We're holding our breath for a successful summertime, where the pubs and restaurants stay open and keep their parasols in the gardens up. Helping us to get into the mood, we've rounded up our top picks of pubs, restaurants and cafes that truly bask when the sun shines, serving equally as satisfying food and drink! Let's all hope for those warm spring days, sunny bank holidays and long summer days to enjoy some outdoor dining.
Tewinbury Farm
The location of Tewinbury farm in the countryside outside Welwyn Garden City is an escape in itself, as the Cowshed restaurant and Farm Shop provide local favourites with delicious tastes. Yet in the summer this offering is enhanced even further, with the addition of the Roots Dining Experience. Throughout the season there are a select number of dates to dine on local and sustainable produce in the vegetable garden at Tewin Greens, with a chef who has cooked in Michelin-starred kitchens worldwide.
Home Farm
With the harvest season upon you in September, Home Farm will host two evenings of wild dining. This marks the return of their incredible long-table banquets called Woodfired Canteen. On the Wednesday 25th they bring Adriana Cavita in to serve sizzling Mexican flavours, and on Thursday 26th September acclaimed chef Josh Katz returns (after a sell out feast in 2023) bringing with him a mouth-watering Middle Eastern menu.
The Grove
With a restaurant that goes by the name The Glasshouse, you'd hope that you'd be able to enjoy the outdoor feeling whatever the weather - and you'd be right! With stunning interior settings, and exterior views of the garden, this prime spot serves a delicious offering with food stations themed on dishes from around the globe with the exquisite attention to detail you'd expect of The Grove.
Pendley Manor Hotel
If you've been wanting to spend time outside and amongst acres of parkland that isn't your shared or private garden, then Pendley Manor and its 35 acres might well be the place to head. Not only have they opened for full menu alfresco dining (think sharing platters to fish and chips) from 11am to 9pm, but you can order a picnic which includes a ready to go spread of sandwiches, cheeses and desserts ready to be served on and in china and glassware. Oh and let's not forget the classics served at the weekend & bank holiday barbecues!
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Grand Union Canal stops
With the Grand Union Canal flowing past just moments away, there are many pubs and cafes perfect for a summers day. For instance, the Grand Junction Arms is an historic pub just outside Tring which has roaring open fires in the winter, but we’re here to talk about the spacious canal-side alfresco opportunities - a covered dining terrace with its own dedicated bar and a large fire pit within the spacious tow path garden. Not only is the setting quite something, their food is traceable from field to fork. In Boxmoor, there is the Fishery Wharf Cafe which offers lighter rustic food and drink on the bank of the Canal - think pancakes and Turkish eggs on sourdough for breakfast to pizzas and cake! Plus, throughout the year there are music to drawing and comedy events.
Lussmanns Harpenden
Providing a quaint sheltered courtyard garden, part of which is heated and undercover, Harpenden’s Lussmanns will be your next stop for fresh and sustainably caught fish dishes to oven baked paella. On their list of sustainable accreditations are green energy run restaurants, local sourcing, organic farming, and 100% waste recycling. Need we say more? We’ll see you there…
Bricklayers Arms
With the stunning exterior of the Bricklayers Arms always looking full and inviting whatever the season (see their autumnal and winter pictures!), we can't wait to return to their garden this year. Being a Visit Herts Tourism Award winner and holding many other recognition's, this isn't your average pub garden - choose from a delicious pan fried halibut or a classic fish and chips and breathe in the green surroundings!
Tony H Photo
Rump and Wade
Not only a staple hotel in the town of Stevenage, but Hotel Cromwell is the place to get all of your outdoor dining needs. Rump & Wade is perfect for those warm summer evenings, as its terrace overlooks the bustling Stevenage and serves up firm English favourites from burgers to roasts.
Shendish Manor
When you think of the word Orangery, it evokes the feeling of being on the Mediterranean, with sunshine beaming down and full, green surroundings – and that’s exactly what you will get with a meal at Shendish Manors’ Orangery. The glass panelled wall of the Orangery has wide doors which open out onto the terrace, leading to a manicured Dutch Garden and grounds surrounding the estate. And we’ve yet to even mention the food! Shendish Manor ensure that their tasty menus are full of fresh, seasonal ingredients, locally sourced where they can.
Alford Arms
Consistently voted one of the best pubs and dining pubs in Hertfordshire, the Alford Arms is the number one stop off after a walk around Ashridge Estate or a cycle in the country lanes. To ensure they aren’t affected by the weather, there’ll be heated tables from the 12th April so you will be able to enjoy that refreshing, freshly pulled beer and homecooked food without letting the British weather spoil the fun!
Photo: sdsmith18
Picnic in Cassiobury Park
If you’re a fan of our Instagram page you’ll possibly have seen our love for Watford’s splendid Cassiobury Park, which pops with colour in Spring. But you may not know that the park is home to 250 acres of green space, which makes for a retreat that is perfect for a picnic. With Watford town centre just moments away, you can bring your own food from one of the many local establishments, or if you time it on market day, some world cuisune!