Boozer boasting colourful murals and a stained glass archway wins Britain’s Best Beer Garden 2016
The wacky three-level terrace of Chaplin’s Cellar Bar in Bournemouth is 'like the set of a David Lynch film'
A BOURNEMOUTH boozer's back yard has today been crowned the best beer garden in Britain.
Chaplin’s Cellar Bar's three-level garden is a huge hit with locals who can order drinks from a "real ale garden shed" while marvelling at the 15ft stained glass "mystical archway", a giant ivy-bearded druid mural and a knight in a full suit of armour.
The boozer, in Boscombe, Bournemouth, fought off competition from hundreds of entrants to be crowned the winner of Britain's Best Beer Garden 2016.
The pub's colourful garden, which also boasts its Hanging Gardens of Boscombe, has been "evolving" for the past 15 years and featured bright garden chairs and reclaimed cinema seats.
When the sun is not shining on the south-facing terrace, it is lit up with reclaimed street lights and a dazzling "light show".
Singers, musicians and DJs often perform in the beer garden and a barbecue is fired up for locals to tuck into locally sourced sausages and burgers.
Charlie Chaplin murals are peppered around the beer garden - with the bowler-hatted actor and funnyman even appearing in stained glass panels in the 15ft-tall archway.
Judges compared the beer garden to being "like the set of a David Lynch film" - given its weird and wonderful murals and decorations.
Bar manager Geoff Popple, 27, said he was delighted with the win in the competition, organised by business insurance firm SMEi.
He said: "Our garden is often a live music area where we have acoustic acts and DJ's on an early evening.
"We also have a bar in our shed at the back end of garden which stocks a variety of real ales, craft ciders and other products.
"The huge arch was taken from a demolished church and it dominates the centre of the garden, and the VIP area features reclaimed cinema seating."
He added: "We were overjoyed when we found out that we had won the competition. We never expected to win.
“We have been overwhelmed by customer support. Everyone in the community has really got behind us.
RELATED STORIES
"I’ve been stopped by people on the street to discuss the competition and have overheard people on the bus discussing the bar and the competition.
"The bar’s got a big presence in the area with all support from everyone it has really shown. It’s been brilliant.”
Local Madelaine Hepper, who has been going to Chaplin's of the past ten years, said the pub was a "diamond in the rough".
She said Boscombe had a bit of a down-at-heel reputation as a faded seaside resort, adding: "The local area has a bad reputation but Chaplin’s bar is a shining light.
“It’s a great place and standalone venue which has had a massive cultural impact as they do a lot for the community in the area.
"It’s easily the best bar in the country.”
Chaplin's was chosen as the winner after a vote by members of the public as well as industry experts at the trade journal The Morning Advertiser, the British Beer and Pub Association, and Two Thirsty Gardeners blog.
They win a trophy and £500 to treat their bar staff.
In second place was the The Belle Vue Tavern in Ramsgate, Kent, with its sea views at its cliff-top beer garden.
In third spot was the 17th century Maytime Inn in Asthall in Oxfordshire, which serves up 60 types of gin and has sweeping views of the Cotswolds.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368