Last Updated on January 2, 2026
Classic Pimm’s Cup Recipe – English Summer in a Glass.
I do wonder what people visiting the UK make of classic Pimm’s. It’s a quintessentially British drink – one that sums up summer for me. Fill a glass with ice, add Pimm’s, seasonal fruit and cucumber. Then top the whole thing up with lemonade and enjoy a drink that is not too alcoholic, that is refreshing and that for every British person will have special memories. Pimm’s is famously served at Wimbledon, but you’ll find it served at most British sporting events through the summer. It’s the drink of choice for picnics and garden parties. And, packed full of seasonal fruit, mint and cucumber, you can even pretend it’s healthy and provides one of your five a day!
For the most part, this celebratory drink will be made in large jugs – with heaps of lemon, orange, cucumber, mint, borage and perhaps strawberries. But, it’s just as easy to make a single glass of classic Pimm’s – just stick to the ratio of no more than one part Pimm’s to one part lemonade and no less than one part Pimms to three parts lemonade and you should find it easy to scale up or down.
You can reduce the calories in a classic Pimms by using low-calorie lemonade. Pimms itself has 136 calories per 100 ml, so if you use a low calorie or zero calorie lemonade you can enjoy a really diet-friendly summer drink. If you are planning to make one yourself then you’ll need the following ingredients.
- Pimm’s no. 1 Cup
- Lemonade
- Ice
And, your own personal choice of garnishes
- Cucumber
- Orange
- Lemon
- Mint
- Strawberries
- Borage
You can substitute ginger ale for the lemonade and you can also make a Pimm’s by substituting some of the Pimm’s and some of the Lemonade for London Gin.
And, for a really luxurious Pimm’s, you can use Prosecco or Champagne in place of the Lemonade for a Pimm’s Spritz.
A Classic Pimm's Cup cocktail recipe scaled for one person
- 100 ml Pimm's Number One Chilled in the fridge
- 200 ml Lemonade Chilled in the fridge
- 1 large Sprig of Mint
- 2 slices Cucumber
- 1 slice Orange Cut in half
- 1 slice Lemon Cut in half
- 2-3 Borage flowers Optional - but they look pretty and taste of cucumber!
- Ice
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Half fill a tumbler or highball with crushed ice
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Pour over the Pimm's
-
Pour over the lemonade
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Crush the mint gently or wack it on the palm of your hand to release the flavour
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Add mint, cucumber, lemon, orange and borage to the glass
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Stir gently and if you like, garnish with a little more mint
Recipe Video
Classic Pimm's Cup recipe for one
Pimm’s was originally sold as a medicinal drink. First produced in 1823, it was intended as a way to improve digestion – James Pimm who first created it was the owner of an Oyster Bar in the City of London. It quickly became popular though as a refreshing drink. And, for me, it’s obvious what makes it such a favourite. You can make it as strong or as weak as you want – at a ratio of 1:1 Pimm’s to lemonade you have a drink that is about as alcoholic as wine, while at 1:3 Pimm’s to lemonade you have something approximating to beer. In fact, you will often find it served in pint or half-pint beer glasses or in large jugs.
Do enjoy this classic Pimm’s cup recipe, it’s the perfect way to make the most of summer!
Pimms with ginger ale instead of lemonade sounds great to me!
Perfect summer drink
By lemonade do you mean the British lemonade aka Sprite or the lemony sugar drink Americans think of?
British Lemonade – well, Sprite type stuff. We also have what we call ‘traditional lemonade’ which is like the American version.
My favourite summer drink – it must be one of my 5 a day with all that fruit!
Perfect for summer and family BBQ’s over 18’s though x
You know summer’s arrived once you’ve had your first glass of Pimms
A classic and timeless cocktail always brings the taste of summer.
It’s not summer without Pimms. So delicious and refreshing
Absolutely delicious!
The Classic Pimm’s Cup for one sounds like the perfect socially distanced summer drink
Best summer drink, always refreshing with ice, perfect recipe.
Brilliant receipe to welcome.e summers!
Love Pimms always reminds me of summer
Summer isnt summer without a Pimms cocktail. Super yummy
Perfect summer drink
A classic afternoon refresher with friends.
A garden party must-have. So easy to mix too.
Pimm’s is the reason we grow mint in our garden. That half barrel planter of mint comes handy at every summer.
I love Pimms on a hot, sunny day and this sounds and looks delicious.
I would so enjoy this on my bench in the summer sunshine. Perfect.
Fab to have a recipe for this summer classic. Off to the shops…
A real enduring classic that simply tastes of summer, I love mine in a large jug, filled with ice, strawberries and mint. Even though Wimbledon has been postponed this year – I had a pimms with my BFF watching Andy Murrays wins. ‘Pimms O Clock’
Pimms is a Summer classic for a reason. Perfect for those lovely warm Summer evenings
It would have to be a Classic Pimms for me to enjoy sitting on my bench! That lovely light refreshing taste and all that summer fruit to complement it – getting thirsty!
Sounds delicious and perfect for the summer.
A real enduring classic that simply tastes of summer
This really is the ultimate summer drink! so easy to quaff in the garden!
I would enjoy this lovely drink in the garden
Hard to beat a classic like this.
Pimms means Wimbledon to me – sorry to be missing it this year but a Pimms in the back garden would be refreshing
I was inspired to make up some Pimms after stumbling across some mint growing wild!
Love a Pimm’s – brings back great memories of drinking them at the London Olympics!
I do love a classic Pimms, perfect in summer.
So good in the summer!