Golden Pints — Year-Round Outdoor Drinking
Covered beer gardens in Lancaster
This is Lancashire. A covered beer garden isn't a luxury — it's a practical necessity. The 9 pubs on this list have proper covered outdoor areas that let you drink outside whatever the forecast throws at you.
We've verified every one of these in person — not just checking that a pub claims to have a covered area, but confirming that the outdoor space is genuinely usable in bad weather. Every pub here also has live sun tracking on Golden Pints.
The White Cross
CoveredQuarry Rd, Lancaster LA1 4XT · Lancaster
Set in a restored 130-year-old cotton mill on the Lancaster Canal. Great British Pub Awards 2022 finalist, CAMRA listed with up to 13 real ales. The canal-side courtyard catches sun from late morning through mid-afternoon, with specific tables holding sun later via a gap between the pub and neighbouring buildings — a quirky spring/summer suntrap rather than a classic sundowner.
The Borough
Covered3 Dalton Square, Lancaster LA1 1PP · Lancaster
Large beer garden on Dalton Square — one of Lancaster's biggest outdoor pub spaces. Fire pit, covered section, full food menu, real ale, live music, and a Sunday roast. Gets busy on sunny days; worth booking at the weekend.
Merchants 1688
Covered29 Castle Hill, Lancaster LA1 1YN · Lancaster
Grade II listed 17th-century stone-vaulted wine cellars next to Lancaster Castle. AA 1 Rosette restaurant — Jay Rayner called it 'seriously impressive'. Lancaster Chef of the Year winner. The sheltered courtyard is one of the city's finest outdoor dining spots: covered, heated, and remarkably wind-free even on blustery days.
Greaves Park
CoveredLancaster Leisure Park, Wyresdale Rd, Lancaster LA1 3LA · Lancaster
Chef & Brewer pub with a large garden and play area on the edge of town. Great for families and dogs, with a full restaurant menu and carvery.
The Bobbin
Covered36 Cable St, Lancaster LA1 1HH · Lancaster
19th-century lively street corner pub with a big emphasis on live music. Good-sized beer garden, dog and child friendly, with regular gigs and events.
The Hest Bank Inn
Covered2 Hest Bank Lane, Hest Bank LA2 6DN · Hest Bank
Just outside Lancaster with stunning views across Morecambe Bay. Worth the short trip for sunset pints — the garden catches late evening light beautifully.
The Midland Hotel
CoveredMarine Rd West, Morecambe LA4 4BU · Morecambe
Grade II* listed Art Deco masterpiece on Morecambe's seafront, built in 1933. The sun terrace faces directly west across Morecambe Bay toward the Lake District fells — best for afternoon and early evening sun, with sunsets widely regarded as some of the finest in the northwest. Now run by The Inn Collection Group, with the Rotunda Bar and Sun Terrace Restaurant at the heart of the building. One of the most iconic outdoor spots on the entire Golden Pints tracker.
The Longlands Hotel
CoveredTewitfield, Carnforth LA6 1JH · Carnforth
4-star country inn on the Lancaster Canal at Tewitfield Marina — right on the Lancashire/Cumbria border. The large south-facing garden sits directly beside the canal, making it one of the best walk-and-pint stops on the route north. Locally sourced food, real ales, dog friendly, and a proper countryside feel.
The Royal Hotel
CoveredMain Rd, Bolton-le-Sands LA5 8DH · Bolton-le-Sands
Welcoming village pub in Bolton-le-Sands with a well-maintained beer garden. Dog-friendly, card-only, and known for quality food in a relaxed setting. Just off the coastal road.
See which are in the sun right now
Live sun scores for all 59 beer gardens — filter by Covered to see just these pubs.
Open live tracker →Covered beer gardens — what to look for
The best covered beer gardens in Lancaster offer more than just a roof over your head. The top picks — The White Cross, The Hest Bank Inn, and Greaves Park — combine covered outdoor space with heaters, meaning you're genuinely comfortable outside even on a cool or drizzly day.
Merchants 1688 on Castle Hill has a sheltered courtyard that's naturally protected from wind by the castle walls — not technically covered, but one of the best all-weather outdoor spaces in Lancaster.
Golden Pints switches to Cosy Mode on overcast or rainy days, automatically ranking pubs with covered spaces and heaters highest. Open the tracker to see current rankings.