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night-speak-blog · 7 years ago

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Sally Thomson was one of the owners and managers of Mighty Mighty a popular club/venue/ bar on Cuba St, Wellington that ran from 2006–2014.

lr: So, what was your experience of running Mighty Mighty?

ST: I’ll give you a real brief history. I was working at Bar Bodega. You know that place? I was working at Bodega when, the guys who owned Matterhorn decided to open up Mighty Mighty next door…[this] was their fun bar, ‘baby child’, compared to the serious restaurant. So then some of those guys came and approached me at Bodega. So I started working as a bar manager [at Mighty Mighty] and pretty much the rest is history. I stayed for the whole time Mighty was open and it was a huge part of my life. Over the years as the different owners experienced change in their lives, moved to different cities, opened new businesses and their journeys took them in different directions, I ended up being the last person involved actually living in the city. Amazingly, and very joyously, at the very end for the final two weeks of the greatest parties EVER, everyone came back from wherever they were living and we finished together.

lr: So how long were you running it for? I remember going to Mighty Mighty myself so…

ST: It started 2006/2007. I think 2006 anyway. So I remember walking upstairs when it was still a building site, and you had to be careful you didn’t die on the stairs. There was no bar, there was nothing! There was just an empty space with masking tape on the floor, where the bar maybe would be. And you kind of had to use your mega-imagination and...Yeah we closed it about seven and a half years after we had opened it.

lr: People were pretty sad when it closed down.

ST: Yeah. I was pretty sad you know…I did it, and I was pretty sad. I think that it was a pinnacle. You know how some things just kind of happen at a time and come together. And for me it was amazingly free and creative and an awesome place. And it took lots of work but we had so much fun. All the staff who worked there—you know there is an intense [sense of]: ‘We’re a Mighty family’. And that stayed together and no matter where you meet up with anyone, you are like AAHHHHH! [laughs]. You know, it was a pretty incredible place—and the music that was happening at the time…and the energy. It was a perfect confluence, like a perfect storm. It became really important to a lot of people, and even though it doesn’t exist anymore you are able to think about it and just realise how good it was. There were so many good things about it.

lr: Good vibes?!

ST: Well, like good vibes—welcoming, a creative free space. You know, so now I am living in Melbourne and…Looking back to Mighty…Comparing it…You could come and sit at the bar. Whether you would be female or male. You know now if I go to Melbourne places by myself, it’s not so. Maybe I haven’t broken the scene…Maybe it’s harder to feel [pauses]—you can feel very alienated in a large group. Mighty tried to make people feel welcome and part of the ‘big ol’ show’, and fun.

lr: That’s how I remember it. I lived in Auckland but I used to visit friends and go to gigs there. What did you think Mighty did to make it feel so welcoming?

ST: Well, I don’t know [pause]. I think the space itself was interesting. I hired some really amazing people…A very awesome group of eclectic characters who got what the place was about. Essentially it’s like a school hall where everyone’s gone on a big crazy party, like having a party in your own house, except there is a band there and there are people serving drinks…That’s what we were aiming for, you know? It wasn’t about who you were or whether you were really cool or if you had—“you know but I’m like, so rich!’’ or whatever. It was genuinely how you present as a person. If you come in and you have an open attitude and you were genuinely respectful to the staff and if you just want to have fun, like basically—“No dicks allowed!” No one was allowed to be [a dick] actually, now I think of it. Very rarely, occasionally, there were some fights. It wasn’t Pollyanna-land. But the main thing was that people should be able to enjoy themselves regardless of how they dressed, what their agenda was and what they were doing. And if you didn’t like it, then you’d need to take that attitude somewhere else because everyone at Mighty was just having a good time. Dudes weren’t allowed to hit on women. And women weren’t allowed to hit on guys and make them feel uncomfortable…It’s two-way. Just leave everyone else alone and have some fun, maybe chat, meet some new friends, go for a dance, eat a toasted sandwich, have a good time.

lr: When you were setting up Mighty Mighty, did you have these kinds of ideas in mind...When you were left running this ‘baby child’, what were you hoping to create and why?

ST: Well I think Sam Chapman, Richard Neame and Christian McCabe were the ones who designed the idea of it. I came on much later. Sam and Christian wanted to create a special sort of safe space…Sam now is involved in Golden Dawn, in Auckland with another business partner…And the Sherwood in Queenstown. He is a pretty interesting, smart, crazy, human. And I still work with Christian, here in Melbourne. They are really incredible people. They didn’t just leave me with the ‘baby child’. It was definitely a few years into it. So [Sally had influence on]…The type of gigs that played. It just grew on itself, and the people. Another thing that was really amazing were the people who went there, they took ownership of it as their place. That was what that we wanted, people have to come and feel, “Yeah, this is my kind of place to hang out.” This kinda clubhouse. People would go there regularly, and their friends would come [from] out of town. And they’d show people around [the club] and say, “and then there is this, and then there is this”. That was really good because you knew people felt part of it…I think it was in February that we announced we were going to be closing with the date, the end of May [to close was] set in stone.

