South Bank Summer pop-ups

Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

This peaceful space on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall (reached via those iconic yellow staircases) has become a much-loved feature of the Southbank Centre. Open throughout spring and summer the garden is home to over 200 wild native plants, a luscious lawn and some of South Bank’s best views.

There’s a casual pop-up café-bar with wines, beers, soft drinks and coffees served from an upcycled shipping container on the rooftop (open Wed-Sun).

Laurent-Perrier Summer Terrace

The elegant Sea Containers Restaurant has teamed up with Laurent-Perrier so you can soak up gorgeous views across the Thames, while enjoying a crisp glass of Champagne on their riverside summer terrace. The summer terrace pop-up will also boast a delicious new summer menu inspired by seasonal ingredients.

Forza Taps summer pop-up at National Theatre

The chic terrace wine bar at National Theatre, Forza Wine, is extending its offering for the summer with a second pop-up bar opening on the Weston terrace (the terrace below the permanent restaurant terrace) with plenty of extra seating for catching the sun.

Operating on a walk-ins only basis, Forza Taps will be serving on ‘tap’ drinks, alongside Forza's signature ‘Italian-ish’ snack menu with a food focus on seasonal summer dishes, plus the Forza's trademark chilled Custardo®.

Jimmy’s BBQ Club

Returning to South Bank for their seventh summer, Jimmy's BBQ Club is an interactive pop-up barbecue restaurant experience hosted right on the banks of the river Thames. Led by the London pop-up maestro Jimmy Garcia, this expansive summer barbecue club stretches out across the Queen’s Walk in front of the Southbank Centre skate park with prime views over the river.

There are two bars with casual seating for enjoying summer sundowners and juicy burgers flipped on the barbecue while you wait, a roof terrace, and a private dining area where Jimmy's famous six-course tasting menus are served. Find out more and reserve a table here.

A taste of KERB on the South Bank

Street food maestros KERB are full-time residents at the National Theatre’s Understudy bar and terrace where you can choose from Sicilian pizzas, Armenian flatbreads and the best smash burgers by Meltdown. Taking things up a notch during the summer months KERB extends its offering out across both of the theatre’s expansive terraces on the Queen’s Walk.

For their summer activation this year KERB are bringing in Baba Dhaba who will be serving fiery Pakistani naan bread wraps, spicy masala chicken thigh bites and crunchy poppadom nachos, and fried chicken and loaded fries by south London’s Chicken Bandits. Also look out for a huge pop-up bar by indie brewers Two Tribes and the best ice-creams from Hackney Gelato.

Between the Bridges

Spreading out between Jubilee Gardens and Hungerford Bridge, Bridge, Between The Bridges is one of London's biggest pop-up destinations. The complex encompasses several indoor all-weather bar areas with stages and AV equipment for performers, arranged around a huge central courtyard. There’s a busy programme of events throughout the summer that includes drag brunches, themed DJ nights (such as the epic Swiftogedon), bingo, Barrioke and a monthly craft fair.

Arranged around the large central courtyard with its abundant al fresco tables is a choice of pop-up bars and street food stalls, a huge TV screen for catching up on summer’s biggest sports (like the Euros, Wimbledon and Olympics), plus a more low-key garden seating area tucked away beneath the trees. Open Tue–Sun. Find out more here.

The Thirsty Farrier

This quirky pop-up bar is the perfect photo-op, sitting with a prime view of Big Ben and the London Eye. Fashioned from a salvaged vintage horsebox, the bar serves up classic British summer cocktails including Pimm's, Aperol Spritz and elderflower G&Ts, as well as fruity passionfruit margaritas, and mango and strawberry mojitos.

A small ‘cocktail garden’ faces right onto the river and is a surprisingly peaceful spot to kick back and relax just a stone’s throw from the many famous attractions at County Hall.

SNOG Frozen Yoghurt

You can't miss the neon pink SNOG bus parked up right next Jubilee Gardens. Staying open late into the evening, there’s always a queue for their fat-free organic frozen yoghurt available in five mouth-watering flavours. Head upstairs to the open-air top deck and enjoy the views, find a seat on one of the riverside tables or get you froyo to go.

Truffle Burger, ARØUND, Puzzles & Frank!

Stretching along the Queen's Walk beneath Hungerford Bridge next to the Southbank Centre you'll find a variety of street food stalls and the Puzzles pop-up bar serving craft beers, craft sodas and slushies.

For a meaty feast you can't go wrong with the decadent delights served up at Truffle Burger, while new for 2024 is the all-American hot dog stall Frank! For something sweet there's ARØUND who specialise in super-sized cookies that are satisfyingly gooey in the middle.