Picnic Tables for Beer Gardens

Open-Air Beer Garden Furniture: A Procurement Guide for Multi-Table Fit-Outs

Furnishing a beer garden is different from furnishing an indoor pub floor. Every table sits fully exposed to sun, rain and wind for years, and the whole outdoor area is usually fitted out in one go rather than table by table. This page covers what changes when you are specifying tables at that scale: weather exposure, batch consistency across a full order, and DDA sign-off for public venues.

Ready to order? Request a free quote from our West Gosford NSW workshop. We respond within one business day.

Full Weather Exposure Changes the Timber Spec

A covered beer garden loses UV intensity and gets a break from direct rain. A fully open beer garden does not. Tables sit under full sun for most of the day in summer and take rain straight on, which means the timber species and fixing hardware both need to be chosen for that exposure, not for a sheltered courtyard.

Ironbark (Janka 14.0 kN, AS 5604 Class 1) is the standard specification for open-air venues within 500m of the coast, where salt air accelerates corrosion in lower-grade hardware. Its density resists surface checking from repeated wet-dry cycling, which is the main failure mode for open-air tables that are never under cover.

Good to know: Spotted Gum (Janka 11.0 kN) is a strong choice for open-air venues that are not directly coastal. It handles full UV exposure well and keeps a lighter, honey-gold tone that suits open beer garden landscaping rather than the darker, enclosed-courtyard look some pubs prefer.

Sizing a Fully Open Layout

Open-air beer gardens are usually laid out in rows or clusters across a paved or grassed area, with no walls to define zones. That changes how tables get sized and grouped compared to a smaller, enclosed courtyard.

Most operators standardise on 8-seater tables at 2400mm for the main seating area, since a uniform size makes row layout and umbrella spacing predictable across a large open footprint. A smaller run of 6-seater tables is typically added along garden edges or under existing shade structures.

Note: AS 1428.1 requires at least one DDA accessible table per outdoor seating zone in any publicly accessible venue. On a large open beer garden with multiple seating clusters, this usually means more than one accessible-configuration table, not just one for the whole venue.

Ordering Tables as One Batch, Not a Running Order

A 150 to 300-cover open-air beer garden commonly needs 15 to 30 tables fitted out at once. Ordering that volume as a single batch matters more outdoors than it does inside, because uneven weathering between tables cut from different timber stock becomes obvious fast under full sun.

Auscraft cuts a full order from matched timber stock so the whole beer garden weathers at the same rate and keeps a consistent tone as it ages outdoors. This is a bigger factor for fully exposed venues than for covered or part-covered spaces, where lighting and shade already mask small colour variation.

Our Heavy Duty Picnic Table Commercial Grade is the most common base spec for open-air fit-outs at this scale, with the Premium Hardwood Picnic Table specified where Ironbark or Spotted Gum is required for coastal or high-UV sites.

Fitting out a full beer garden? Request a free quote for bulk pricing and coordinated delivery from our West Gosford NSW workshop.

Larger Venues and Stadium-Scale Projects

Some open-air venues, particularly sports club beer gardens attached to stadiums or large function grounds, need furniture specified at a scale beyond a typical pub fit-out. For those projects, our sports stadium picnic tables guide covers high-traffic configurations and installation requirements for major venues.

For general commercial specifications, sizing and load ratings across our full range, see the picnic table size guide or view the full collection.

Additional Configuration Options for Hospitality Venues

Standard add-ons for beer garden and pub fit-outs:

  • Umbrella holes, specify diameter and position at order time
  • Backrest configurations, for extended seating comfort
  • Stainless steel hardware, recommended for coastal locations with salt air exposure
  • Anti-graffiti top coat, available on all commercial orders

Liquor Licensing and Outdoor Area Compliance

Australian liquor licensing regulations vary by state but typically require that licensed outdoor areas are clearly defined, furniture does not obstruct exit paths, and seating complies with capacity limits.

Note: Auscraft can supply dimensions documentation for submission with licensing applications or venue inspections. Contact us if you need specific dimensional data for your venue approval process.
Auscraft picnic tables installed at Wollombi Tavern NSW, outdoor pub beer garden seating
Wollombi Tavern, NSW: Auscraft commercial picnic tables in a working pub beer garden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What timber holds up best in a fully open beer garden?

Ironbark (Janka 14.0 kN, AS 5604 Class 1) is the best option for open-air beer gardens with no roof or shade cover, especially within 500m of the coast where salt air is a factor. Spotted Gum (Janka 11.0 kN) is a strong alternative for open-air venues away from the coastline, offering excellent UV resistance with a lighter finish. Both outperform treated pine and powder-coated steel under constant sun and rain exposure with no cover at all.

How many accessible tables does an open-air beer garden need?

AS 1428.1 requires at least one DDA accessible configuration per distinct outdoor seating zone. A single large open beer garden with several seating clusters, rather than one continuous area, typically needs an accessible table in each cluster so wheelchair access is available throughout the venue, not just at one entry point.

Why order all beer garden tables in one batch instead of restocking as needed?

Timber cut from different stock ages at slightly different rates and tones, which is far more visible outdoors under full sun than in a shaded or covered area. Ordering the full beer garden fit-out as one batch from matched stock keeps the whole outdoor space weathering evenly over its 20 to 40-year service life.