Beer Gardens. Some people love them, some people hate them. Only joking, who doesn’t love a Beer Garden? If you, like us, want to avoid the moaners and revel in this glorious English heatwave with your fellow sunburnt heliophiles – we’ve got the lowdown on the hottest Beer Gardens in the area. Gather round, mad-dogs and Englishmen (and women, and non-binaries), because this is you for the next few weeks. This is a selection in order of proximity to the City Centre, so for the full experience of Summer in the Baltic, why not do these in order?
BRICK STREET
Brick Street is the Funk and Soul Capital of the Baltic Triangle, with DJs on decks all weekend. Made up of the three huge rooms with plans to expand and all the trimmings you would expect from an American Speakeasy, Brick Street boasts one of the most comprehensive Rum Selections in Liverpool. And the cocktails? Just worlds apart from competitors. The venue only opened in March and holds a modest, intimate space at the front for outside drinking, and a huge courtyard in the back. Come for the incredible Muhammad Ali mural at the front, stay to drink amongst the gorgeous original 19th Century brick-work that has become synonymous with Baltic Triangle.
YARD
Work Hard, Play Yard!
‘Positive Vibes Guaranteed’ comes the promise from Yard – an amazing outside space and adjoined to District. First thing of note: this Jamaican-themed sun-trap is just HUGE. There is so much space to play with in this warmly decorated and secretive bar, nestled away in the centre of our rustic Warehouse Graveyard. Constantly spinning the best of Mento, Ska, Reggae and Dub beats, you can also experience dishes straight from the Mansions of Rastafari with wholesome, vegan street-food vendor ItalFresh. This place caters for all occasion including weddings and you can book the whole space out for a private party (we’ve done so several times and we highly recommend it), or just pop-in for casual, easy summer-time drinks.
CONSTELLATIONS
Constellations is a cornerstone of the Baltic Triangle and has established itself as one of the most popular spots in Liverpool. It is an event space, garden, eatery and bar – an independently minded Baltic adventure. An intersection of art, music, food and drink. The sheer magnitude of it’s outdoor space is truly impressive and is the perfect place to relax and have a drink in the sunshine with family and friends. Simply put, this place offers great drinks, great food and great music. Get yourselves down there!
BOTANICAL GARDEN
Let’s get this one out the way, quick and easy. Let’s face it, you knew this was going to be on here. Botanical Garden has been a staple of Summer life here in the Baltic for the last 3 years or so. Like many of us, The Botanical Garden hibernates over the winter months, then opens like a summer rose in hotter climates – filling itself to the brim with Gin and Ting. They can cater to parties of any size, with DJ nights Friday-Saturday, food available and a totally relaxed atmosphere.
PARLIAMENT STREET COLLECTIVE
Parliament Street Collective covers…one bar? Four bars? Five bars and a Vintage Market? Five bars, a Vintage Market and a Golf Course? Plus Restaurants and Food Vendors? I don’t know and I can’t keep up, but I can definitely get with the set up – it has it all! A simply gorgeous space with loads to do, loads to see and loads to buy (that includes food and drink, of course). It’s so big, it’s almost guaranteed to be the last place the sun is shining as we slip into a cool Summer evening. Grab a haircut in Red Brick Vintage Hangar while you’re there. Why not, it’s Summer, isn’t it. Get them to shave your entire body.
ALHAMBRA
Alhambra is a bit of something different, and a bit of what you fancy. With most food places/bars opting for a mix of different themes, this one, like Jamaican-themed Yard, picks one and does it really really well. Specialising in Spanish Wines and Tapas, Alhambra’s outside seating makes full use of the Cain’s Brewery historic courtyard and, for you architecture and local history buffs, it is just breathtaking. Seating you amongst rustic barrels and dinky, cutesy tea-lights on those warm summer evenings, the winter nights in its cosy interior can also be a thrill.
DOCKLEAF
Oh yes Dockleaf. What a year it has been for one of the Baltic Triangle’s more recent additions. First opening last year in the former quality control room of Cain’s Brewery, the venue lives up to that implied reputation by serving a smartly curated selection of off-the-radar ales and some fine food cooked up by SKAUS for Brunches, Lunches and Dinners. Their super sun-trap Roof Terrace was only opened a couple of weeks ago and remains a well-kept secret, so get over there while you still can!
BALTIC MARKET
If you’re a local and you’re even semi-conscious, thinking ‘What is Baltic Market?’ then what on Earth are you doing wasting any more time away from there? If you haven’t been shoving Halloumi fries into your face like some angry Vegetarian Demon-God straight out of a Hieronymus Bosch painting then you are simply not living your best life. For new-comers to the City, here’s the deal: 11 vastly different and totally delicious food-stalls; one big bar; another smaller one; one huge screen for sporting events; and an incredible outside space for sunshine. The Baltic Market is going to blow your foodie mind.