…Some hard-core regulars who became like staff. You know they would be there and you [became] such good friends with people. And they felt a massive sense of ownership. And there were all [the] people that would come intermittently, and they would have a connection with the place. Kind of as if it started out with intent and then it grew organically.

lr: So why did Mighty Mighty end?

ST: Well it ended for lots of reasons. There had been the earthquake, and [building] strengthening came into [the decision]. There was also the question of; do we want to keep doing this…With enough time to get a lease? Or do we actually want to just do something daring and go—okay, that is it for us—rather than keep it. So it is always going to be this special thing and everyone gets to move on and do something different. Some people just keep going on and on. It felt like a good time. We made the decision far enough in advance that it enabled us to plan an amazing last few months with really good gigs and a countdown. And it felt different to close a business…rather than lose interest and be tired. I never wanted to turn into the grumpy, ‘Oh gawd, another day…!’ I did sort of a self-check quite often. Do I really enjoy looking after people? Do I enjoy curating, being part of enabling their fun and having a good time?

lr: And you are continuing to do that in Melbourne? Did you move to Melbourne after Mighty Mighty closed?

ST: I still work in hospitality...I am now working for my friend, as his personal assistant, well, my boss, one of the other owners of Mighty Mighty who owns two restaurants here in Melbourne. Yeah, so we are working together again. He started a wine distribution company so I am working for that and I am sort of doing some assistant work for Patrick Sullivan [inaudible]. But sometimes I miss talking to people!It’s weird doing a day job for the first time in my life at my rather extreme age. It’s strange to get used to. I’m really glad it’s also in hospitality because I have always been able to say, yes! I do enjoy facilitating a good time for people. It makes me happy. Even when I was working in restaurants, you would get a table and it made me smile, makes me happy to see them have a good time and when they leave they are happy. I guess that is what it is all about.

lr: So you now work in the daytime after working nights at Mighty Mighty—what is it about the nightime that allows a space that is different from in the day?

ST: This is a massive generalisation but I think most people work or they study during the day, or whatever. I think that for most people that going out somewhere social, it is a relaxing time or a wind-down after their day. So if you are dealing with people in a lunch shift, it is different from dealing with people at nighttime. During the day people are more business-focused and ‘hurry-scurry’ and at night it is…“Oh, sweet, I don’t have to be there till tomorrow, now I can listen to some music, which makes me relax, and it feels good inside me, and I can go and talk to people, ‘shoot-shit’ with people or tell jokes or play the pinball, or just generally chill out.” I think that people are generally freer at nighttime just because they don’t have to be so many places.

lr: Yes, time is different?

ST: Yeah, we had music every night we and also had DJs every night, after the live music had happened. I think people feel music. It sort of makes you move, or makes you either, like sad or happy, or makes you laugh. Or I suppose if you are really into like RAWWWGH [laughs], you know it’s all of those feelings.

lr: It heightens your feelings?

ST: The music is the one thing that I sooo miss. I have always been pretty good at appreciating what I’ve got when I have it. I knew that there might not be another time in my life where people are doing sound check and you’re getting a private little performance. Quite a few times it was wow! I appreciate live music. I really miss having live music in my day, every day, of my life. That’s one thing that I have identified as OWWWW!

lr: With the live music you didn’t know what it was going to be like every night because people are performing and those things are so in the moment—

ST: Yes! Sometimes there was music that I loved and other times that I was like nah, not really my thing. However they are sooo good. You know you can really appreciate different styles of music, the skill of the people playing it, the honesty and intensity and that whole time there was a really good feel at the time. There was—but maybe not at the moment? I don’t know though as I haven’t been back for a while—there was a really good community. Honestly the thing that really made Mighty was the performance and the staff. The staff were incredible.

lr: Were there any staff that were particularly important to Mighty Mighty?

ST: Oh, look there were lots of them. Everyone added their own thing, and there were some real standouts for me. It’s really hard to answer this question!

lr: Yes, that’s fine! You don’t need to answer it! That’s an answer in itself. It makes sense that you can’t single anyone out after hearing you speak about the sense of family and that close network. I’m interested to know, how were people trained? One thing that I picked up in my own experience is that there are different energies created by combinations of staff members.

