book your seat at The Great Stone Inn.
3. Best beer garden with play area near Stockport: The Little Mill Inn.
Listen to this and you’ll soon understand how The Little Mill Inn made the list:
“The Little Mill Inn is an iconic grade II listed country pub and B&B serving superb locally sourced food. We are located in a beautifully tranquil, secluded valley in the northwest of the Peak District. We’re at the heart of a local farming community and popular amongst locals and visitors alike – walkers and other explorers – a mix that creates a friendly, vibrant atmosphere.” And that’s not all…
This pub also has a sprawling outdoor play area, making it the perfect beer garden for pub-goers with children.
Book your spot at The Little Mill Inn.
4. Best beer garden in Wales: Ty Coch Inn.
A picture is said to be worth 1,000 words, so we’ll let that picture of the Ty Coch Inn do the talking… Imagine drinking a crisp pint on a beach in Wales, looking across the Irish Sea to The Rivals. This isn’t just a beer garden, it’s a beer beach.
Don’t believe us? Just check out the view from the always-on webcam.
Book your spot at the Ty Coch Inn.
5. Best beer garden in Norwich: The Georgian Townhouse
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At The Georgian Townhouse, the pub has created “a hidden city oasis where you can come to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.” Doesn’t that sound amazing?
With their spacious walled garden, and outhouses converted into dens with stoves, not to mention their sun loungers, kids area, and croquet, it’s easy to see how this pub makes the list with one of the best beer gardens in Norwich.
Book your spot at The Georgian Townhouse.
6. Best beer garden in Leeds: The Original Oak.
If you’re looking for a classic pub with the warm welcome of an Irish family, you’re in the right place at The Original Oak. As you can see from the picture, their beer garden is the place to be on a sunny day, showing all the live sports and gigs you could need for a summer you’ll never forget. As they say here, that’s where the banter flows as freely as the drinks.
This one also gets bonus points for being an O’Neill’s, one of our long-time pub clients.
Book your spot at The Original Oak.
7. Best beer garden in Worcestershire: The Mug House.
Here’s an especially unique pub and beer garden… The Mug House is a 700-year-old pub and Church Ale House, believed to be the only pub in a churchyard in the UK. It has a gorgeous view, plenty of fresh flowers dotted around, and is nestled into a quiet area surrounded by fields and far-off horizons. Bliss.
Book your spot at The Mug House.
8. Best beer garden in Norfolk: The Swan Inn.
For a beer garden with waterside views, you don’t get much better than The Swan Inn in Norfolk, overlooking the River Bure. What was once a cottage built in 1696 is now the stunning pub you see before you, with a beer garden that tempts you to spend your whole weekend looking out over the river while enjoy a few pub classics, drinks, and quality time.
Another reason we love this pub is that is combines two of our favourite clients into one establishment: Vintage Inns and Innkeeper’s.
Book your spot at The Swan Inn.
9. Best beer garden in Pershore: The Anchor Inn.
Another riverside beer garden – could it get any better? For a classic British pub with a view, head to The Anchor’s Inn, where you can spend summer days watching boats go by along the River Avon. There’s nothing more to say, other than who’s getting the first round in?
Book your spot at The Anchor Inn.
10. Best beer garden in Devizes: Black Horse.
Situated on the banks of the stunning Kennet & Avon Canal, only metres from the famous Caen Hill flight of locks, the Black Horse is the place to be if you want canal-side quality time. Simply let the time fly by as you watch the barges going up and down – if you can take your eyes off their glorious food and drinks menus, of course.
Black Horse is one of Wadworth’s gorgeous pubs in Devizes, where their brewery is based, and you never need to walk far to find another pub with a tempting beer garden.
Book your spot at Black Horse.
More beer gardens worth checking out:
Sure, this is a top 10 list, but do you know how much our team loves pubs? Here are a few more pubs with great beer gardens to wet your whistle:
- The Barge, in Seend (a beautiful Wadworth pub, another of our beloved clients)
- The Fleece Inn, in the Cotswolds
- The Queen’s Head, in Bromsgrove
- The Townhouse, in Norwich (another one of our clients!)
- The Rushcutter’s Arms, in Norfolk
- The Cod & Lobster, in Staithe
- The Old Hall Inn, in Chinley
- The Ferryboat Inn, in North Famdon
- Llanthony Priory Hotel, in the Brecon Beacons (more hotel than pub, but what a view!)
Want to see your pub on a list like this?
It all starts with your website. With a pub website that’s easy to find, intuitive to use, and captures the tone and atmosphere of your pub in an instant, pulling new and returning guests through your doors for a classic pub experience is a breeze.
We’re experts in pub websites and marketing – we’ve been doing it for over a decade – so get in touch and let’s see what we your pub could become. We’ll get the kettle on.
Seen something you want to try? We’ll get the kettle on…