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The Kings Tun
Kingston upon Thames

The former exterior space at the rear of The Kings Tun in Kingston consisted of a back-of-house delivery yard, refuse store and a derelict toilet block. The area was entirely utilitarian—an overlooked, industrial service footprint that offered no value to the venue’s patrons. The design challenge lay in recognizing the hidden potential of this neglected space and completely redefining its purpose.

 

The site was subsequently transformed into a striking, courtyard beer garden designed to be enjoyed all year-round. The core of the design concept was to blend the site’s raw history with playful modern elements. Rather than erasing the past, the architecture celebrates it; the disused toilet block was structurally converted to provide a sheltered, fixed seating area, featuring design details directly inspired by its former life.

 

Most notably, reclaimed toilet cisterns were salvaged and repurposed as sculptural art pieces. Spray-painted by local street artists and planted up like hanging baskets, they serve as unique, character-filled focal points. Victorian panelled wall tiling was also applied to the walls as a nod the materials once used within the building.

To make the triangular courtyard feel both functional and inviting, a clever mix of hard landscaping materials was introduced to break up the expanse and define certain areas. A combination of stamped concrete, classic granite pavers, and resin-bonded gravel naturally zones the space, creating distinct pockets for socializing.

 

A rich palette of greenery—including loose pots, fixed planters, and climbers—softens the aesthetic of the industrial brickwork to transform this area from a raw service yard into a lush courtyard garden.

 

The project has successfully unlocked the value of a redundant commercial asset, turning a forgotten service yard into a premier customer amenity for the pub, helping to attract a wider demographic and drive sales.

 

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Photography: © Pippa Hudson Photography