ST: Yes, energy is a really good way to think of it. You can’t expect a place to stay static. People would say, “It’s not like it used to be!.” No shit, Sherlock! It’s not! You know everything that happens is there at that time and everything can roll and grow and change. The staff we started with was not the staff we ended with. Over the time we were open we had 120 staff members! Because I used to make their staff user number each time someone new started. Some people stay, some people made indelible marks on the place and as a group of people, people’s lives change. You know people might move to another city, or they might get a partner or they might have children, or just all those sort of things influence those things. There are pockets of absolute awesomeness, and then you would get a new group of energy, just ebbs and flows. And it was the same with the customers: you can’t expect the same people to be coming to a place with the same frequency six years later. I thought it was really important to accept. Their priorities change. They move, change jobs, they buy houses. Da. Da. Da. Da. Da. I always thought it was really important with new customers not to be, “Oh my god, you are not like one of our customers!” But to be welcoming, teach them how to ‘be’ while they are there…Just teach people the culture so you know how you expect to be treated. So that keeps going. Otherwise it grinds to a halt. I always hired people on the basis of who they are, or who they appear to be and on the basis of a gut feeling…And I always had a feeling. You know Sally Rees was a sound tech the whole time when we were open and she is one of the few female working sound techs. And she’s amazing and I think she faced [pause]…That whole thing of being a woman and being in charge of what you are doing. A lot of people, consciously or unconsciously, don’t expect it. And it’s like “while I’m doing this, you have to listen to me”, and that was the way we did it there. I would get in electricians and plumbers there and if I had one of my male co-workers with me then they would instantly defer to the dude. The duuude didn’t call you, I called you! And I’m the one that is going to be making the decision about how we fix what’s broken, and what we are going to pay for it. It’s real good if you are going to talk to me! [laughs]. And I had lots of great female duty managers who ‘got’ the place and ran it really well when I wasn’t there or when I was there. I found that Mighty was, well because I wanted it to be, a place that where you were you, rather than your gender. So if you were doing a really good job, and you got the place, and you followed up on details, and you were interested on taking on responsibility then—Because you know there are a lot of women in hospitality and they don’t necessarily…I think this is changing a lot. However they don’t necessarily get the jobs of responsibility.

lr: I remember the walls from Mighty Mighty were bright blue?

ST: It’s green! Green babe. So the end of the room which had the bar, it was bright green. Japanese Laurel actually! [Laughs] Bright green paint with side notes of watermelon. And then there was the hot pink velvet curtains in the front part of the room where the walls were bare wood.

lr: That’s right! How could I forget them! So colourful.

ST: All the stuff on the walls was amazing. The lights, the sign for the toilet, all those sorts of the things, that became so iconic. We had the wheel of death…So much fun happening in one place. I miss it a lot…

lr: Oh! I’m making you sad! I am wondering how you can hold onto that energy of a place?

ST: Totally on your page in terms of—also when things are really special and require particular types of energy, you have got to have the energy for them.

lr: Did you have a bouncer?

ST: We had some great bouncers! We didn’t call them bouncers though, they were doormen. I know that sounds sort of ‘hair-splitting’ however we had a great community of doormen. They weren’t bouncers. They were there if you needed them to be but they were the first people that people saw when they came to Mighty. So that was how we set the tone by having really lovely, awesome guys that we had chatting to people, rather than someone that was “Err, I.D., rah rah, you’re too drunk”, or whatever. They were the first part of the family you got to meet. We had such an amazing crew of doormen. And if I was in charge of the shift, with full confidence I could go over to whatever was happening and say, no, you’re leaving now, you can come back tomorrow night however today is over for you, you can’t do that, that is not acceptable. And walk them down the stairs with full confidence that ‘my brother’s right beside me!' And that was amazing. They had our backs, they looked out for us, and if anything did go down then they just sorted it out. And then again they also kept an eye on Cuba St, because that can get pretty raucous from time to time. We had lots of different door people. The main—super amazing one—was Poppy. She did the door for years…that was where you paid your money to get in. And everyone was very good and colourful and interesting, drunk, crazy, bar dancing…

lr: Were there times, that you kept going after the bar was closed? Were there lock-ins?

ST: NO! Never, haha. That would be against the licencing laws. No we would shut the bar and do cash-up but that didn’t mean people wouldn’t sit around after work and drink and sometimes some of the regulars would stay, but you know in order to get closed and finished, the lights really did have to come on. And just about everyone removed from the premises so that we could actually clean the bar. So you know finishing at three, by the time you got people out of there…By the time you have cleaned up it can get pretty late. But no crazy lock-ins. Some crazy mornings sometimes, as every group of people who works that hard should do.

lr: How did you make the decision about the colour?

