South Bank London

South Bank Summer pop-ups


Ask any Londoner about their favourite places to relax in the city during the summer and the words South Bank will undoubtedly come up! Once you've stretched your legs with a stroll along the river on the Queen's Walk, kicking back for a drink or two and a bite to eat at one of South Bank’s pop-ups and terraces is a quintessential London summer experience.

Here’s a look at who’s popping up this summer to put on your radar.

Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden

WHEN: 1 April until mid-September
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 Tuesday to Sunday spring and summer the garden is home to over 200 wild native plants, a luscious lawn and some of South Bank’s best views.  The garden has its own casual pop-up Roof Garden Bar & Kitchen with wines, beers, soft drinks and coffees served from an upcycled shipping container.

Jimmy’s BBQ Club

WHEN: 24 April until 21 September
The BBQ Club by Jimmy Garcia is always a summer favourite and each year the space keeps on getting bigger and better! This year Jimmy's BBQ Club is back in prime position opposite the Southbank Skatepark. The signature riverside BBQ Club Cabana is back, where guests can book a sit-down six-course tasting menu incorporating their own Big Green Egg barbecue. There's also a separate Bar & Grill serving up casual street food and drinks and an expansive beer garden with plenty of seating stretching along the Queen's Walk. Find out more here.

Street food on the South Bank by KERB

WHEN: 17 April until late September
This year’s summer pop-up by street food incubators KERB, spreads right across the National Theatre's sunny piazza. Expect a tasty selection of guest street food traders and a huge pop-up bar with plenty of tables and deck chairs for enjoying the sun. Food traders joining for the summer include Duck Shed, Venezuelan fried chicken by El Pollote, Moroccan street food by Harissa and Lemon, Happy Pot rendang and Oh My Dog hot dogs. On the drinks side of things, you can look forward to craft beers by Two Tribes, a pop-up cocktail bar by Black Lines and premium softs from Double Dutch.

Ciew of people sitting in a sunny beer garden that is surrounded by trees. There is a large TV wall at the end of the beer garden showing sports

Between the Bridges

WHEN: 17 April through to Christmas
Spreading out between Jubilee Gardens and Hungerford Bridge, Between The Bridges is one of London's biggest pop-up destinations. The complex encompasses several indoor all-weather bar areas with stages for weekend performances and parties, arranged around a huge central courtyard where a big screen shows major sporting tournaments such as Wimbledon. This summer Time Out is curating the food offering. Featured food trucks include Patty & Bun, Rogue Sarnies and CDMX Tacos. Find out more here.

St-Germain Summer Terrace at Sea Containers

WHEN: From 25 April
The elegant Sea Containers Restaurant has teamed up with St-Germain so you can soak up gorgeous views across the Thames to St Paul's, while enjoying a classic St-Germain Hugo Spritz on their riverside summer terrace. If you prefer to have a drink and take a stroll, the award-winning cocktail bar Lyaness also now has a pop-up summer kiosk serving cocktails to go!

Forza Taps at National Theatre

WHEN: 17 April until late September
The chic terrace wine bar at National Theatre, Forza Wine, expands its al fresco space with a second terrace, Forza Taps, seating 60. Forza Taps operates on a casual walk-in-only basis and serves drinks and snacks. In typical Forza style, these are elevated snacks, including Arrosticini, Forza’s playful take on Abruzzo’s famous kebab-like skewers. The 'tap' drinks on offer include Frizzante, rosé, white and red wines, negronis, spicy palomas, and a lineup of classic spritzes and posh sodas.

Truffle Burger & Friends

WHEN: From 27 April
South Bank pop-up regulars Truffle Burger are teaming up with hip street food brands from France and the US for a unique series of street food collabs this summer. Every few weeks you'll find a new international street food brand popping up under Hungerford Bridge. International street food names joining the Truffle Burger & Friends summer pop-up series include Charles Pan Fried Chicken from Harlem, New York, Homer Lobster from Paris and Nixta Taqueria from Austin, Texas to name just a few. Find out more here.

The Thirsty Farrier

WHEN: 24 April until 22 September
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 like Pimm's and elderflower G&Ts.  A small ‘cocktail garden’ faces right onto the river and is a great spot to kick back and admire the sunset with a drink.

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