Outdoor Dining

The pandemic has brought lots of change to all our lives and across many businesses in the tourism sector.  One area that has successfully emerged is a new fashion for outdoor dining.  Alfresco dining is extremely popular across the continent where most restaurants, cafes and bars offer outdoor seating for you to sit and enjoy the beautiful weather, good food and great company.   This is becoming more popular here in the UK, as we head for the relative safety of outdoors, and businesses across the South develop new outdoor spaces for us to enjoy a great outdoor dining experience in, no matter what the weather.  As we prepare for hopefully another scorching summer in the South East, there is a host of new and exciting places to enjoy alfresco dining.

Take a look below for some of the finest resturants, bars and cafes with outdoor seating in South East England, where you can meet friends, sample some of the region's great delicious cuisine and hopefully the sunny weather too. 

Ten places to enjoy outdoor dining across the South 

• Between the vines - Known as the wine capital of the UK take the opportunity to visit one of the many vineyards across the South. Whether you choose to order a picnic basket and sample its delights it in the grounds at Oxney Organic Estate, Rye or head onto the terrace at Hush Heath Winery, Maidstone and enjoy the stunning views across the estate, you will not only be able to enjoy great food, but tasty English wine to wash it down with. 
• On the Waterfront - Watch the coming and goings of a busy harbour when you head to Gunwharf Quays, Portsmouth.  With a choice of over 30 waterfront restaurants and bars, your sure to find the right place overlooking the harbour for you. If you prefer to be surrounded by history, then head to The Courtyard at Southsea Castle, where you can settle down on one of the benches and enjoy quality food and drink, with many ingredients and produce sourced from the local area.
• On the seafront - Enjoy people watching and the chance to soak up the local atmosphere.  The West Beach Bar & Kitchen at the bottom of British Airways i360, Brighton., beachfront terrace is open for all day dining with a range of vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options plus a great value kids menu too.  Try Blakes Bar & Bistro at the Beachcroft Hotel & Beach Hut Suites, Bognor Regis you can enjoy freshly made sandwiches, light lunches or a traditional English afternoon tea just a stone's throw from the sea.
• Dining Domes - Enjoy a fine dining experience to remember in your very own dining dome at Waddesdon Manor, Aylesbury.  Open Thursday - Sunday's until 6th June, you can enjoy the stunning art and architecture of Windmill Hill and then first class dining high on the hill, overlooking the Vale of Aylesbury, in outdoor Covid-safe luxury.  Head to Greenwich and dine outside the historic Queens House until 6th June, recently used in the hit Netflix series Bridgeton. 

• Along the River - Discover the historic Cherwell Boathouse, Oxford, a family run boathouse and restaurant for more than 50 years.  Enjoy great food, great company and a punt along the beautiful River Cherwell for a quintessential English experience. 
• By the Marina - Enjoy breath-taking marina views from the HarBar on 6th at the Southampton Harbour Hotel.  Spend time on the terrace with roof heaters, outdoor fire pits and a wood burning pizza oven to help you brave those cooler evenings.
• Bedouin Tent Space - Feel like you have been whisked away to Morocco on your next visit to Henley on Thames at The Baskerville.  This traditional English pub garden, has been transformed with a stylish luxurious indoor/outdoor Bedouin tent space, making a backdrop with a difference for your next alfresco dining experience. 
• A Ideal Train Stop - Located right next to Windsor and Eton central station, Bills Windsor its the perfect coffee stop, when waiting for the train, or all day dining option when out exploring Windsor and Windsor Castle. 
• Heart of the Countryside - Watch someone else do the work at The Kitchen at Chewton Glen, in the heart of the New Forest.  The à la carte menu includes grazing dishes, pizzas and gourmet burgers to tantalise the taste buds and what's more you can finish with a very own James Martin pudding. 
• A Walkers Stop - Make a pit stop at the beautiful Feather's Nest in the heart of Cotswold Country.  Just 1 mile from the Oxfordshire Way and Diamond Way long-distance footpaths, with unrivalled views it's a great place rest those weary legs after a long day walking.

Discover a host of other dining options by visiting some of the destination dining out pages across the South East, including Eastbourne, Southampton, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole, Gosport and Maidstone

Don’t forget to book ahead and Know Before You Go. Please contact the restaurants, pubs and attractions direct to book and to check availability.  Look out for the 'We're Good To Go' industry standard and supporting mark.

Restuarants and places to eat with outside seating near me?

Discover a host of great resturants, pubs and cafes with outside seating in Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Dorset. Whether you're looking for something near you, or if you are travelling to a part of South East England for a short break or day trip, use the 'map view' button to find something local.