ST: That was again, Sam, Christian, Alistair Cox, the architect [their ideas were] crazy, circus, carnival—just fun. You know I’m sure there is some kind of science behind it; you walk in and it feels different. Your perceptions are like, “What the fuck!’’ Crazy perceptions, posters, the big pink curtains, palm trees in the middle of the floor and gold table cloths. And I think it was visually whoa! You knew this was a cue for—this is somewhere different! And whooa! This is whooaa! This is exciting.

lr: Yes, it is different. It is different from the black cube! Thank you so much for recounting all your experiences. It’s been great hearing about the amazing thing you created.

ST: I just feel so lucky. My life is not over, okay?! But I’m sure that more amazing things are going to happen to me. However I think I will always look back and feel blessed to have been a part of Mighty Mighty and all that it was. There were some crazy times, incredible memories. A lot of people ask, “Are you going to open a Mighty Mighty here?” [On the one hand] I think I would like to be involved with things, but then I think nah. I don’t think you should try and recreate the past because it was special—incredible artists, all the people that worked there, everything that made it what it was—and I feel incredibly lucky to have had that in my life. Some people never have that much fun in their life, sweet Jesus! That much fun I had in seven years, they don’t even have in 70 years.

lr: Even if you had the chance, even if you wanted to recreate it…You maybe wouldn’t be able to anyway. The dynamics are different.

ST: Yeah totally, that’s one of the things that I tried to understand. Mighty is not the same as it was. No, of course it’s not. The world changes. How we communicate has changed in five years, the kind of news we are able to access [changes]. Life is changing at a relatively fast pace these days. And you have to go with it and embrace things. I definitely don’t want to make Mighty Mighty here. And lots of people have done, maybe I’m not part of the gang. However sometimes you find places where I’m not cool enough for school. And that’s hopefully, something we tried really hard in Mighty [to not create the sense of]. Everyone [felt they] were always welcome. When a bunch of people have been coming for a long time, then it must seem cliquey. But that can’t be helped because people have different relationships, different communities. What do you do with the new people? Do you just leave them wandering around the outside? Do you know how you can make them feel part of it? Oh my God. I’m getting Sunday morning inspirational! [laughs] “What did you do this morning?”, “I had a deep-and-meaningful with a person in Glasgow. It was incredible man!”

lr: [laughs] I think we can leave it there as I am going to go to bed—it is 1:30am!

ST: You can have lots of colourful dreams!

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alexander40wong · 7 years ago

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The Ultimate Guide To The Best Beer Gardens In London

London’s beer gardens are like gold dust when the sun comes out. Although the usual London etiquette involves huddling on pavements or on the streets outside a pub, all anyone really wants is a good old fashioned wooden bench to rest your pint (and legs) on. So to help you out, we’ve compiled a list of pubs with large, leafy gardens heaving with trestle-tables, hidden courtyards, and terraces in north, south, east, west and central London.

Looking for more summertime spots? Find rooftop bars in London or pubs and bars by the river

North London

1. The Albion – Islington

Need to know: Hard to believe that a few roads off the busy drag of Upper Street is an English country garden. With wisteria-wound pergolas and wooden garden furniture, it’s a bit of a surprise not to find someone looking to make up a croquet six. This charming and surprisingly large garden (it’s in a conservation area) gets very busy at the weekend – but there are seats out the front too if you can’t find a space out the back.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon to Sat:11am to 11pm, Sun: till 10.30pm. Garden closes at 10pm each night Getting there: 10 Thornhill Road, Islington, London N1 1HW, Nearest Tube: Angel or Highbury & Islington

2. The Edinboro Castle – Camden

Need to know: This pub has a surprisingly roomy outdoor space for cramped Camden. With extra long trestle tables and room for 300 people, this is ideal for big groups in need of a place for post-work drinks. They usually have speciality beers and guest ales on tap, along with barbecues and hog roasts when the weather gets warmer.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Fri: 12pm-11pm, Sat:11am-11pm, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 57 Mornington Terrace, London, NW1 7RU, Nearest Tube: Camden Town

3. The Faltering Fullback – Finsbury Park

Need to know: Labyrinth-like with lots of seating on multiple levels, this pub really lives up to the “secret garden” tag. Serving delicious Thai food along with a good range of beers; the wonderful exotic smell wafting into the garden adds to the sensory overload.

They don’t do table reservations so if you want to bag the best spot, you know what you have to do.

