South Bank London

South Bank Happy Hour: Discounts & Special Offers


From happy hours and bottomless bunches to cut-price theatre tickets and free events, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a big day out in South Bank without stretching your wallet. Here's our round-up of all the best local Happy Hour deals and lunchtime specials to look out for in South Bank!

*Please note that offers are subject to change, be sure to check with your server before ordering that offers are still valid.

Happy Hour drinks in South Bank

Looking for somewhere for afterwork drinks with your colleagues or a Happy Hour spot for that pre-theatre drink? There's a wide variety of bars offering great value weekday Happy Hours. Here's a look at the best:

The Big Belly Bar

HAPPY HOUR: £5 pints, 2 cocktails for £15, £20 bottles of prosecco, £18 bottles of wine, £3.95 bottles of beer
WHEN: Mon–Fri 4pm–6pm (until 7pm with a loyalty card)

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.

People enjoying drinks on a sunny day on a rooftop with London skyscrapers in the background

12th Knot

HAPPY HOUR: Wine Down Wednesdays – 50% off all bottles of wine 
WHEN: Wed from 5pm to close

Situated on the 12th floor and looking right over the river to St Paul's Cathedral, come for the drinks, stay for the skyline! Their midweek Wine Down Happy Hour offer is a steal - perfect for those relaxed afterwork drinks with colleagues or friends.

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.

STRADA

HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 Aperol Spritz 
WHEN: Sun–Fri 3pm–5pm

Southbank Centre's sunny Italian restaurant and bar have brought back their popular spring-summer Aperol Happy Hour! Raise a glass to another fabulous day on the South Bank with a refreshing Italian spritz on the terrace. The perfect way to celebrate aperitivo hour.

BRASSERIE BLANC

HAPPY HOUR: 2-4-1 seasonal drinks 
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.

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.

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.

GREEN ROOM

HAPPY HOUR: 2 cocktails for £15 
WHEN: Mon–Fri 4pm–8pm

Located just behind the National Theatre and the BFI, the Green Room is perfectly located for that pre-theatre drink and boasts a larger open-air garden terrace that surrounds an elegant timber-framed indoor dining room. Not just for summer, The Green Room gets a winter makeover complete with stretch tent covering, heaters and blankets. Head down on weekdays for their four-hour happy hour where you can enjoy a wide range of 2-4-1 cocktails.

PASSYUNK AVENUE

HAPPY HOUR: Philly Happy Hour - Bottled beers £12 for 4, 50% off house wine, 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.

Great lunch deals in South Bank

From fast-casual street food lunches to filling sit-down meals to keep you going through a long shift and great value lazy Sunday feasts – here's a look at South Bank's best lunch deals.

Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar

The Butcher's Menu £20 steak lunch
WHEN: 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.

PING PONG

Don't Give a Shitake: 1/2 price dim sum and cocktails (Mon–Fri 3pm–6pm) 
Lazy Sumday: All-you-can-eat Dim Sum for £29.95, kids under 12 £12.95 (all day Sunday)

Set over two floors at the Southbank Centre, this is one of the most popular branches of the dim sum restaurant brand Ping Pong. The menu lists dozens of different dim sum options with regular season specials and a buzzing cocktail bar further adds to the lively atmosphere. > Find out more

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.

The Understudy

Understudy meal deals: £15 meal and a drink (Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri 12pm-4pm, all day Sunday)

The Understudy is the National Theatre's lively all-day bar known for its great craft beers, huge riverside terrace and tasty street food options courtesy of KERB's street food incubator. A great fast-casual lunch option, choose from Sen Noods Singaporean noodle bowls, Meltdown Cheeseburgers or Armenian street food by Sireli and you choice of drink (KERB lager, Nirvana Pils, soft drink or Hartridges juice/soda) for just £15.

Lasdun at National Theatre

Lasdun Friday Lunch Special: Steak, hand-cut chips and a green salad for £20 (Fri 12pm-3pm)

Lasdun is the National Theatre's sleek and sophisticated brasserie that Guardian critic Grace Dent memorably proclaimed as "the best place to eat in the South Bank"! Known for its mouthwatering and luxurious take on the classics made with the best of British produce you can enjoy Lasdun's refined setting and expert cooking on Fridays for just £20 with their excellent value steak frites lunch.

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.  

Pagination

Top Free Things to do in South Bank

You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.

Read more about Top Free Things to do in South Bank

You might also like...

Tourists walk through Jubilee Gardens in the summer with the Lonon Eye and Big Ben in the background

Get Inspired

Whether you’re planning a date night or a family day trip, in need of some brunch ideas or looking...

Home

Discover the vibrant culture, dining, and entertainment of South Bank London. Explore iconic landmarks, diverse cuisine, and memorable experiences.

Latest News & Offers

Stay up to speed with what’s new and coming soon in South Bank. Get the lowdown on the latest...

Things to See & Do

Explore an art gallery or museum, embark on a thrilling immersive experience, take a tour of the city’s rich...

Best Brunch Spots

From the bottomless to the kind you can enjoy with a relaxed coffee, here's a round up of brunching...

Top Free Things to do in South Bank

You don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy a great day out sightseeing in South Bank.

South Bank Pre-Theatre Dining

Cut the drama out of choosing where to eat with these top pre-theatre dining options before heading to your show.

Top Spots for a Sunday Lunch

The top places in South Bank to enjoy that quintessentially British Sunday Roast!

Where to watch sports in South Bank

Whether it's rugby, football, cricket or tennis that you're after, South Bank has plenty of places to settle in...

South Bank for students

From the best student discounts to quiet corners to catch up on your reading, our guide to student-friendly South Bank.

Where to get breakfast in South Bank

From Lebanese shakshouka to Japanese omelettes and fluffy cinammon buns, start your day with these brilliant breakfasts.

Concert Hall full of graduates in formal gowns throwing hats

Celebrate graduation day in South Bank

How to celebrate your graduation day in style in South Bank!

Las Iguanas

Vibrant Latin American bar and restaurant with a fantastic terrace.

Forza Wine at National Theatre

Enjoy tasty small plates, great wines and fab views at this 'Italian-ish' boutique wine bar.

Sea Containers Restaurant

An elegant venue for breakfast, brunch or dinner with breathtaking riverside views.

BrewDog Waterloo

Huge flagship craft beer bar set over two floors and packed with fun diversions.

Strada

Riverside restaurant at the Southbank Centre offering a traditional Italian experience with a modern twist.

Passyunk Avenue

Enjoy frank and friendly service at this laidback all-American Philly dive bar.

12th Knot

Rooftop bar with top-notch cocktails and panoramic views looking out over the river.

The Archduke

Steak restaurant and wine bar under Waterloo Station's railway arches with live jazz every night.

Brasserie Blanc

Elegant brasserie-restaurant serving a mixture of French cuisine and European classics.

Ping Pong

A fresh and stylish destination for delicious dim sum and cocktails.

Lasdun

Elegant modernist restaurant inside the National Theatre.

The Understudy at National Theatre

Enjoy a taste of London’s diverse street food flavours at the National Theatre.

BFI Riverfront Bar & Kitchen

The BFI's bustling bar and kitchen is always a hive of activity and a super place to hangout before...

Locale

Brilliantly located classic Italian restaurant opening onto a quiet piazza.

Mamuśka!

Friendly Polish restaurant and bar in a railway arch serving traditional hearty cuisine.

Art Yard Bar & Kitchen

Art-centric all-day restaurant with an emphasis on creativity.

The Green Room

Spacious restaurant with a great garden terrace and a tasty menu of handmade pizzas.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices.