The Outside Inn

Tucked behind an unassuming white wall on the Ajman Corniche, The Outside Inn is a long-running British-style pub that trades almost entirely on its back terrace, a sea-facing deck that looks directly onto its own stretch of beach. The front gives little away, but step through and the room opens onto a classic expat watering hole: dark-wood interior, sports on the big screens, and an outdoor area that comes into its own at sunset over the Gulf. The draw here is value and location rather than polish. Draught beer is among the better-priced on the corniche, and a happy hour from the late afternoon pulls in a regular crowd of Ajman and Sharjah residents. The food is honest pub fare, with a popular seafood sizzler, golden fried shrimp, Greek salad, nachos, and daily specials alongside a small Lebanese and European selection. Pork is available, a point of difference in the emirate, and weekend brunches run long and generous with free-flowing drinks at an accessible price. Service is generally warm, with the senior floor team and bartenders remembered by name by regulars. The kitchen can be uneven: on a good visit portions are hearty and the food well-seasoned, on a slower night expect cold fries or a dish that needs sending back. Consistency is the weakest link, and the interior is frankly tired, with worn paintwork and a persistent smoky atmosphere that non-smokers should weigh up. Treat it for what it is: a casual, sea-view pub where the point is a cold drink at a fair price, a plate of pub food, and the sunset over the corniche rather than a refined dinner. Book a terrace table, arrive before sundown, and it delivers.