Let the sun shine

Around the front is the park itself, with a small lake that invites a stroll with a takeaway can of Wylam’s best. As a classy and classic al fresco setting in which to sip a beer, it’s hard to beat. The beer, incidentally, is equally excellent and spans a pleasing variety of styles that will satisfy both you and your architecture-buff friends.

At the other end of the spectrum, Camden Town’s Werewolf Beer presents a masterclass in themed brewery experiences. Fully decked out in Halloween and horror movie kitsch, the outside area makes a mockery of its railway arch locale, with scale-model ghouls and goblins alongside old ghost train cars you can sit in as you sip. “Space is at a premium in London, and fresh air when people leave work or escape home is vital. Combine that with a space designed to make things fun – isn’t that what it’s all about here?” grins Werewolf founder Rich White. “You can sit in a vintage ghost train and have a rainy beach amusement park day, but under cover, with added heaters and great beer.”

Indeed, Werewolf goes thematically all-in with its produce; try a pumpkin ale that is available pretty much all year round. You might feel a little odd celebrating Halloween in July, but as far as brewery beer gardens go, it is unique, plus it’s never too early for costume inspiration.

Some breweries have got creative in weaving a pub atmosphere into the industrial reality of production. Rebellion Beer Co. in Marlow, Buckinghamshire has crafted a garden that snakes between its various brewhouse buildings, features cosy corners and parasols to ensure shade from the sun, or (let’s face it) shelter from the rain. The Five Points Brewing Company in Hackney screens drinkers from the surrounding train arches and brutalist architecture, with tasteful open-air structures and plentiful picnic benches in a spacious courtyard that could, theoretically, be sun-drenched. Cask beer may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of your favourite summertime beverage, but Five Points may change that; its hand-pulled ales are seen in some quarters as the best in London, even if you’re catching rays. 

One other taproom with a familiar feel is Bellfield in Edinburgh and its colourful backyard, replete with inviting wooden booths, mismatched stools and barrel tables. “A garden creates a different atmosphere; on a sunny day there's a buzz from people enjoying beer brewed next door," says Bellfield's Anna Orr. "But living in Scotland, we've also designed the space for year-round use, with covered booths and sheltered seating so people can enjoy it whatever the weather.” Bellfield's forte is gluten-free beer, which you can enjoy while repeating “you really can’t tell the difference” as you squint into the Scottish sunshine, or as a reward after a sweaty hike up and down the nearby Arthur’s Seat.

A final standout is Duration Brewing in Norfolk; albeit not in an urban area, its farmyard site offers a unique setting among beautiful architecture across from what is, frankly, just a giant field. The great news is you can bring your own chairs and set up camp on said field, giving Duration a big advantage on busy summer weekends, insofar as it can’t ever truly be full. If you prefer your seats in-house, there are a smattering of options on the (very tasteful) gravel area right in front of the taproom where you can look smugly at the field-dwellers as they look smugly back.

The reality of brewing as a fundamentally industrial process will always give these spaces a very different vibe to your classic British countryside pub, but thankfully we've got quite good at creating spaces that are still inviting, exciting and most importantly have buckets of character.