London's best beer gardens
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By Time Out Editors
Updated: Mon Aug 17 2009
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Dolphin
121 Sydenham Road, Sydenham, SE26 5HB
Set in Sydenham, the light and spacious Dolphin is a haven of good taste. At the pumps you’ll find Fuller’s London Pride, Timothy Taylor Landlord and Broadside, while the fridges hold Budvar for the more discerning bottle drinker. The Dolphin’s delight, however, is out back: in 2007, the spacious and peaceful garden was given a seriously stylish makeover, and now comes complete with fountains, sculptures and an apple orchard. Look out for the annual hog roast, this year held on July 19. Read more
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Avalon
16 Balham Hill, Balham, SW12 9EB
Like the front terrace? You’ve seen nothing yet. How about the pretty side garden? Just wait. Through the back is not just the best pub garden in Balham, but one of the best in London. It was recently re-landscaped and now has raised beds, three levels of decking, sturdy wooden furniture, patio heaters, mercifully unbranded sun umbrellas, and even a Roman-style tiered fountain at the very back. It’s surrounded and partially covered by mature trees, adding to the bucolic feel. Table service should ensure there’s no need to traipse back inside to the bar to get a drink, though service wasn’t exactly swift on our two visits. Beers include the excellent Wandle from the new Sambrook’s Brewery in Battersea, Timothy Taylor Landlord, or Sharp’s Doom Bar. The garden inevitably attracts lots of thirtysomething professionals, family groups, and the occasional feral toddler. A blackboard advertises several appealing items from the barbecue, too. Read more
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Florence
133 Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, SE24 0NG
This spacious south London local does all the simple stuff really rather well. In addition to an original and affordable food menu, there’s a superb selection of beers, of which Meantime Kolner, the deceptively strong Duvel, Erdinger and Little Creatures pale ale from Australia are the pick. The pub also brews a range of fine-tasting beers on site, ‘Beaver’ being especially delicious. The already sizeable sun-trapping beer terrace is due to be expanded too. Read more
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Mansion
255 Gipsy Road, Gipsy Hill, SE27 9QY
This Gipsy Hill pub has a huge AstroTurfed garden with more than a dozen picnic tables and even a few outdoor sofas. It’s fringed by cypress and yew trees as well as being overlooked by neighbouring buildings, and has a barbecue most Saturdays and Sundays (£13.95 for most options, which includes a salad buffet). At the moment, there should be three real ales on tap – Greene King IPA, Black Sheep Bitter and London Pride, though on our recent visit only one was available. If you’d prefer to eat from the indoor menu, this includes mustardy Glamorgan (ie vegetarian) sausages, or a chicken salad which could pass for Caribbean with its grilled sweet potatoes and hefty croûtons. The table service is excellent, and our American waitress was particularly helpful. Read more
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Perry Hill
78-80 Perry Hill, Sydenham, SE6 4EY
Don’t let the slightly corporate appearance or inauspicious location put you off – the Perry Hill is a well thought out, family-friendly bar and restaurant which opened after an extensive refurb in 2007. The main draw here for summer sippers is the massive, decking-clad beer garden out the back – grab a seat here to enjoy something from their basic but very well-kept selection of real ales, or a dish from their superior gastropub-style menu. There’s also a children’s play area to keep the offspring distracted while you drink. Read more
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17 comments
The Garden Gate is a worthy inclusion but a little-known, and gorgeous place, is the Constitution just off St Pancras Way (tucked on a side street or two away from Camden tube). Enormous, lovely beer garden with loads of flowers and really friendly welcome. Live music downstairs which is also a plus! My only gripe is that the really great BBQ is totally hit or miss depending on the mood of the guy doing the catering - I was let down four times out of five last summer, including OH's b'day, which we'd phoned ahead for, and loads of people from out of town came for. Come, drink, have a brilliant time, but don't expect to eat!
I love the Camden Head's beer garden. Perfect off the main road by the green so no circut drinkers or leery groups of men. Chilled out during the day and perfect to get some al fresco work done without being disturbed. Drinks aren't bad either!
The Windmill Gastropub in Cricklewood has a lovely beer garden out the back. Went in recently (it has just reopened after refurb, apparently), the decor is lovely, very cute bartender took excellent care of us, making mean caipirhinias. Food was a delicious Risotto - nice to see somewhere with a well done veggie option - will definitely be making this spot my local!
I have to mention The Albert on Princess road between Primrose hill and Chalk farm near the canal. Went the 2 weekends ago when the weather was gorgeous and the beer garden was lovely! Staff were so friendly, the beer was good and the pet cat made the whole place very homely and inviting :)
I agree Rosie- that's another Islington Pub that has lost its soul. Islington is rapidly becoming a place of crap pretentious pubs and (crooks in suits) estate agents.
Talking about best beer gardens- spare a thought for the sad Cannonbury Tavern by Highbury and Islington. Occe a lovely green and huge outdoor garden this re-opened under new management last week and now sports a paved over- hideous -plastic -basket-seated nightmare, with all the ambience of a corporate conference centre in Milton Keynes. Avoid! Avoid! unless you want to be witness to a tragedy.
The Windsor Castle rocks, and watch your head for the Wonderland doors inside......you'll see
Terrible service at the Albion so won't be going back there. First we were chased out of the garden by screaming kids who were kicking the back of our bench. Their yummy mummies and trendie daddies were totally ignoring their bad behaviour. Then we waited more than an hour to be told by the snooty Italian waiter that he still could take our order cos the kitchen was backed up. No apologies or anything. I told him he'd better comp our wine then and his notebook appeared like magic in his hand. Very unprofessional and rubbish customer service. Shame that that is the case as the food was very good and came quite quickly after we ordered. Won't be going back as I can get good food and much better service elsewhere
I agree with the comment re The Albion, Islington. I went there after it was renovated and haven't been back since. It used to have a really nice atmosphere, but now it's lost its charm. The Draper's Arms is a better bet.
Been a regular at the Garden Gate for a couple of years now and fo one memorable summer it became my second home. The food is delicious and they have Fruli on tap which to me makes it the best place in the world. The bar staff are also always up for a laugh with one of my friends going home with one once. cheeky.
I discovered the Albion a few years back before it changed ownership/ got renovated. It was a great place with old local guys, good banter and an welcoming atmosphere. Unfortunately, the new owners have turned it into a pretentio-pub. Pity. If you do decide to go- remember your labels, designer shades and gormless expression.
If you are around the Sydenham area then the Blythe Hill Tavern garden, on the borders of Forest Hill/Catford, is a hidden gem - beautifully kept, plenty to keep the kids occupied and good selection of real ales too.
Why do you keep giving Crystal Palace as the address for the Dolphin. It is in central Sydenham, closest station Sydenham. I have seen CP as the address twice now in your magazine. Crystal Palace is about a mile and a half away!!!
So glad to se the Garden Gate in this. It is simply the perfect pub. Sure it gets busy and sure there are times when they simply run out of things but that just shows how popular this place is and there is good reason for it!! There staff are funny, friendly and they will always try to do whatever they can to make your stay the best. The beers are stunning and although they dont have 100's to choose from what they have got is cleverly picked. No-one in the area can compete with its food either - its well priced, huge portions and always cooked to perfection. If you live near or even if you dont you should try this place. I travel from chelsea to eat and drink here and it is always worth it. My hat off to Anna and Olly (i think thats the managers names) and your amazing staff that make you proud. 11 out of 10 from me and my friends!!
While not quite as good a beer garden as the Britannia's (which is superb), the Royal Inn on the Park has a decent concreted beer garden next to the park, and is also a lovely pub with good food in its own right.