10 Best pubs in Leamington Spa with beer gardens!

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Royal Leamington Spa (or simply Leamington) is a lovely little spa town in the UK’s Midlands. I moved here on a whim during the pandemic. Having never visited the town or done much research prior to moving here, I have spent the last 18 months exploring this new part of the country and immersing myself in all that Leamington has to offer and of course, I’ve been hunting down the best pubs in Leamington Spa.

I’ve found that Leamington has many great local pubs as well as a vibrant and lively bar scene. However, one thing I have noticed recently is that many people are unsure of which is the best pub to go to when the sun is shining! So with summer in full swing, I decided to do a little research to find the best pubs in Leamington Spa with beer gardens.

This summer Leamington will be hosting some events for the Commonwealth Games so I’m sure many people visiting the area for the first time to attend the games will also want to stop for a little while and enjoy some of the great pubs available in Leamington. 

In researching this guide, a friend and I visited 11 of the most popular pubs in Leamington Spa. To compare prices we ordered the same drinks in every bar, one craft beer and one draught cider. We scored each pub out of 5 for the following categories: Drink choice, Amount of sun in the garden, Overall atmosphere and Value for money. All pubs and bars on this list are dog friendly and offer pub food. 

Read on to find the best pubs in Leamington Spa with beer gardens!

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Best pubs in Leamington Spa with beer gardens 

Best pubs in Leamington Spa #1 – The Urban Fox

Urban Fox is a really nice traditional pub. It’s a little way outside the centre of town but is well worth the trip. There are two beer gardens here, the first is outside the front of the pub and consists of a nice decking area and lots of benches. The second is a smaller ‘secret garden’ in a courtyard out the back. Personally, I preferred the main front garden but the secret garden could be nice if you are looking for a quieter more secluded spot.

There was a lot of drink choice here, including many different gins and craft beers as well as a good cider on tap. There was a good, lively atmosphere and the garden got a decent amount of sunlight. I also really liked that they offer water and treat bowls for dogs!

The only thing that let this place down is that the beer garden is situated directly on the main road, however, that really is just a small gripe. Overall I enjoyed my experience at the urban fox and had a great time. I definitely think it deserves its spot on the list of best pubs in Leamington Spa!

Best pubs in Leamington Spa #2 -Newbold Comyn Arms

This cute country pub is also a little way outside of the main town centre but again is very much worth the trip. We walked through the beautiful Jephson gardens to get here and thoroughly enjoyed the walk.

Newbold Comyn Arms has a large outdoor space which consists of benches on the grass, a terrace and a very picturesque pagoda, which I believe can be rented out for events. There is a large gazebo on the terrace which provides shade on hot days and also a children’s play area in the garden. So I would recommend this as the best pub in Leamington for families.

Even though it is a fairly small pub there is a large selection of drinks on offer and the pub also occasionally hosts events such as its summer festival.

Overall this is my favourite place to grab a pint on a sunny day in Leamington. And I would also say that it is one of the best pubs in Leamington spa with parking. 

Best pubs in Leamington Spa #3 -The Moorings At Myton

The Moorings is located directly beside the Grand Union Canal. The beer garden is a multi-levelled terrace overlooking the water. Being able to watch the canal boats sail past definitely adds to the atmosphere here and makes The Moorings an excellent choice for a cheeky pint on a hot summer’s afternoon.

Inside the pub, the decor is very stylish and well put together, making it one of the best bars in Leamington Spa. It’s always been very quiet and relaxed when I have visited so if you are looking for a lively bar atmosphere this isn’t it. However, it’s an excellent place if you are looking for a chilled-out vibe.

Best pubs in Leamington Spa #4 -Procaffinate

Procaffinate is one of Leamington’s best-kept secrets! Technically this is a coffee shop, but if you open up the Smeg fridge next to the counter and head down the secret staircase you will find yourself in a fun little bar with an excellent garden! I really love the fun speakeasy vibe that this place has.

The garden is small but lovely, decorated with astroturf, fairy lights and pink flowers. It also overlooks a quiet section of the canal, which gives it a really relaxing and peaceful atmosphere.

For a bar that’s hidden in a coffee shop, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of different drinks they offered, including many different cocktails and some great craft beers.

Really the only thing that lets this place down is the fact that it is in a coffee shop and therefore has coffee shop opening hours. It would be great if Procaffinate stayed open in the evenings but unfortunately, it shuts at 6.30 pm meaning you may be a little rushed for time if you wanted to pop in for a drink after work. 

Best pubs in Leamington Spa #5 -Fizzy Moon

Fizzy Moon is one of the best gastro pubs in Leamington Spa and has previously been voted the best bar in Warwickshire! It is certainly one of my favourite pubs in Leamington Spa town centre.

