The Garden Bar

The Garden Bar in Margate feels made for an easy seaside drink when you want somewhere close to both the station and the beach without losing that independent local feel. Dogs are welcome inside, so nobody needs to do the pavement-waiting shuffle while the rest of the group orders.

The bar leans into a friendly, unfussy setup with cocktails, ales, live music, Sky Sports and a spacious garden that gives it plenty of casual hangout appeal. It works well as a practical first or last stop in Westgate because of the location, but it also has enough atmosphere to be the main event.

A handy option for relaxed drinks with a bit of open-air breathing room, and useful when the weather turns because dogs can come in too. Keep leads on, paws out of walkways and noses politely uninterested in everyone else's snacks.