South Bank Happy Hours, Discounts & Special Offers

Grind at National Theatre

HAPPY HOUR: 2 cocktails for £12 all day Mon & Tue |  £5 espresso martinis all day Friday  

London's homegrown speciality coffee brand Grind has a cosy counter cafe in a prime corner spot at National Theatre. Easing you into the weekend Grind's signature espresso martinis cost just £5 on Fridays. Perfect for an afternoon drink on the terrace before hitting the town or as a pre-theatre drinks destination. And to get your week started on an upbeat note, on Mondays and Tuesdays cocktails are two for £12!

The Thirsty Bear

HAPPY HOUR: £5 pints (Amstel, Guinnes, Cider, Efes), 2 cocktails for £18, £18 bottle of House Wine (white, red or rose), £20 bottle of prosecco
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 3pm–5pm 

This classic local pub is conveniently located on Stamford Street, just five minutes walk from Blackfriars Station and right around the corner from the Queen's Walk. An ideal venue for catching up on the latest sports (they have loads of TVs) or for enjoying an early-post work drink with colleagues, their weekday Happy Hour features something for everyone with pints, wine, cocktails, and prosecco all on offer.

LOCALE

HAPPY HOUR: £6 for a cocktail of the day
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 5pm–7pm

Grab a seat at the friendly Italian bistro Locale on Belvedere Road behind County Hall, and indulge in a happy hour sundowner every Monday to Friday. The restaurant offers an extensive list of classic and house special cocktails (all of which have happy hour discounts on them), or for just £6 you can opt for their cocktail of the day.

The Big Belly Bar

HAPPY HOUR: £5 pints, 2 cocktails for £15, £20 bottles of prosecco, £18 bottles of wine
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 4pm–7pm 

The friendly bar at South Bank's very own comedy club Big Belly has one of the best value Happy Hour deals around with something for everyone - plus you can even extend your Happy Hour by an hour if you sign up for their (free) loyalty scheme. The small bar opens out onto a quiet backstreet behind the Sea Containers building and there's an on-site pizza van serving up great value wood-fired sourdough pizzas.

PASSYUNK AVENUE

HAPPY HOUR: 50% off house wine, £5 pints, 2-4-1 on select cocktails 
📅 WHEN: Mon–Thu 5pm–6pm

Enjoy the relaxed vibe and frank and friendly service of this all-American Philly dive bar just off Leake Street. A popular venue for American expats to come and watch the biggest sports from the US, keeping things authentic, there's also the best of Philly regional cuisine on offer including all-you-can-eat wings on Wednesday for £20.

BRASSERIE BLANC

HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 seasonal cocktails, select wines and beers
📅 WHEN: Sun–Fri 5pm–7pm

A chic French brasserie and bar in the heart of South Bank’s cultural district. If you fancy a quick pre-dinner tipple, get two for the price of one across a range of different drinks, including wines, beers, seasonal cocktails and mocktails.

BFI Riverfront Balcony Bar

HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 glass of prosecco or house wine 
📅 WHEN: Daily from 4pm–6pm

Head upstairs at the BFI Riverfront to their deceptively spacious Balcony Bar that looks out over all the action happening below on the Queen's Walk. A great option for an al fresco drink before a film or to catch up with friends before heading out to an event at one of the many nearby cultural venues.

ARCHDUKE & BLACK AND BLUE

HAPPY HOUR: Classic cocktails £7.25, premium cocktails £9.25
📅 WHEN: Mon–Fri 4pm–6pm 

One of South Bank's longest-running bars and restaurants, the Archduke and sister restaurant Black & Blue, are both located inside the atmospheric railway arches that run parallel to the Royal Festival Hall. A popular pre-concert destination, the Archduke is also a great spot for an after-work drink.

