Al fresco dining in England
Why do we associate al fresco dining with holidays abroad? When the sun shines, the sounds and smells of a balmy English summer evening are pretty hard to beat, and with a growing interest in food produced with fresh local and seasonal ingredients, we’re getting pretty competitive in the taste arena too!
Below are a few ideas to get you thinking, but don’t worry if you’re not close enough to enjoy any of these for the time being… put them on your to do list and use our restaurant finder (www.enjoyenglanddirect.com/ShopExt.aspx?ExtNum=1) to book a table near you now. You’re bound to find a great restaurant offering tasty fresh food and a lovely sunny terrace on which to enjoy the delights of an English summer! And if you’re going on holiday soon, why not book a table there now?
Denbies Conservatory Restaurant, Surrey
This is a place for al fresco dining in all weathers! A variety of options including light lunches, children's meals and vegetarian dishes can be enjoyed at Denbies Conservatory Restaurant - a bright airy space enhanced by tropical plants, a water feature with fountain and exotic fish! While you're there you can enjoy the vineyard/wine estate... take a tour and of course taste the award-winning wine while/after you dine!
Inside Out, Preston, Lancashire
This restaurant in Preston, Lancashire really comes into its own in the summer. The view from the decked terrace to the rear of Inside Out takes in tree-lined rolling gardens that appear to go on forever. If you have kids, it’s the ideal place to let them roam around while you enjoy quality food!
Cafe 2, Tate Modern, London
If you want to combine your summer dining with art, try Café 2 at Tate Modern in London. The floor-to-ceiling windows allow access to sunshine and breathtaking views over the River Thames. For an even closer inspection, walk past the long, sleek bar and pull up a sunny fuschia seat at the smart tables outside. This offers everything you could want from al fresco dining in London... a panoramic view, prime location, kid-friendly environment as well as fresh seasonal menus (including a healthy classic menu for children) that reflect Modern European and Mediterranean influences - a cut above the usual museum-cafe offerings.
Jamie Oliver's Fiften Cornwall
Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall in Watergate Bay brings an innovative menu of the best seasonal and local produce, a relaxed atmosphere, talented chefs – and an incredible view over a beautiful two-mile beach! There’s more to Fifteen Cornwall than fantastic food though. All profits from Fifteen Cornwall will be used to support, train and guide disadvantaged young people from around Cornwall as they turn their lives around and become world-class chefs.
Severnshed, Bristol
The modern Severnshed in Bristol housed within a former 19th Century boathouse built by Brunel has previously been voted one of the UK's top 100 restaurants by BBC's Olive magazine. It boasts a unique floating bar that can glide the length of the building. In addition to the 120-seater restaurant, there is a huge terrace outside for waterside dining with views. The cooking is modern European with a hint of tradition.
Anglesea Arms, West London
Anglesea Arms - apparently where the Great Train Robbery was planned - is now a trendy West London gastropub. In summer months you can enjoy fresh tasty fare in dappled sunshine at one of the quaint, umbrella-shaded tables on the calm streets outside. The skilful kitchen serves up a modern mix of seasonal, traditional European / British dishes to satisfy both meat-lovers and vegetarians, while the varied drinks list serves more than 20 wines by the glass.
Coq d'Argent, London
Perched on the roof of No1. Poultry, Coq d'Argent offers a constant in the ever-changing fortunes of the Square Mile. Regional French food is served in a spectacular dining room which, like its spacious lawned roof terrace, offers unparalleled views over the City of London.
Babylon at The Roof Gardens, Kensington, London
Enjoy the summer sunshine at Babylon, with a sizzling BBQ to delight your senses. Head Chef, Oliver Smith will be serving menu selections straight from the char-grill on Babylon’s spacious terrace, seven floors above Kensington High Street!
Stein's Fish & Chips, Padstow, Cornwall
Get Fish & Chips to eat outdoors! And what better place to do this than among the harbour life in pretty Padstow?
St. Petroc's Bistro (Rick Stein), Padstow, Cornwall
St. Petroc's Bistro is an unpretentious place to eat; the atmosphere is always bustling and lively. Bold, modern paintings brighten the white walls of the bistro, which is colourfully lit. A courtyard and pretty garden have added some al fresco eating albeit with parasols and space heaters to compensate for our variable weather.
The Lugger Hotel, Portloe, Cornwall
The Hotel restaurant, which overlooks the harbour, serves classical cuisine with an emphasis on fresh produce, such as seafood including locally caught lobster and crab. In the summer, light lunches and evening drinks are served to guests on the sunny terraces.
Harvey Nichols, The Fourth Floor Café, Leeds
With Summer just around the corner and the evenings getting longer, what better place to take in the view of the city and indulge in a delicious meal than at the Fourth Floor Café on the top floor of Harvey Nichols.
The Fourth Floor Café is open for dinner Thursday and Friday 5.30pm-10pm and Saturday 7pm-10pm, serving A la Carte and Prix Fixe menus. If you are a Bite member you are entitled to our Wine at Wineshop Prices deal each evening. Saturday is live music night, so drop in now and fit in a bit of shopping while you're at it - go on, it'll do you good!
Beetle and Wedge, Moulsford-On-Thames, Oxfordshire
Set on the site of the original Moulsford ferry service, on the banks of the River Thames on the stretch of river immortalised in The Wind in the Willows, where Jerome K. Jerome chronicled the escapades of his friends' visits in Three Men in a Boat, you can enjoy the tranquility and peace of the riverside setting in our beautiful old beamed Boathouse.
In fine weather the Boathouse goes alfresco onto the terrace just a few feet from the river, and there are tables by the sign on the jetty, beautifully set and lit in the evening.
