Outdoor seating is a meaningful part of the pub offer in the UK, but usage is highly seasonal and weather-sensitive. Consumer polls, trade measurements and public-authority records point to strong preference for beer gardens, while also showing that cover, seating quality and licensing arrangements affect whether that preference turns into visits.
Contents
- How strongly pubgoers use and prefer outdoor seating
- How widespread outdoor seating is
- How weather changes usage and sales
- What bad-weather responses reveal
- What licensing data show about expansion
- Which features shape demand and dwell time
How strongly pubgoers use and prefer outdoor seating
The available surveys indicate that a beer garden is not merely an occasional extra for many pub customers. In 2026, 51% of respondents in Star Pubs’ research said a beer garden was essential for summer visits in the UK. The finding measures stated importance rather than actual covers occupied, but it shows how outdoor space can influence the choice of a summer venue. (Star Pubs Research Reveals What Pubgoers Want from Their Ideal Local)
The preference also appears in broader venue-choice measures. In May 2022, 30% of UK adults said having a pub garden was a top priority when choosing a pub. The same source reported that 40% of surveyed drinkers called beer gardens their ultimate happy place in 2022. (Boost Summer Sales with a Pub Beer Garden)
Among UK drinkers with a stated outdoor beer preference, CAMRA reported that a pub beer garden was the favourite summer place to drink beer for 55% in summer 2019. A family member’s or friend’s garden was preferred by 25%, while 8% chose a music festival. These are shares within the surveyed group described by the source, not all UK adults, and they should not be read as a market-wide attendance forecast. (Cheers to beer (gardens)!)
The expected frequency of use was also substantial in the 2022 Value for Venues research: the average UK pubgoer surveyed expected to visit a pub garden 4–5 times per month in summer. That is an expectation, not a recorded transaction count, but it helps explain why outdoor capacity can matter repeatedly across the season rather than only during exceptional hot weather. (Boost Summer Sales with a Pub Beer Garden)
Pub Partners reported in its 2024 summer toolkit that 53% of drinkers were more likely to visit a pub with a beer garden. The same toolkit found that 80% considered seats and shade a must-have for a pub outdoor area. Together, the figures suggest that the presence of outdoor space and the quality of that space are separate management questions. (Are you Summer Ready? Summer Toolkit April - July)
How widespread outdoor seating is
Outdoor seating is already common across the UK pub and hospitality estate. Value for Venues reported around 27,000 UK pubs with beer gardens in 2022. CGA platform data cited by Restaurant Online in July 2022 found that more than two-thirds, or 72%, of pubs had outside space. The latter category included beer gardens, patios, terraces or other outdoor guest areas, so the two measurements use different definitions and should not be combined as though they were the same count. (Boost Summer Sales with a Pub Beer Garden; Heatwave brings mixed results for drinks sales on trade)
The same July 2022 trade report counted just over 26,000 managed hospitality sites with beer gardens, patios, terraces or other outdoor guest areas. This is a managed-hospitality-site measure, rather than a count of all pubs, and it covers a broader set of outdoor formats. (Heatwave brings mixed results for drinks sales on trade)
Local authority records show how outdoor seating can extend beyond a private garden. Hillingdon’s assessment, reported in March 2022, considered provision for outdoor hospitality seating across 6 main centres. Its March 2021 hospitality business survey received 35 responses, and the borough trialled 4 temporary parklets for outdoor seating during 2021–2022. The Ruislip and Eastcote parklets were designed to fit a standard 5m × 2m parking bay, while the Uxbridge parklet used two parking-space lengths and measured 10m × 2m. (Public Pack Agenda Document for Environment, Housing and Regeneration Select Committee, 16/03/2022 19:00)
Kensington and Chelsea reported 114 licensed outdoor dining terraces on footway extensions in November 2021, alongside more than 450 pavement licences in the borough. These figures describe one London borough’s licensing position at that time, not the national number of outdoor pub areas. (Al fresco revolution could be here to stay)
How weather changes usage and sales
Weather can produce a sharp uplift, but extreme heat does not guarantee a continuing sales increase. Figures cited by the UK government licensing taskforce showed that pubs with beer gardens recorded an average 49% trade surge on hot days in April 2025. This is a reported average for that measurement period and should not be treated as a normal daily uplift across all seasons. (Licensing policy sprint: joint industry and HM government taskforce report)
The July 2022 heatwave provides a more varied picture for managed-venue drinks sales compared with 2019 levels:
| Date | Managed-venue drinks sales compared with 2019 | Other reported result |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 16 July 2022 | Within 1% above or below | — |
| Sunday 17 July 2022 | Within 1% above or below | — |
| Monday 18 July 2022 | 9% above | Cider 55% above 2019 |
| Tuesday 19 July 2022 | 12% below | Temperatures reached record levels |
The figures show why outdoor-seating analysis needs a date-by-date view. Sales were close to 2019 levels on the first two days reported, rose 9% on Monday, then fell 12% on Tuesday as temperatures reached record levels. Cider sales nevertheless reached 55% above 2019 levels on Monday 18 July. The same report said wine sales were down 22% on the least-severe comparison day and by as much as 35% on another comparison day during the four-day heatwave. (Heatwave brings mixed results for drinks sales on trade)
These measurements are managed-venue drinks-sales comparisons, not direct counts of outdoor covers. They indicate that hot weather can change the mix and timing of demand, while excessive temperatures can reduce the overall result even when outdoor space is available.
