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London’s best pub gardens to watch the football

<p></p> (PA)
(PA)

Rejoice! The pubs are open, lockdown has eased and the football is on.

Sadly, not all beer gardens have screens which is frustrating for football fans wanting to sip a cool frothy one after months of watching at home.

Helpfully, we’ve compiled a list the capital’s best pub gardens to take your five-a-side team (and a sub!).

All you have to worry about is enjoying the game, celebrating/forgetting the result and then falling asleep before Match of the Day.

The Gunners

Within spitting distance from the old Highbury Stadium, The Gunners is a must for the match-day experience.

Decked out in signed Arsenal memorabilia you can smell the history coming off the walls.

It is the spot where, legend has it, the ‘89 title-winning team surprised Arsenal fans after their coach trip back from Anfield by playing pool and doing shots - of the alcoholic kind - long into the night.

A regular haunt back in the day for the infamous Tuesday Club. If you know, you know.

But it’s on north London derby day when the pub comes into its own with fans’ excitement reaching fever pitch.

Ian Wright recently chose the pub to film a loving tribute to Arsenal legend and close friend David Rocastle on BT Sport.

The garden is limited space-wise but has a food van serving burgers.

Although you won’t find the latest hipster sours on the menu, for atmosphere alone, this pub is highly recommended.

204 Blackstock Rd, Highbury N5 1EN, thegunnerspub.co.uk

The Duke of Edinburgh

Tucked away from the chaos of Brixton station, this lovely local has an enormous garden with huge outdoor screens.

On the paved courtyard is an outdoor shack where you can order a pint of the local brew, Coldharbour Lager from Brixton Brewery.

While White Men Can’t Jerk, serves up classy jerk chicken and other Caribbean-inspired dishes.

204 Ferndale Road, SW9 8AG, dukeofedinburghpub.com

The Beehive

For Spurs fans - and even low-key Gooners - there is the one and only Beehive Pub located just off Tottenham High Street.

The mock Tudor exterior of one of London’s oldest pubs, built in 1884, gives way to an enormous heated beer garden, big screens and a pub cat called Bojo.

Epic Sunday roasts and burgers can be ordered to your table and staff will accept walk-ins on match days.

Stoneleigh Road, N17 9BQ, beehiven17.com

The White Hart

The White Hart is one of the lesser-celebrated Stoke Newington boozers and we have no idea why.

Rows of picnic tables greet you as you enter the huge ivy-covered beer garden, which becomes a sun-trap on warm days.

The pub also holds DJ nights in the trendy neighbourhood so you can dance off any post-match blues.

69 Stoke Newington High Street, N16 8EL,whitehartstokenewington.com

Adam and Eve

Would you Adam and Eve it? Another fantastic east London beer garden to watch the mighty Orient or Hammers.

It’s easy to forget where you are while sitting in this remodelled tropical jungle of a garden - complete with its own palm tree centrepiece.

The landlady tells us she recommends booking in advance so any groups can be seated in front of the screens.

55 Homerton High Street, E9 6AS, adamandevepub.com

The infamous Chusen Palm in the remodelled garden of the Adam and EveMiranda Shutler
The infamous Chusen Palm in the remodelled garden of the Adam and EveMiranda Shutler

The Ship

This southwest London pub is a delightful pit-stop for those wanting to enjoy the football on the banks of the River Thames.

The mouth-watering menu serves up British classics as well as gourmet burgers, freshly caught Halibut and oysters.

If you are a keen sailor you can even park up in their private boat dock. But even the saltiest of seadogs need a booking in advance to gain entry.

41 Jews Road, SW18 1TB, theship.co.uk

The Coat and Badge

Have your bucket and spade at the ready and pull up a deckchair for this quirky, beach-style pub off Putney High Street.

Football fans can order the famous Ploughman’s if they get hungry at half-time.

A huge model cow and calf perched on the roof greet you as you walk in, giving this writer flashbacks to Alan Partridge’s ill-fated canal waterways promotional video.

But don’t worry they are attached securely, we’re told.

8 Lacy Rd, Putney, SW15 1NL, thecoatandbadge.co.uk

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