Website Opening times: Mon-Thur: 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-midnight, Sun 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 19 Perth Road, Finsbury Park, London, N4 3HB, Nearest tube: Finsbury Park

4. The Junction Tavern – Tufnell Park

Need to know: This chilled out, shabby-chic outdoor space has plenty of tables to settle down at, and it’s also a firm favourite with foodies and drink purists. Serving incredible seasonal food, and with equal attention given to the drinks selection (including the exclusively brewed Junction Ale), this is a pub which delivers on flavour as well as outdoor fun.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Thur: 5pm-11pm, Fri-Sat:12pm-12am, Sun:12pm-11pm Getting there: 101 Fortess Road, London, NW5 1AG, Nearest Tube: Tufnell Park

5. The Stag – Hampstead

Need to know: This large and hidden Hampstead beer garden has picnic tables and private cabanas which seat 15 people and can be booked. Live music and a barbecue gets fired up in the warmer months, plus it’s only a ten minute walk from the heath. It has a huge range of beers and ciders, both bottled and draft, and while it may be a little on the pricey side (we did say it was in Hampstead); this is still a really nice place to relax in the summer.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Thur: 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm-12am, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 67 Fleet Road, London, NW3 2QU, Nearest Tube: Hampstead Heath / Belsize Park

6. White Hart – Stoke Newington

Need to know: This is a proper pub with a truly massive beer garden. It’s got a good range of beers and ale, and has just undergone a bit of a spruce up (including its pub menu). Although it gets busy at the weekends, pop in for a post-work drink and you should be able to grab a great spot at one of the trestle tables.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Tue: 12pm-11pm, Wed-Thur: 12pm-12am, Fri-Sat, 12pm-1am, Sun: 12pm-11pm Getting there: 69 Stoke Newington High St, N16 8EL, Nearest Tube: Rectory Road (Overground)

7. The Alwyne Castle – Highbury

Need to know: With a capacity of 300, this is on the large side of beer gardens, and even has its own bar outside in the warmer months. There’s a variety of seating outdoors and they’re open a bit earlier on a Sunday – so make the most of an alfresco brunch.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Sun-Wed: 12pm-11pm, Thur-Fri: 12pm-12am, Sat: 10pm-12am Getting there: 83 St. Pauls Road, Highbury, London, Greater London, N1 2LY, Nearest Tube: Highbury & Islington or Canonbury

South London

8. The Gipsy Moth – Greenwich

Need to know: With one of the best views in Greenwich, the garden is popular with groups of friends, families, and locals. Their Sunday roasts are brilliant, and they’ve got beers from around the world.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Thur: 10am-11pm, Fri-Sat: 10am-12am, Sun: 10.30-10.30pm Getting there: 60 Greenwich Church Street, Greenwich, London, SE10 9BL, Nearest Tube: Cutty Sark DLR

9. The Ship – Wandsworth

Need to know: The Ship consistently tops the lists of London’s best beer gardens. Plus, their Sunday roast and artisan cooking competitions are legendary – annual Scotch Egg Challenge, anyone? Our advice – grab a jugful of Sipsmiths’ Summer Cup (gin-based and laden with fresh fruit) and head to the garden, especially on “Ship Sundays” where you can drink to the sound of a live band or DJ. It gets busy from midday, so the early birds catch the best seats.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Sun-Wed: 11am-11pm, Thurs-Sat: 11am-12am Getting there: The Ship, 41 Jews Row, Wandsworth, London. SW18 1TB, Nearest Tube: Wandsworth Junction (Overground) or shortish walk from Clapham Junction.

10. The Magic Garden – Battersea

Need to know: Home to a mini-music festival every weekend, this beer garden is the place to enjoy the best sounds of the summer in South London. Over in their fairy-lit tent, you can sit among the candles, drink a cold one and listen to the live bands and DJs on their brilliant sound system. Don’t worry if the weather is a little wet or cold, they have blankets and even mini hot water bottles to keep things cosy on their comfy sofas.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Sun-Thurs: 10.30am to 12am, Fri-Sat: 10.30am to 2am Getting there: 231 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 4LG , Nearest Tube: Battersea Park or Queenstown Road (Overground)

11. The Old Brewery – Greenwich

Need to know: This large beer garden is tucked away inside The Old Naval College in Greenwich. It’s definitely one for the beer connoisseurs – they’ve got an onsite micro-brewery curating unique, limited edition beers from the award-winning Meantime Brewery Company. The beer is even used in the food on their seasonal menu. With plenty of seating (with umbrellas, should you wish to dodge the sun or rain) your only issue will be choosing which drink to start with.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Sat: 11am-11pm, Sat-Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: The Pepys Building, The Old Naval College, Greenwich, London SE10 9LW , Nearest Tube: Cutty Sark (DLR)

