Sunken Fire Pit Garden Design Grimsby

This sunken fire pit garden design in Grimsby was created for a family who wanted a garden that could handle everyday life as well as social gatherings.

The brief was simple. Create a contemporary garden with several places to sit, relax and spend time together. At the same time, the space needed to stay practical and easy to maintain.

The property looks out across open countryside. Keeping those views visible became an important part of the design.

Rather than filling the garden with features, the layout focuses on a few key areas that work well together.

Layout and Structure

Patio doors from the house open onto a terrace, where a BBQ area, herb wall and space for children to play keep everyday use close to the house.

From here, the hard landscaping continues down one side of the garden. Along this route sits the ten-seater dining area, partially screened with corten steel panels that provide privacy without closing the space in.

The layout naturally divides the garden into two halves.

One side is more active, with the children’s play area and a small timber gym building positioned together. The other is designed for slower moments, with the dining terrace, hot tub and seating areas.

Towards the far end, two quieter corners make the most of the setting. Sun loungers sit in the sunniest spot, while a sunken fire pit seating area is tucked into the opposite corner, looking out across the surrounding fields.

Keeping the centre open allows the lawn to break up the layout and maintain views out to the landscape beyond.

Sunken Fire Pit Seating

The sunken fire pit seating is one of the key spaces within the garden.

Set slightly below the surrounding level, it feels more sheltered without being enclosed. The change in height is enough to give it a sense of separation from the rest of the garden.

Curved seating wraps around the fire pit, making it easy to use as a shared space. It works just as well during the day as it does in the evening, especially when the temperature drops.

Planting around the edges softens the structure and helps the space sit comfortably within the wider layout.

Positioned to one side of the garden, it also takes advantage of the open views beyond, which adds to the overall sense of calm.

Garden Features

Planting Approach

Planting in this garden balances structure with a softer, more relaxed feel.

There’s a clear Mediterranean influence, with olive trees, lavender and wisteria used alongside evergreen planting. The palette is kept fairly tight, focusing on purples, whites and green tones so the space feels calm rather than busy.

Planting is also used to shape how each area feels.

Around the sunken seating, taller planting and trees help create a more enclosed, settled space. Out on the lawn, a single tree adds height and breaks up what would otherwise feel quite flat.

In contrast, planting near the sun loungers is kept lower, so the garden still feels open and the views out across the surrounding fields remain uninterrupted. Overhead, wisteria runs across the pergola, adding a layer of softness and light shade without closing the space in.

Across the garden, planting is doing more than just adding colour. It helps define each area while keeping everything connected.

Materials

Materials were chosen to keep the garden feeling clean and consistent.

Light porcelain paving runs through the main terraces, while corten steel screens introduce contrast and a bit of warmth around the dining area. Built-in seating and planters help keep the layout simple and well organised.

As the light starts to drop, the garden takes on a different feel. Lighting is kept low and simple, sitting within the planting rather than standing out. Globe lights, low-level spikes and festoon lighting bring a softer atmosphere in the evening and gently pick out the key areas.

This is a garden that works just as well day to day as it does when people come together. There’s space to cook, relax, play and spend time outside, without the layout ever feeling crowded.