Beer Gardens…outdoor spaces for al fresco drinks

Whether you’re a fan of pints or Pimms (or even pints of Pimms!), Croydon is packed with beer gardens ready for when the sun peeks out. Discover these top five spots—ideal for sunny days or iffy weather!

We wait all year for it. Those endless summer days of bbqs and sports screenings in pub gardens that extend into long summer nights sipping on pints and pimms (and pints of pimms).

But the British summer is often a “blink and you’ll miss it” type affair. Those grand plans for countryside walks followed by pub garden lunches soon come unstuck when the sky greys over. And those efforts traipsing to a Central London boozer for muggy evenings can leave you feeling pretty mugged off when left shivering under a wet blanket.

Step in the local pub garden – your go-to solution when the sun makes a sudden appearance that hasn’t lined up with your diary or the temperamental weather leaves you unsure how worthwhile it is to make plans.

Whether you fly solo and form new friends over mutual weather appreciation or you send out an emergency Whats App to your local network, the lure of a sunny pub garden on the doorstep is hard for anyone to resist.

And Croydon has plenty of beer gardens to keep that lure alive. Here are five to head to the next time the sun comes out to play (but remain a safe bet if the weather looks a bit iffy)…

The Oval Tavern

There are a lot of things that make The Oval Tavern a little bit special…

The eclectic décor, the impressive music programme, the (genuine) inclusivity. But the walled garden is surely up there at the top of the list?

Complete with a full stage for outdoor performances, a decent BBQ and a vegetable and herb garden (which supply the kitchen) this garden is the gift that (quite literally) keeps on giving.

131 Oval Rd, Croydon, CR0 6BG

The Oval Tavern beer garden.
Outside seating area in the Treehouse

The Tree House

The summer beer garden experience at The Treehouse is legendary.

When the winter cozy canopy comes down in May, the Croydon crowd flock South.

The huge sports screen takes front and centre – showing games (sets and matches) to a well satiated clientele (courtesy of a menu that offers everything from light bites to Sunday Roasts).

With a mini nightclub upstairs, those lazy summer days in the garden can easily extend into hazy summer nights on the dancefloor.

78 S End, Croydon, CR0 1DP

Art & Craft

If you like your beer gardens a bit more beer and a bit less gardeny – Art & Craft has got you.

Located off Surrey Street, this “urban beer garden” is flanked by (outdoor) street art and (indoor) contemporary art. It also has a solid offering of hops with the finest craft brews available via tap, bottle and can.

Keep an eye on their socials for the latest menu updates, as a rotation of food trucks pull up alongside their infamous ‘Good Beer’ street sign throughout the summer months.

46 Surrey St, Croydon, CR0 1RJ

Dog & Bull

Central Croydon’s oldest pub (Est. 1296) also boasts the biggest garden (if size is something that matters to you).

After experimenting with a few quirky concepts in the outdoor kitchen, this summer the team have embraced a “traditionally different” mantra and have brought back classic pub garden staples: pizza and burgers.

Barrel & Stone ambassadors serve up 12 inches of freshly prepared tastiness that any man from Naples would be proud of while the extensive burger menu offers a Veggie, Fish and Black Pudding option. You can take over a private booth (with overhead heaters) or join a communal bench.

Dogs (as the name would suggest) are of course welcome. 

24-25 Surrey Street, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 1RG

Crown & Pepper

The Crown & Pepper is at as odds with itself as its name might suggest – but in a wonderful way.

At first glance, this historical Victorian building on the high street might seem like your traditional English pub. But take a seat inside the modern interior and you’ll find only Chinese and Indian dishes on the menu (as well as a Thali option served during the day).

There’s a Shisha Lounge (with a wide selection of flavours) and a Buddah Lounge (with DJ booth and dance floor) too.

For Summer 2024, there has been a welcomed new addition to the offering – a courtyard garden offering shelter and open coverage in equal measure.

 242 High St, Croydon, CR0 1NF