This place has a fantastic atmosphere with DJs often playing here on a weekend, as well as its own brewery on site and a selection of 165 different gins.

The garden is essentially a decked terrace which is semi-covered. This makes it nice in all weather. However, it doesn’t get much sun and due to its popularity is always busy which means you have to be lucky to grab one of the few seats on the sunny part of the terrace. 

#6 -Bedford Street Bar

Bedford street bar is another really fun and lively bar with an excellent atmosphere. There is often live music here which makes it one of the best places in Leamington for a night out. 

There are a few tables outside on the front porch and a large outdoor courtyard out back, which is semi-covered by a gazebo so there is plenty of shade available.

The outdoor space is really nice and has some fun instagrammable features such as flower walls and two large igloos. As this is a walled courtyard it doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight. So even though it’s a lovely space, I wouldn’t recommend it to those of you that are looking for a sun trap.

#7 -Drawing Board

This is the local pub that I visit most and really love. The whole place has a really fun quirky vibe based around comic books. I also like that the staff are all super friendly and lovely *insert comic book pun here…*

In my opinion Drawing board offers the best drink selection out of all the pubs in Leamington. There is a wide range of craft beers on offer which changes regularly so you can always try something new and they also have the best choice for cider out of all the pubs that we visited.

Unfortunately, the garden is a small courtyard which means that it can sometimes be difficult to get a seat in the sun, so I have to deduct some points for that. It’s also the most expensive pub on this list, with its prices being more on par with what you would expect to pay in a large city rather than a small town in the Midlands. 

#8 -The White Horse

The white horse is another of my personal favourites and is definitely one of the best pubs in Leamington spa. There is a great atmosphere here, it is always lively and often hosts live music.

The outdoor courtyard is surrounded by high walls so it only gets the sun for a couple of hours around midday, which is a real shame.

The drinks choice is excellent though, with lots of great wines, cocktails and beers on offer. They also have a great cider on tap. 

#9 – The Royal Pug

The Royal pug probably has the prettiest beer garden on this list, consisting of lots of flowers, fairy lights and a fun pug mural. However, the garden is small and doesn’t get much direct sunlight.

There are a few different craft beers on tap and a selection of ciders, wines and spirits too. The atmosphere is great as they have lots of different events on during the week including ‘Pie and Pint Thursdays’! 

#10 -The Old Library

The old Library is another pub with a ‘secret garden’. I really like the garden here, it’s large, astroturfed and also has outdoor heaters for those colder days. However, there is a lot of cover so only a small section of the garden gets a lot of sun. The old library is a good place to watch sports as it has several large screens throughout the pub and in the garden.

There are also several weekly events on during the week such as karaoke and quiz nights. 

#11 – Bowling Green

Bowling Green has a really nicely designed garden with a good amount of sun and shaded areas. There are also a few games for kids scattered around.

However, I felt slightly uncomfortable in this locals pub. I know a lot of my audience are solo female travellers; on this occasion, I was with a male friend but if I had been alone I probably would not have stayed for a drink. For that reason, I can’t fully recommend this pub and it doesn’t make my top 10, even though the drinks are cheap and the garden is very nice. 

Bonus: Best pubs near Leamington Spa

There are also two really great pubs near Leamington, in Warwick and Kenilworth, which I think deserve an honourable mention. 

The Globe, Warwick

One of my favourite pubs in Warwick. The Globe is a great pub with a shaded outdoor terrace. They have a great menu and the atmosphere here is fun. They also offer free wood-fired pizzas for teams entering their weekly pub quiz every Wednesday!

The Queen and Castle, Kenilworth

I think the Queen and Castle is one of the best country pubs near Leamington spa. This pub has an excellent beer garden which is very large, and sunny and has a lovely view of Kenilworth castle which is directly opposite.

There is also some great pub grub on the menu here.

Where to stay in Leamington Spa

Looking for a place to stay in Leamington spa? I recommend Victoria Park Lodge or these boutique apartments. 

The Travelodge and The Angel hotel are also good options.

Alternatively, you can use the search box below to find a good hotel in Leamington Spa. 

Summary

I had a lot of fun researching for this pub guide and I hope it can be helpful. If you think I have missed a gem that isn’t on the list then let me know in the comments below. This is a live guide that I will continue to update in the future! 

Below is a handy table so that you can compare the best pubs and beer gardens for every occasion.

Overall, if you are looking for a pub in Leamington with a great beer garden, good atmosphere and plenty of drink choices then I highly recommend The Urban Fox or Newbold Comyn Arms.

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