12. The Rye – Peckham

Need to know: There’s plenty of trestle tables in this vast beer garden to sit and enjoy the sunshine. They also have a large sunken terrace with further seating between the pub and the garden.When the weather is good, they often hold a Sunday barbecue.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Thur: 12pm-11pm, Fri-Sat: 12pm to 1am, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 31 Peckham Rye, London, SE15 3NX, Nearest Tube: Nunhead or Peckham Rye (Overground)

13. Grand Union – Brixton

Need to know: This recently refurbished “pleasure garden” has a lovely bright colour scheme, and is a surprisingly large space to enjoy a cocktail or three. You can hire the Thai “tree huts” for a little bit of privacy, or opt for the seating areas surrounding fire pits in the evening. They also have a big screen, so if you’re looking for a venue to watch the big sporting events, this could well be the place.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Sun-Wed: 12pm-12am, Thurs: 12pm-1am, Fri-Sat: 12pm-1.30am Getting there: 123 Acre Lane, London, SW2 5UA, Nearest Tube: Brixton or Clapham North

14. The Sun – Clapham

Need to know: If you’re heading to Clapham Common for a picnic, you might want to take the after party here. Literally across the road from the park, but off the main street, this is a local favourite. It has plenty of tables, and with this being Britain, plenty of heaters and parasols if the warm weather takes a hike.

Website Opening times: Mon-Wed: 12pm-11pm, Thur: 12pm-12am, Fri:12pm-1am, Sat: 11am-1am, Sun: 11am-11pm Getting there: 47 Old Town, Clapham, London, SW4 0JL, Nearest Tube: Clapham Common

15. Station Hotel – Hither Green

Need to know: This large and bright courtyard-style garden has had a major refresh, along with the pub, making it popular with locals (especially the commuters, as it’s only 30 seconds walk from the train station). Along with plenty of seating, along with some cool beach huts, this place has five real ales on tap, lagers and a cracking lunch and dinner menu.

Website Opening times: Mon-Sat: 12pm-11pm, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: The Station Hotel, 14 Staplehurst Road, Hither Green, London, SE13 5NB. Nearest Tube: Hither Green (Overground)

16. The George Inn – Borough

Need to know: More a courtyard than a beer garden, this is the perfect place to visit if you love a little bit of history with your drinks. A stones-throw away from Borough Market, this pub has the last remaining galleried coaching inn (dating back to the 17th century) and even gets a mention in Charles Dicken’s Little Dorrit.

Website Opening times: Mon-Sat:11am-11pm, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 77 Borough High Street, London, SE1 1NH, Nearest Tube: London Bridge

17. Plume of Feathers – Greenwich

Need to know: Greenwich’s oldest pub in Greenwich (1691), has a surprisingly spacious garden at the back. Right next to the Royal Park and the National Maritime Museum, this is a great place to come and enjoy a pint after a bit of sightseeing. It also a cosy pub, as it has a candlelit restaurant and open fire for when its chilly.

Opening times: Sun-Thur: 12pm to 11pm, Fri-Sat: 11am to 12am Getting there: 19 Park Vista, Greenwich, SE10 9LZ, Nearest Tube: Cutty Sark (DLR) Website and Twitter

East London

18. Crown and Shuttle – Shoreditch

Need to know: With its own food truck, coupled with mismatched furniture and a look that could be described as industrial crossed with a French courtyard, this is a beer garden like no other in London. The crowd? Well, it’s Shoreditch, so expect the an varied mix of bankers and cool kids and everyone in between.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Wed: 11am-11pm, Thur-Sat: 11am-1am, Sun till 10.30pm Getting there: 226 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JE, Nearest Tube: Shoreditch High St

19. Old George – Bethnal Green

Need to know:

The recently refurbished Old George has one of the biggest beer gardens in East London hidden behind its 1703 frontage. This proper pub gives a nod to its East End roots with a new weekly menu, which delivers traditional pub classics to your outdoor table. The garden has also had some love and attention of late.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Wed: 4pm-11pm, Thur: 4pm-12am; Sat: 4pm-1am, Sun: 12pm-11pm Getting there: 379 Bethnal Green Rd, London, E2 0AN. Nearest Tube: Bethnal Green

20. The Chesham Arms – Hackney

This Victorian pub has a lovely beer garden at the back which opens when the weather gets warmer. A real community pub, you’ll find a great range of real ales to sup in the great outdoors.