LAS IGUANAS

HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 cocktails 
📅 WHEN: Daily 4pm–6pm and then 9pm until close

Serving a mouth-watering mix of Latin American, Indian, Spanish, Portuguese and African-influenced dishes, Las Iguanas is a colourful South American-themed restaurant at Royal Festival Hall. In the summer, their large terrace overlooking the river is a popular stop for evening sundowners and really fills up on those most balmy evenings so make sure to arrive early to secure a spot! Pro tip: Las Iguanas also has an app and you can score some great restaurant vouchers when you sign up for free.

50% off wine at The Archduke

OFFER: 50% off any bottle of wine
📅 WHEN: All day Sun-Wed throughout January and February

The super cosy steahouse and jazz bar The Archduke behind Royal Festival Hall is always a cosy spot. Making this winter event cosier, The Archduke are offering a whopping 50% off bottles of wine. Perfect for those laidback and relaxed evenings in town. No need to register or download anything - simply grab a table and enjoy!

50% off mains at Brasserie Blanc

OFFER: 50% off main courses when you join the Le Club app
📅 WHEN: All day Mon–Fri, Sat until 5pm, until 7 Feb 2026 

Brasserie Blanc’s sumptuous winter menu has arrived and it is packed with French winter classics like French onion soup, beef bourguignon and duck leg cassoulet. Choose any two courses from the à la carte menu or specials board and you’ll enjoy 50% off your main course when you use the Le Club app! Find out more.

Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar

The Butcher's Menu £20 steak lunch, Mon–Sat 12pm–6pm

Situated inside the Marriott County Hall Hotel with glorious views of Big Ben, the London Eye and all the activity on the river, Gillray's fine food is as remarkable as its surroundings. At lunchtimes, you can enjoy Gillray's refined steakhouse atmosphere for less with their excellent value Butcher's Menu. For £20 you get a steak, your choice of sauce, and sides including salad, chips and creamed spinach. For £5 you can upgrade from the bavette to a flat iron steak, or push the boat out with sirloin for £30.

Art Yard Bar & Kitchen

Culture Curious discount: 20% off food and drink

Art Yard is the classy bar and restaurant at the art-focused boutique hotel Bankside near Blackfriars Bridge. Their fantastic 'Culture Curious' offer gives guests 20% off food and drink, provided they can show they have been using their day to be 'culture curious'. Simply show a ticket from your visit to any of South Bank or Bankside's galleries, theatres or other cultural landmarks to take advantage of the offer! Note you need to present your tickets before placing orders.

BREWDOG

Wing Wednesdays: £15.95 for all-you-can-eat chicken wings 
25% off food and drink for students (all day, every day). 

The biggest bar in town, Brewdog Waterloo beneath Waterloo Station has a whopping 60 taps of draft beer, a micro-brewery, co-working spaces, a podcast recording studio, duckpin bowling lanes and even an actual slide! There are always great seasonal deals and specials that are worth looking for (such as kids eat free deals in the holidays), plus competitive always-on offers for students. Take note that to take advantage of most offers, you must book your table online in advance.

Forza Wine at National Theatre

Forza Weekday Special: £15 for a plate and house wine or soda (Mon–Fri 12pm–4pm)

The National Theatre's hip wine bar-restaurant Forza has a brilliant lunchtime offer that's perfect for those looking for something a bit different on a weekday. For £15 you can get a glass of one of Forza's house wines (or a craft soda) plus their weekly dish of the day. The kind of 'plates' you can expect include tasty dishes like chicken leg, ‘nduja, fregola and rocket.

MAMUŚKA! POLISH KITCHEN

Mama's Lunch Deal: main course £8, with soft drink £9, weekdays 12pm–4pm 
Students & NHS staff receive a 20% discount all day, every day

Located just off the graffiti-clad arches of Leake Street, Mamuśka! serves up traditional, hearty and delicious Polish food, beer and vodka. The staff are super friendly, portions generous and the atmosphere perfectly unpretentious, making it a great stop for a quick lunch or the starting point for a big night out with friends. On weeknights, look out for a whole host of Happy Hour (4pm-6pm) offers including 3-4-2 vodka slushies and pints.