What bad-weather responses reveal
The strongest constraint on outdoor usage is not simply whether customers like beer gardens; it is whether they will use them in poor conditions. A YouGov GB poll on 15 April 2021 found that 55% of adults would postpone an outdoor restaurant or pub beer garden visit when the weather was bad. Another 23% would go if the area had cover, while 3% would visit even without cover. (If you were visiting an outdoor restaurant or a pub beer garden, and the weather was bad, what would you most likely do?)
The same poll found that 13% said they would never visit a pub beer garden or outdoor restaurant, and 5% did not know what they would do about such a visit in bad weather. The responses total the poll’s stated categories, but they describe intentions in a particular April 2021 survey rather than observed behaviour in every weather event. (If you were visiting an outdoor restaurant or a pub beer garden, and the weather was bad, what would you most likely do?)
For operators, the 23% willing to go with cover and the 55% who would postpone are especially relevant when assessing shelter, umbrellas and other weather-management choices. The data do not establish which type of cover performs best, so investment decisions need to remain specific to the site, local rules and customer mix.
What licensing data show about expansion
Licensing arrangements have affected how quickly hospitality businesses could add public-realm seating. In July 2020, Kensington and Chelsea said businesses could learn the outcome of a fast-tracked outdoor-seating application within 10 working days. The temporary pavement-licence consultation period was reduced to 1 week from the earlier statutory period of 28 days. (Fast-tracked licencing to boost summer trading in Kensington and Chelsea)
Demand for the arrangement appeared immediately in the borough’s application flow: Kensington and Chelsea received 12 new applications for temporary parking-space outdoor seating in the first week and 2 pavement-licence applications over one weekend after the fast-track launch. In a November 2021 proposal, the borough discussed outdoor seating licences lasting up to 5 years. (Fast-tracked licencing to boost summer trading in Kensington and Chelsea; Al fresco revolution could be here to stay)
The national framework has used different durations. England’s 2024 pavement-licence guidance allows licences for up to 2 years, while the 2025 licensing taskforce said some local authorities were granting standard outdoor licences for only 6 months. The different durations matter because short permissions can make permanent furniture, shelter and layout investment harder to plan. (Pavement licences: guidance; Licensing policy sprint: joint industry and HM government taskforce report)
The taskforce estimated a conservative 1% sector-wide trading uplift from outdoor easements. It estimated that a 1% uplift could represent about £25 million in extra annual revenue. These are estimates, not recorded revenue results for every pub, and the taskforce figures should be read as a sector-level scenario. (Licensing policy sprint: joint industry and HM government taskforce report)
Other local measures show the range of public support. The City of London reported 142 live al-fresco licences for pubs, bars, cafés and restaurants in July 2022 and committed £2.5 million annually to its Destination City recovery and leisure programme, including outdoor festivals. Herefordshire’s 2026–2028 policy reduced pavement-licence fees by 70%, from £500 to £150 for a new licence and from £350 to £105 for a renewal. (Free ‘al fresco’ dining licences boost City hospitality; Boost for Herefordshire’s high streets as Council cuts pavement licence fees)
Which features shape demand and dwell time
Outdoor seating works as part of a wider pub experience. Star Pubs’ 2026 research found that 48% of respondents valued comfortable seating at their ideal local, while 43% rated an open fire among valued features. Although an open fire is not an outdoor-seating measure, the pairing shows that comfort and atmosphere can influence the wider decision to spend time at a pub. (Star Pubs Research Reveals What Pubgoers Want from Their Ideal Local)
The same research found that 20% valued dog-friendly touches such as water bowls, and 64% identified clean, well-maintained toilets as essential. These are not measurements of outdoor dwell time, but they are relevant operational features for customers moving between a beer garden and the main venue. (Star Pubs Research Reveals What Pubgoers Want from Their Ideal Local)
Programming can also shape weekly footfall expectations. In the 2026 Star Pubs research, 31% ranked live music among key expectations for weekly pub footfall, while 24% ranked pub quizzes. Those figures do not prove that either activity increases outdoor seating usage, but they identify measurable reasons why customers may choose to visit on particular days. (Star Pubs Research Reveals What Pubgoers Want from Their Ideal Local)
Finally, a 2025 poll conducted from 16–22 April found that 49% of UK consumers favoured their local pub over other venues. The result is broader than outdoor seating, so it should be used as context for the local-pub market rather than as a beer-garden usage rate. (New research reveals top reasons for pub visits)