Pub in the Park
London's best beer gardens
-
By Time Out Editors
Updated: Mon Aug 17 2009 -
The search for a great beer garden in the capital can be as frustrating and unpredictable as the British summer. So we've rounded up 20 bucolic beer gardens with an idyllic outdoor atmosphere, a wide, well-kept range of beers, foliage in the finest of fettle and, if you’re lucky, the odd water feature
North | South | East | West
North-
The Garden Gate
14 South End Rd, NW3 2QE (7435 4938)
Housed on the edge of Hampstead Heath just twenty yards down from the train station, the Garden Gate is a lively local with a lovely big garden that’s well endowed with greenery. Should, god forbid, it ever get chilly, shelter can be sought under an extended, and eclectically furnished, undercover area that also hosts an outside bar, a barbecue and the occasional hog roast. Ask for cask and you’ll be offered the choice of London Pride and three ales rotated on a weekly basis. Other draught delights include London’s very own Meantime Pale Ale, Cornwall’s Doom bar, Aspall Cyder, the fruity Bavarian wheat beer that is Franziskaner and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, a celestial summer sip from California that does a fine line in citrus-tinged refreshment.
-
Albion
10 Thornhill Road, Islington, N1 1HW
A short hop from the chaos of Upper Street, the outdoor space at the Albion boasts an olde-worlde English charm that befits the boozer’s name. There’s barely a whisper of traffic noise to be heard from the wooden tables in the garden, which is surrounded by plentiful colourful flora. For drinks, Black Sheep and Addlestones are on tap, and the wine list is reliably good. At the weekends it can get rammed, but on our early weekday evening visit we nabbed a table easily enough. Read more
-
Faltering Fullback
19 Perth Road, Stroud Green, N4 3HB
While there are definitely more expansive beer gardens to be found in the capital, the outdoor space at this well-loved, flower-covered local is certainly one of the cleverest. Faced with the difficulty of only having a small yard, the owners build upwards – creating a kind of Ewok village from decking, with room on the various split levels for several tables. It’s an early afternoon suntrap in which to sip a London Pride or a cold lager – no particularly inspiring choices for the latter, but they do put the glasses in the fridge to chill. Read more
-
Junction Tavern
101 Fortess Road, Tufnell Park, NW5 1AG
More gastro than pub, the excellent seasonal food at this Archway institution tends to be the draw – although the ales are also a treat, and it was Camra’s North London Pub of the Year last year. A superb selection of immaculately kept cask ales, featuring rarely spotted regional breweries, is served by knowledgeable staff and is regularly supplemented by themed beer festivals. The large outdoor space has several benches – or you can’t find a space or the weather turns, the airy conservatory is a very civilised place to grab lunch. The menu changes daily – in our experience the fish dishes have been top notch. Read more
-
Edinboro Castle
57 Mornington Terrace, NW1 7RU
The rather small interior of this lively Camden institution gives way to a fair-sized outdoor area, with high walls and an array of foliage giving it a real garden feel despite being hemmed in by a busy road and a railway line. If the outlook’s less than clement, grab one of the cosy side tables with their personal heaters, or shelter under the convenient mini-marquee. The garden can get rammed with Regent’s Park-goers and cool Camden types when the sun shines, which leads to our only grumble – sometimes the service fails to keep up with the crowds.
North | South | East | West
Feature continuesAdvertisement-
|
|
More ways to enjoy Time Out
-
Weekly London newsletter
The best of London in your inbox
-
Time Out Widgets
|
|
16 comments
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.
I've been to the faltering fullback a few times and the description above is pretty spot on. The beer garden is imaginative, the beer they have is pretty unimaginative, there's reasonably priced thai food, a good jukebox, a pool table that needs to be replaced and the decor is nice pretty nice inside.