Website and Twitter

Opening times: Mon-Thur: 4pm-11pm; Fri-Sun: 12pm-11pm Getting there: 15 Mehetabel Road, Hackney E9 6DU, Nearest Tube: Hackney Central or Homerton

21. People’s Park Tavern – Hackney

Need to know: This is the only place in East London where you can enjoy a great big garden with beers brewed on site, and it’s slap bang next to lovely Victoria Park to boot. Food wise, expect BBQ style in the summer along with the traditional year round pub fare. Either grab a spot in one of the wooden beach huts or find a funky coloured trestle table, and be at one with nature while you sip your carefully crafted People’s pint.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Sun-Thur: 12pm-12am, Fri: 12pm-1am, Sat: 12pm-2am Getting there: 360 Victoria Park Road, London, E9 7BT, Nearest Tube: Homerton or Hackney Wick

22. The Captain Kidd – Wapping

Need to know: Perhaps more of an outdoor terrace than a beer garden, this is a Sam Smith’s pub so expect brilliantly cheap prices and range of beers from their own brewery. The pub looks pretty small on the outside, so it’s a surprise to find the lovely outdoor area overlooking the Thames with views of Tower Bridge and Docklands. Popular with the locals and post-work drinkers during the week, expect a nice casual atmosphere.

Website Getting there: 108 Wapping High Street, London, Nearest tube: Wapping

23. The Water Poet – Spitalfields

Need to know: This large pub makes the most out of its beer garden, with trestle tables and large screens to show the bigger sporting events. The foods pretty good here, with the Sunday roasts drawing the crowds – and if the garden is too busy – this pub is massive so you’ll find a corner to hang out in whatever the weather.

The Water Poet’s beer garden

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Fri: 11am-11pm; Sat: 12pm-11pm, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 9-11 Folgate Street, Spitalfields, London, E1 6BX. Nearest Tube: Liverpool Street or Shoreditch High Street

24. The Crooked Billet – Clapton

Need to know: The garden is so big here, come the summer months they have their own food truck in the garden – The Bird Flipper. At night the garden is festooned with lights, and you can choose between booths or traditional trestles if you want to take a load off.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Thur: 4pm to 11pm; Fri-Sat: 12pm-12am, Sun: 12pm-11pm Getting there: 84 Upper Clapton Rd, London, E5 9JP, Nearest Tube: Clapton

West London

25. Aeronaut – Ealing *currently closed for rebuilding*

Need to know: Unfortunately The Aeronaut is currently closed for rebuilding works, but it’s worth keeping an eye on progress as this pub’s really something else, including a fully kitted out circus, in-house brewery, kitchen and a garden as well as their flagship Acton Amber Ale.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Currently closed Getting there: 264 Acton High St., London, W3 9BH, Nearest Tube: Acton Town or Ealing

26. The Jam Tree – Chelsea

Need to know: One of Chelsea’s finest outdoor drinking spots. Famous for their cocktails featuring jam, especially the Jam Mojito (raspberry jam instead of sugar) and the Wham Bam Thank you Jam (topped with raspberries filled with Popping Candy). It has a dedicated bar and BBQ (food available Thurs/ Friday evening and all day weekends: think pulled pork and quality burgers), along with their guest Hog Roast on special occasions. There’s even heaters for the evening.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Sun:12pm-11pm Getting there: 541 Kings Road, Chelsea, London, SW6 2EB, Nearest Tube: Fulham Broadway

27. The Eagle – Shepherd’s Bush

Need to know: This stunning garden has a bit of a “village fete” feel about it. With colourful deckchairs and bean bags dotted about the place, along with the standard garden furniture and the not so standard (beach huts), this is a little slice of country life. The beer garden has its own bar and barbecue, making it the perfect spot to lay back and relax in the sun.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Thur:11am-11pm,Fri-Sat:11am-12pm, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 215b Askew Road, Shepherd’s Bush, London, W12 9AZ, Nearest Tube: Ravenscourt Park

28. The Windsor Castle – Notting Hill

Need to know: Situated nicely between Kensington and Notting Hill, this beer garden was originally only for the ostlers and coachman who had little choice in taking their drinks in the “alfresco fashion”. It’s clearly had a clean up since then without losing too much character. It has heated areas outside, and foliage-filled pergolas, making it a great outdoor space whatever the weather. Expect great food and a range of craft beers in this large and historical beer garden.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Sat: 12pm-11pm, Sun: 12pm-10.30pm Getting there: 114 Campden Hill Road, Kensington, London, W8 7AR, Nearest Tube: Notting Hill

29. Aragon House – Parson’s Green

Need to know: The original dower house on the site where the pub stands was gifted to Catherine of Aragon by her husband Henry VIII in the 16th Century. Since then the site has changed hands more times than Henry changed wives, however thanks to its extensive wine and cocktail list you can still have a right royal time. It gets very busy, particularly as they have big screens for sporting events in the pub, and as you can’t reserve tables you need to get in early to bag the best spot.

