About This Guide
Winter cuts the list of Geelong pubs you can still drink outside at in half. This guide covers the venues with covered or all-weather outdoor spaces — anchored by Queen of the West's 700sqm purpose-built all-weather beer garden in Geelong West, the only one of its kind in the region. Phone ahead to confirm current heater setup before a cold night.
Geelong Winter Outdoor Spaces at a Glance
| Venue | Suburb | Outdoor Space |
|---|---|---|
| Queen of the West | Geelong West | 700sqm all-weather beer garden |
| The Telegraph Hotel | Geelong West | Rooftop · retractable roof · infrared heating |
| Belmont Hotel | Belmont | 1920s art deco rooftop garden |
| Barwon Heads Hotel | Barwon Heads | Coastal beer garden at the river mouth |
1. Queen of the West — Geelong West
The 700sqm all-weather beer garden opened in February 2026 and is the only purpose-built one in the Geelong region — a light-filled enclosed space with 7m ceilings and tall eastern windows, designed for service through the wet months. Twelve taps sit inside the garden itself, a wood-fired pizza oven runs alongside, and live music plays most weekends. Open Tue–Thu 4pm–10pm, Fri/Sat 12pm–12am, Sun 12pm–10pm — closed Monday. 126 Pakington St, Geelong West — 03 5229 2889.
2. The Telegraph Hotel — Geelong West
The Telegraph's award-winning rooftop terrace runs a retractable roof for summer and infrared heating for winter — the only Geelong rooftop with both, in their own words. The space is enclosed with glass, with 180-degree views over the city and glimpses of Corio Bay. Open Wed–Sun 11:30am–11pm, closed Mon/Tue. 2 Pakington St, Geelong West — 03 5222 2471.
3. Belmont Hotel — Belmont
Belmont Hotel's level-1 rooftop terrace runs every Sunday year-round with the Belmont Sunday Sesh — local live music 1–4pm, $10 cocktails and pints, lunch from 12pm. Weekend DJs run Friday and Saturday into the small hours. The venue's own facilities page frames the rooftop in warm-weather language ("relax in the sun or under our large umbrellas") and doesn't publish a winter heater setup, so phone ahead before a cold night to check what's on. Open Tue–Thu 12pm–10pm, Fri/Sat 12pm–1am, Sun 12pm–11pm — closed Mon. 77 High St, Belmont — 03 5243 2802.
4. Barwon Heads Hotel — Barwon Heads
Barwon Heads Hotel sits at the mouth of the Barwon River, with a beer garden alongside three other spaces — bistro, bridge bar and sports bar. Wednesday parmi runs $24 from 5–9pm and Thursday porterhouse is $28. Open 11am–late daily (10am Sat/Sun). 1 Hitchcock Ave, Barwon Heads — 03 5254 2201.