We’re just as excited as you are at HeadBox about the prospect of almost all restrictions easing in less than two weeks time. So to help you decide where to celebrate with a pub garden pint, sun terrace tipple or alfresco Aperol we’ve asked around the HeadBox team where they’ll be heading once restrictions allow.

Vinegar Yard, London Bridge

John Scott, Head of Brand

Tucked conveniently next to London Bridge station under the dominating shadow of The Shard, Vinegar Yard has been a go-to for Summer (and Winter) catch-ups with friends for a couple of years now. Styled like the VIP area of a festival with the obligatory fairy lights, fake grass, shipping containers and art installations, Vinegar Yard has a host of bars and dining options that have something for everyone so you can settle down to long overdue catch up with your five favourite friends on one of their bright yellow benches… if you can get a booking!

German Gymnasium Terrace, Kings Cross

Tom Reddington, Head of Tech – Web & Experience

Picture a balmy summer Saturday. Round up the troops and head over to the sun dappled terrace at the German Gymnasium in Kings Cross.  Order yourself a pint of one of their many excellent beers, or a mighty Maßkrug if you are feeling particularly thirsty, and settle in for an afternoon of good company and good chat. As with all the best grand cafés it faces a bustling plaza, perfect for people watching. While you sip your beer and reminisce with friends you will observe small groups like your own heading towards Granary Square and Regents Canal — is there any better place than London in the first weeks of summer? You might also spare a moment for the flustered travellers rushing, late for trains… but not too long, the waiter has just arrived with another round of drinks and the lunch menu.

Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch

Josh Richardson, Product Designer

When the sun is shining in London, the Queen of Hoxton is my favourite rooftop spot for a quick pint (that often turns into many more). And if you’re feeling peckish their burgers are the perfect pick-me-up to keep the party going! Great location, trendy locale and just a stone’s throw away from Liverpool Street. Keep an eye out for their rooftop film club too, I’ve heard great things!

Ham Yard Hotel – The Roof Terrace, Soho

Kristina Kanter, Product Designer

On the fourth floor of the chic Ham Yard hotel, there is a leafy rooftop bar which features a small garden with fruits, vegetable and herb patches. In the summer months strawberries, gooseberries, thyme and even flowers are used by bartenders and chefs in the cocktails and dishes. The garden is also home to two bee hives! This peaceful and relaxing urban village vibe makes you forget for a moment that you’re in the midst of buzzing busy Soho. So if your idea of a lovely summer evening includes trying gin cocktails with edible flowers whilst enjoying the sun setting over London rooftops, make sure to book a spot.

People’s Park Tavern, Victoria Park

Dean Palmer, Product Manager

Picture yourself wandering through Vicky park on a warm summers day, the birds are singing, children are playing and you could murder a pint. The People’s Park Tavern has got you covered! Situated right on the Western edge of the park, this gem is hard to miss, but if you have trouble look out for 20 bikes chained to a single fence panel. It boasts a massive outdoor area filled with park tables, ringed with booths and a myriad of food vans to keep you going when a quick pint turns into a sesh. Inside you’ll find classic pub decor, a great beer selection including amazing guest beers and sometimes there is a cat that sleeps next to the water station! Great beer, lots of sun and aircon turned to 11, what more could you want on a summer’s day?

Frank’s Bar & Cafe – Peckham

Charlie Pepperrell, Business Development Manager

Just off of the hustle and bustle of Rye Lane, Frank’s offers a spot for all occasions. The rooftop of a multi-storey car park, converted into a bar which offers unrivalled panoramic views of London. You’ve probably come across their pink staircase before on social media, which is a long slog to get up, however, works wonders for the backdrop of an instagram photo. An affordable cocktail list combined with great views attract people from all over.  Covering the complete rooftop, Frank’s offers a comfortable amount of space (which is refreshing in the summer months!) and is great for groups of all sizes. When the sun does finally make an appearance this year in London, be sure to check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

Bermondsey Bar & Kitchen, London Bridge

Kellie Wragg, Associate Client Director

Set in a former car park in the heart of energetic and vibrant Bermondsey, this venue is the perfect all day and evening destination, serving superb food and fantastic cocktails, as well as frequently hosting DJ’s and pop ups. Well-known by locals, the terrace is particularly delightful, with a chilled-out ambience, perfect for your casual get-together.

Mercato Metropolitano, Elephant & Castle

Sheridan Roberts, Head of Events

Head into Mercato Metropolitano with it’s rustic urban backdrop, a huge variety of street food, multiple bars whatever your tipple and a host of DJ’s… You feel like you could be anywhere other than a disused paper factory in Elephant & Castle. This venue has the perfect summer vibe with it’s big outdoor space and just as much indoor space for the typical English rainy summer. This venue doesn’t take bookings so don’t worry about all those groups of 6 all booking areas at the same time to guarantee a spot, this is first come, first serve so stop what you’re doing and head over there immediately! As if this venue wasn’t cool enough they have opened a second one in an old church in Mayfair.

Trafalgar St James – Trafalgar Square

Grace Louisy, Associate Account Director

The perfect spot for a celebration in central London. Whether it’s client entertaining, rewarding your team for a project well done or celebrating a new partnership, Trafalgar St James remains a classic. A great atmosphere in summer with gorgeous views, Trafalgar has some of the best cocktails the city has to offer. When the temperature drops head into Rockwell, the brand new plant-filled hideaway that has a great restaurant and lounge bar.

The Duke of Edinburgh Pub, Brixton

George Essex, Senior Business Development Manager

People often talk about moments that last a lifetime, and I will never forget the afternoon I spent at the Duke of Edinburgh pub on 7 July 2018 watching England v Sweden in the World Cup. To the uninitiated, you would be forgiven for walking past the DoE without interruption as the seemingly mundane and traditional pub exterior gives little indication of the secrets contained within. However, much like the wardrobe in C.S Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia, once you make your way inside, past the bar and into the garden, you will never forget the DoE. On that blisteringly hot summer day in 2018, the garden was rocking and became a sanctuary to hoards of inebriated English football fans, drinking to the success of Harry Maguire and Dele Alli If you ever want a matchday experience without having to venture to the ground itself, there is nowhere else to go in South London than the DoE. Phenomenal atmosphere, ample outdoor seating and a thoroughly good day out

As we return to in-person events, the HeadBox team is on hand to help you plan safe events.

Simply send us your brief here.