Are pub gardens the new trend to try at home? A design expert reveals why you should recreate one

This time of year, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance our outdoor experience and create a comfortable space to spend time with friends and family.

The best modern garden ideas combine style and function, but there’s a new garden trend on the scene that’s inspiring outdoor spaces across the UK.

Searches for pub garden ideas have risen by 52% in recent weeks, and when I spoke to award-winning interior designer Anouska Lancaster, she was keen to revive the trend at home.

Anouska, who recently renovated Amanda Holden’s home, teamed up with SharkNinja after a new study revealed that a third of the country’s population would host more gatherings if their gardens were nicer. Luckily, Anouska has plenty of tips to help you turn your garden into a haven for hosting guests this summer.

“For me, it’s all about creating social areas – not just a dining area, but other areas where you can sit, chat and relax,” Anouska said.

Here are Anouska’s top tips for creating a pub garden feel at home.

1. Outdoor cooking

Alfresco dining is all the rage right now, and the list of outdoor kitchen ideas continues to grow. To cut down on the cost of eating out and support local businesses, Anouska recreated the pub atmosphere in her own garden.

“When you go to the pub, it’s all about the food, isn’t it?” said Anouska. “We have some great pubs close by, but we’re a family of six and I’ve got four teenagers, so going out to eat is really expensive.”

With the best barbecue grills and best pizza ovens, you can cook up a storm in your own backyard.

“Having the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL in the garden is great because it allows you to prepare quality pub food,” said Anouska. “You can serve a great menu to your guests and it’s great to be able to do it at home at a reasonable price, by buying from local butchers and farm shops. I’m a huge supporter of local businesses because I think it’s important to keep local produce.”

Outdoor kitchen appliances can be centrepieces in their own right. “For me, it’s all about interior design, and the Ninja is a real garden design element. It’s a beautiful product – the garden gathers around it, and it’s so easy to set up.”

2. Use large furniture.

If you want to make the most of a pub style garden setting in your home, you will need to think about garden furniture ideas that will encourage guests to make the most of the space.

“Use as much furniture as possible,” Anouska suggested. “I take every opportunity to get as many family and friends together as possible, and to do that, you need lots of comfortable seating.

“I like to design a low-level seating area because I find that everyone goes inside after eating together outside. If you have a low-level seating area, it creates a living room feel, and people will stay there all day.”

You can add many other accessories to get the outdoor living room feel as well. “I try to connect the lounge area to the dining area so it feels like one big space, with lighting, rugs and blankets coordinating with the colour scheme so everything is harmonious,” Anouska added.

3. Enhance with lighting

Choosing the right garden lighting ideas can add a beautiful ambiance to your outdoor space after dusk, and Anouska thinks it’s a great way to make the most of your home’s pub garden.

“Creative lighting can transform your garden and increase its potential as an extra space to enjoy in the evening,” said Anouska. “Festival lighting looks beautiful all year round, giving it a really warm and ambient atmosphere. This year, people have been zigzagging them over gazebos, and I think it gives a lovely, cosy, festive feel. They also give off enough light to be practical.”

You can install them along a fence to light up your garden, or you can hang them along your dining table or cooking area so you can see what you are eating and cooking.

“I also love candlelight for table decoration, it’s beautiful. If you don’t want the wind to blow out your candles, small battery-operated candles are a great option. I’ve noticed this year that rechargeable lights are also great on the table.”

4. Invest in an outdoor fan.

Although hot summer days are the perfect time to enjoy a pub garden, the heat can sometimes limit the time we spend in the sun, especially during heat waves.

“A lot of times it gets so hot outside that you have to keep going in and out,” said Anouska. “The Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan has been a real game changer. Just creating that breeze outside means you can enjoy your garden and spend more time out there.”

Outdoor fans are also a great option for pet owners. “My dog, Stanley, loves them—he’ll stay in front of them all day when it’s hot. It’s great that your pets can get outside and enjoy the yard, too.”

5. Try the table design.

Although pub gardens are usually a casual social space, Anouska enjoys enhancing the dining experience by arranging the tables, so I asked her for some tips.

“For me, it’s all about colour,” she said. “If you look at my Instagram, everything is really colourful, so I would recommend picking two or three colours that you really love and then styling everything around them. If you pick a colour that’s a statement for your summer garden, incorporate it into your tablescape.

“Don’t be afraid to use big accessories, even in small spaces. For an extra touch, you can decorate the table with tablecloths, napkins, lanterns and, if possible, fresh flowers in different jugs.”

The great thing about tablescapes is that they can be easily modified to suit the changing seasons. “You don’t have to change everything—you can just choose to switch out a color. For example, in the fall, you could put an orange shade there, and for Easter, I would put yellow because I love pastel colors in the spring.”

Anouska’s tips for creating a pub garden at home are a lesson in how to combine style and function to create a haven for socializing. I loved seeing how Anouska’s walled garden area came to life with these tips, and I can’t wait to try them out in my own garden.

Get the look