London's best beer gardens
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By Time Out Editors
Updated: Mon Aug 17 2009
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West-
Stein's
55 Richmond Towpath, west of Richmond Bridge, Richmond, Surrey, Richmond, TW10 6UX
A leafy, lederhosen-slapping, stein-swaying, pretzel-munching Bavarian beer garden perched right on the Richmond riverside overlooking the Thames. A selection of unfeasibly large sausages is the ‘wurst’ they can do, while the Bavarian beers, available in towering two-pint steins, include the golden Helles from Paulaner, Erdinger weissbier and, in bottle, the delectable dark Erdinger Dunkelweiss. There’s a small children’s play area too. Closes at 10pm. Read more
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Swan
Evershed Walk, 119 Acton Lane, Chiswick, W4 5HH
Sweltering in central London? Then jump on the 94 bus heading west and don’t alight until the engine is turned off. Within seconds, you can be sitting in the dappled light of The Swan’s lush and leafy 30-table garden sipping well-kept cask ales from one of Chiswick’s best kept secrets. As the local hero, Fuller’s London Pride is ever-present alongside two other pumps showcasing guest ales. There’s a strong wine list too, and super-friendly staff. Read more
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The Queen’s Head
13 Brook Green, W6 7BL (7603 3174)
What used to look a little like a haughty Harvester restaurant from the nineteenth century has been shaped into something more stylish and is now owned by Fuller’s. Thankfully, what must be one of London’s largest beer gardens has remained in all its pastoral splendour. As well as the ubiquitous London Pride, there’s Discovery, Gale’s HSB and Seafarers, a quenching, aromatic summer session beer.
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White Horse
1-3 Parsons Green, Parsons Green, SW6 4UL
With more than 135 bottled beers, up to eight real ales on draught, switched-on staff and regular beer festivals, the White Horse is rated as one of the top beer pubs in the country. It really saddles up in the summer with an enormous outdoor patio, a brilliant barbecue and a well-heeled local crowd. This weekend (July 3-5), the pub is hosting an American Beer Weekend featuring the cream of the thriving US craft-brewing scene, bespoke American-style beers from British breweries and Special London Porter, an extremely rare ale from the Meantime Brewery. Read more
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Windsor Castle
114 Campden Hill Road, Kensington, W8 7AR
The Windsor Castle has got the whole traditional pub thing down to a T. There’s no TV, no blaring music, a great British food menu, a tenderly tendered range of real ales (Timothy Taylor Landlord, Fuller’s London Pride) and the fruity Schneider-Weisse, one of Bavaria’s best beers, in the chiller. Cosy in the colder months, it’s superb in the summer when the glorious, ivy-clad back garden, complete with barbecue and fuelled by fruit-filled Pimm’s jugs, comes into its own. 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.