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TOP 10 BRITISH PUB GARDENS

BBC Countryfile Magazine

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August 2025

Enjoy gorgeous grub and great views in these pub gardens selected by the UK's top chefs, says

- Graeme Green

TOP 10 BRITISH PUB GARDENS

1. The Parkers Arms, NewtonIn-Bowland, Lancashire

Lancashire has quietly earned a reputation as a premier foodie hotspot, from Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants to pub grub. “One of my favourite pubs is The Parkers Arms in Newton-In-Bowland, near Clitheroe,” says Lisa Goodwin-Allen, executive chef at the Michelin-starred Northcote restaurant and hotel in Lancashire, who appears regularly on James Martin's Saturday Morning and as a veteran judge on Great British Menu. “It combines the warmth of a traditional country setting with exceptional food. The location's stunning too, with incredible views.”

The rural country inn is set amid the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, with chef-patron Stosie Madi making good use of produce from local farms and gardens, not least with their award-winning famous curried mutton pie, as featured on The Hairy Bikes Go North. The pub also has ales from nearby Bowland Brewery.

Inside, the cosy pub has wooden floors and warming fires, while outside picnic tables are set on lawns overlooking Waddy Fell. “The team and atmosphere's so welcoming - it genuinely feels like home,” says Goodwin-Allen. “Stosi's cooking is second-to-none. It’s a place where you can enjoy great food and true Lancashire hospitality.”

Red deer and bird species such as curlews and lapwings, live in the surrounding area, while the Forest of Bowland offers walks, from riverside strolls to fell hikes. The market town of Clitheroe and village of Chipping are also worth exploring. parkersarms.co.uk.

2. The Black Bull, Sedbergh, Cumbria

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BBC Countryfile Magazine

This story is from the August 2025 edition of BBC Countryfile Magazine.

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