Award-winning beer garden, previously a parking lot, boasts stunning flora
Transforming a Community Pub into an Award-Winning Beer Garden
The Plough Shiplake, a community pub near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, has undergone a remarkable transformation, thanks to the creative vision of designer Tabitha Rigden from Marlow-based Rigden Studio. The new beer garden, now located on an elevated site, offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside and covers approximately 640 square metres[1].
Tabitha Rigden aimed to create a sensory journey and a dry Mediterranean bank in the garden, using robust, resilient plants like Euphorbia x martini and Deschampsia cespitosa that thrive in the garden's temperate climate, which results from its hillside location[1]. Mediterranean-style perennials such as Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' and Salvia 'Blue Spire' can be found in the garden, along with flaxen grasses and russet tones[1].
Key design features include a richly planted retaining bank at the car park edge, which enhances the transition to the garden, and a move of the pub entrance from the main road to a quieter side road, improving tranquility and seclusion[1]. The layout emphasizes a sensory progression through planting and setting to maximize seclusion and enjoyment, while practical considerations for staff and visitors have shaped circulation and access[1].
Seating furniture has translucent qualities, such as metal chairs with cut-out patterns, to visually blend with planting and avoid imposing on the space[1]. Gravel planting beds in the garden feature grasses like Stipa gigantea and Molinia caerulea subsp. arundinacea 'Transparent'. The path leading to the pub from the new car park is bounded by woodland-edge plants[1].
The garden project was initiated to save The Plough from developers. Today, it is a horticulturally significant and award-winning outdoor venue. For more about Rigden Studio’s work, see rigdenstudio.co.uk, and for details about The Plough, visit theploughshiplake.co.uk[1].
- The award-winning beer garden, transformed from a community pub, boasts a variety of plants and flowers, such as Euphorbia x martini, Deschampsia cespitosa, Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote', 'Salvia' 'Blue Spire', and flaxen grasses, creating a dry Mediterranean atmosphere.
- In the lifestyle redefined by this transformation, fashion-and-beauty enthusiasts can relax and unwind amidst the horticulturally significant plants while enjoying a beverage, as the garden design emphasizes seclusion and tranquility.
- Upon entering the home-and-garden-oriented space, visitors are greeted by a richly planted retaining bank and translucent seating furniture, designed to harmoniously blend with the verdant surroundings, providing a unique blend of modern aesthetics and natural beauty.