Opening times: Closed Mon, Tues: 5pm-11pm, Wed-Fri: 12pm–11pm, Sat: 11am–11pm, Sun:11am–10pm. The garden opes at 12pm: Closing time at manager’s discretion Getting there: 247 New Kings Road, Parsons Green, SW6 4XG, Nearest Tube: Parson’s Green

30. Mall Tavern – Notting Hill

Need to know:

This walled garden might not be the largest, but is certainly one of the most stylish. With true gastro-pub status – they serve up English classics – you can even eat at the sunny “Kitchen Table” which has lots of windows so you feel like you’re sitting outside. Their range of beer is international and they have a great wine list.

Website Opening times: Mon-Sat: noon-12am, Sun: 12pm-11pm Getting there: 71-73 Palace Gardens Terrace, Notting Hill, London, W8 4RU. Nearest Tube: Notting Hill Gate

Central London

31. The Fence – Farringdon

Need to know: This pub is only open during the week in the narrow streets of Farringdon. They’ve got Master Cellarman status, so you can bet on the beer tasting great and with a seasonal food menu, this is perfect for a long lunch with colleagues.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Fri: 11am-11pm Getting there: 67-69 Cowcross Street, Farringdon, London, EC1M 6BP. Nearest Tube: Farringdon

32. The Union Bar and Grill – Great Portland Street

Need to know: Tucked away from the busy Euston Road and surrounded by swanky tall glass buildings, this is a brilliant bar with a large back terrace and trestle tables out front. Pretty chilled during the weekend and at the start of the week, it really gets busy on a Thursday and Friday, so get there early (we’re talking 4-5pm) if you want to bag a prime spot outside. They have an extensive wine and beer list and some great sharing tapas options.

Website Opening times: Getting there: 11 Triton Street, London, NW1 3BF. Nearest Tube: Great Portland Street

33. The Enterprise – Holborn

Need to know: This restored Victorian pub has also recently revamped their beer garden, which is a delightful surprise at the back. One of Holborn’s best-kept secrets; you can enjoy a mezze with friends in the garden or try some home-cooking with locally-sourced ingredients for lunch.A wide range of beers and ciders make this a favourite destination for those seeking some time out from the rat race.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Wed: noon-11pm, Thur-Sat: noon-12am Getting there: 38 Red Lion Street, Holborn, London, WC1R 4PN. Nearest Tube: Holborn

34. Crown Tavern – Clerkenwell

Need to know: On Clerkenwell Green, this pub is a firm favourite with the local office workers, thanks in part to its spacious outdoor area on the green. The pub is brimming with history; Lenin and Stalin once held a meeting there, and the green was also the setting for Oliver Twist’s famous pickpocketing scene. They’ve also got Pimms on tap. The food is pretty good as well, especially their famous Sunday roasts.

Website and Twitter Opening times: Mon-Fri: Noon-11pm, Sat-Sun: 10am-11pm Getting there: 43 Clerkenwell Green, Clerkenwell, London, EC1R 0EG. Nearest Tube: Farringdon

35. Punch and Judy – Covent Garden

Need to know: This maybe a bit more balcony than beer garden, but most locals and tourists know this historic pub. You can either sit and drink with the tourists or watch them from above as they enjoy modern street performances (the listed building is named after the puppet shows which used to take place in the piazza). Full of character, this is a proper pub which everyone has to visit at least once.

Website Opening times: Mon-Sat: 10am-11pm, Sun: 12pm-10:30pm Getting there: 40 The Market, Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 8RF. Nearest tube: Covent Garden

Glorious Gardens

Let us know your thoughts on our beer garden selection by leaving a comment below. Have we missed off one of your favourites? If so, we’d love to hear about it.

If you’re looking for more places to have a sunshine drink, our list of the best rooftop bars in London should do the trick.

Or head down to the Thames and drink a beer in one of London’s riverside pubs, or find even more things to do in summer.

We’ve even put together a list of dog friendly places if you’re taking your pet out for a summer stroll.

And don’t forget to check out the weather forecast before you go.

The post The Ultimate Guide To The Best Beer Gardens In London appeared first on lastminute.com Blog.

from lastminute.com Blog http://www.lastminute.com/blog/ultimate-guide-to-beer-gardens-in-london/

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