Looking for a pub beer garden South London visitors might not already know about? Hidden behind Skehan’s in Nunhead is an outdoor space with far more character than your average collection of pub tables. With Thai huts, seasonal planting, outdoor TVs, hidden corners and a former stable, the beer garden has evolved over the years while remaining unmistakably part of Skehan’s.
From the street, you’d never guess quite what is waiting behind this independent, family-run Irish pub. That’s part of the fun. Walk through Skehan’s, head towards the back and the space suddenly opens up into a garden that’s full of surprises.
A South London Pub Garden You Have to Discover
Some beer gardens announce themselves before you’ve even reached the pub.
Skehan’s isn’t one of them.
The garden is tucked away behind the building, giving it a sense of separation from the streets outside. Once you’re there, it’s easy to settle in for considerably longer than you intended.
It isn’t pristine or overly designed, either. Instead, different areas, structures and planting have developed into a space that feels individual and lived-in.
It’s a proper pub garden with a personality of its own.
Thai Huts and a Garden With Character
One of the most distinctive features you’ll discover outside is the garden’s Thai huts.
They feel particularly appropriate given that Chai’s Garden has been serving authentic Thai food at Skehan’s for more than two decades.
Order dinner from the restaurant and you can take it outside, find your spot and enjoy Thai food in surroundings that feel a long way from the usual London restaurant experience.
Look Out for the Former Stable
There’s history hidden within the garden too.
One of the structures is a former stable, a reminder that this space existed long before it became the pub garden South London customers enjoy today.
It’s details like this that give the garden its charm. Rather than feeling as though everything arrived at once from a designer’s drawing board, the space tells different parts of the building’s story.
A Garden That Changes With the Seasons
The planting adds another dimension.
Flowers and greenery change throughout the year, so the garden never feels exactly the same from one season to the next.
Naturally, sunny summer afternoons are particularly popular. But spring brings the garden back to life, while the changing plants and foliage give regulars something new to notice as the year progresses.
There are plenty of little corners to discover too.
That makes it equally suited to meeting a group of friends or finding somewhere slightly quieter to sit with a drink and have a proper conversation.
Watch the Big Game Outside
A peaceful garden doesn’t mean you have to miss the action indoors.
Skehan’s has outdoor TVs, allowing customers to watch selected live sport from the beer garden.
Football, rugby and GAA are all a big part of life at the pub. When the weather cooperates, being able to watch a major game outside with friends and a pint is difficult to beat.
And when the match finishes, there’s no rush to move on.
From Thai Food to Award-Winning Guinness
Part of what makes this pub garden South London destination special is everything that comes with it.
Chai’s Garden provides freshly prepared Thai food, which you can enjoy outside. Meanwhile, behind the bar you’ll find the Guinness that helped earn Skehan’s a place in the inaugural Guinness Harp Guide.
Then there’s the pub itself.
Head back indoors and you might find a trad session beginning, musicians gathering for a jam, the Thursday quiz getting underway or a Saturday night crowd arriving for the gig.
The garden isn’t separate from the Skehan’s experience. It’s another part of it.
A Pub Garden in South London Worth Knowing About
Skehan’s garden hasn’t only caught the attention of locals.
It has also received recognition from The Standard, putting this unassuming Nunhead garden on the radar of people from further afield.
Yet despite the attention, it hasn’t lost the feeling of being a local discovery.
That’s important.
Skehan’s has been family-run for more than 25 years, and the garden reflects the same slightly unconventional, welcoming character you’ll find inside the pub.
Find Your Own Favourite Corner
Perhaps the best thing about Skehan’s garden is that different people use it differently.
Come for Thai food and find a table for dinner.
Meet friends for a summer afternoon pint.
Watch the rugby outside.
Find a quieter corner for a catch-up.
Or have a drink in the garden before heading indoors for live music later.
If you’re searching for a pub garden South London visitors can genuinely remember afterwards, it’s worth heading to Nunhead and looking behind Skehan’s front door.
Just don’t be surprised if you end up staying awhile.
FAQs
Where can I find a hidden pub garden in South London?
Skehan’s in Nunhead has a spacious garden hidden behind the pub, with Thai huts, planting and plenty of different seating areas.
Can you eat in Skehan’s garden?
Yes. Customers can enjoy freshly prepared Thai food from Chai’s Garden outside in the beer garden.
Can you watch sport in Skehan’s beer garden?
Yes. Skehan’s has outdoor TVs for selected live sporting events.
Is Skehan’s garden near Peckham?
Yes. Skehan’s is in Nunhead, around one mile from neighbouring Peckham.
What makes Skehan’s beer garden different?
The garden combines Thai huts, a former stable, seasonal planting, hidden corners and outdoor TVs with the atmosphere of an independent family-run pub.