7 of the Best U.K. Pubs with Beer Gardens

In anticipation for the summer, The Telegraph released their list of the 50 Best U.K. Pubs with Beer Gardens, with seven of these pubs bookable right here, right now on Stay in a Pub!

A top-quality beer garden can turn a good pub into a great one, offering punters, patrons and guests alike the chance to soak up the sun long into those unforgettably warm and pleasant summer evenings. Beer gardens are often the site of thousands of individual fond memories, providing the base camp for fans to witness major sporting events such as the World Cup, Olympics and Wimbledon. Or, on a more low-key scale, they are beautifully-presented areas of horticultural masterclass, offering up the perfect setting to spend time with friends and family over sparkling drinks and delectable food.

Whatever your reason for loving them, I think we can all agree that the beer garden truly is the backbone of the Great British summer!

With that in mind, here’s 7 of the best U.K. Pubs with Beer Gardens ready for you to book right away as your summer stay, on Stay in a Pub.

Red Lion, Hinxton – Cambridgeshire

This privately owned, picture-postcard pretty free house has been the beating heart of Hinxton since the 16th Century. The inn’s stand out feature is surely its walled garden, designed with the input of a Chelsea Flower Show winner, which provides a glorious setting in which to eat, drink and relax to the sound of the resident cooing doves.

There are eight wonderful double rooms to choose from, each named after a local beer/cyder and its producer and location-wise, The Red Lion is close to Duxford Imperial War Museum and Audley End House, as well as the action at Newmarket Racecourse.

See inside this pub here: The Red Lion, Hinxton

The Black Bull Inn, Balsham – Cambridgeshire

Continuing with Cambridgeshire and the Chelsea Flower Show link, Cambridge garden designer, Ian Shooter (with numerous Chelsea Flower Show medals to his name), has been integral in transforming the outside setting of The Black Bull. The pub a tree-lined sandstone dining patio out front under parasols and the eaves of the thatched facade, as well as and a cosy south-facing beer garden at the back.

Five luxurious bedrooms provide guests with superior comfort before exploring Cambridge, Newmarket and the many delightful villages nearby. All rooms are double en-suite on the ground floor and the building has been sensitively designed to retain its original Grade II listed features.

See inside this pub here: The Black Bull, Balsham

The Greyhound Inn, Wantage – Oxfordshire

On the surface, The Greyhound’s beer garden is quiet and unassuming – however this could not be further from the truth. The Telegraph clearly acknowledged a well manicured garden, the sloped banks and exposure to sunlight throughout the day that make this the perfect spot to enjoy the legendary gigs and concerts put on by the pub, long into the night. It’s a super spot to regale in magical moments with fellow punters and if you’re lucky enough to book a room, you’ll have a glorious bed and breakfast to look forward to once the socialising stops.

See inside this pub here: The Greyhound Inn, Wantage

The Bell at Skenfrith Abergavenny, Wales

A former 17th century coaching inn, on the banks of the River Monnow in the beautiful county of Monmouthshire, The Bell at Skenfrith is one of Wales’s renowned boutique hotels. Oak beams, polished flagstone floors, open fires, classic and contemporary furniture coupled with comfy sofas and bedrooms creates a relaxed, easy atmosphere.

The pub’s beautiful interiors are matched in quality by The Bell’s incredible location. With a beer garden offering fabulous views of the rolling Welsh hills, guests can also head down to the banks of the river and dip their toes in the water while enjoying a tipple (or three!).

See inside this pub here: The Bell at Skenfrith, Abergavenny

The Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh – Cumbria

The second Black Bull on this list, so there must be some sort of responsibility to have an exceptional beer garden that comes with the name. Part of the Yorkshire Dales, they sit on the edge of the Lake District with their beer garden and bedrooms offering stunning views across the landscape. Exuding quaint, Cumbrian charm, their outdoor areas are a space to enjoy some clean air and take in the natural beauty of this wonderful part of the U.K.

See inside this pub here: The Black Bull Inn, Sedbergh

The Three Hills, Bartlow – Cambridgeshire

Rounding off a hattrick of appearances for Cambridgeshire on this list, The Three Hills does more than enough to justify its inclusion. With an outdoor space under cover and decorated with shimmering festoon lighting, The Three Hills bring an air of romance to its beer garden. As much as we love the British summer, we can’t ignore the fact there’s a certain chill once the sun goes down, so the providing of blankets and candlelight is welcomed by guests looking to make the evening last a little longer before retiring to one of the seven glorious bedrooms on the pub’s grounds.

See inside this pub here: The Three Hills, Bartlow

All of these pubs are ready to book on Stay in a Pub straight away, where we also have hundreds of other pubs for you to browse and book for your summer getaway. To see the full list of the 50 Best Pubs with Gardens in the U.K., then take a look at the article on The Telegraph.


Written by Connor Davies, Head of Content @ Stay in a Pub