New Flat Iron South Bank to open on 4 April
Popular steakhouse chain Flat Iron is set to open at Royal Festival Hall on 4 April.
Easter arrives late this year, and we’ve got high hopes for some gloriously warm and sunny weather as South Bank’s most popular summer pop-ups are busy preparing to reopen for the spring-summer season this Easter!
South Bank's summer pop-ups are an iconic feature of the London summer. From food trucks to beer gardens, pop-up bars and secluded rooftop oases, there's plenty of good reason to enjoy the outdoors.
Here's a look at what's in store this summer...
WHEN: From 1 April
WHERE: Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre
First out of the blocks, opening from 1 April, is the Roof Garden Bar & Kitchen in the beautiful Queen Elizabeth Hall rooftop garden at Southbank Centre. The rooftop garden opens Tue-Sun, and the small container bar with its light café-menu serves up drinks and snacks Tue–Fri 4pm–10.30pm, 12pm–10.30pm on weekends.
WHEN: From 17 April
WHERE: Between Jubilee Gardens and Hungerford Bridge
One of London’s biggest pop-up beer gardens, the epic Between the Bridges next to Jubilee Gardens is returning for another jam-packed year of drag brunches, DJ nights, live music and food trucks. From 10-12 April the venue hosts Britain’s biggest craft beer event BREW//LDN. Then on 17 April the venue opens for the general public, back in full force with almost a dozen different pop-up bars and food trucks to choose from and plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces, all set around an expansive courtyard.
WHEN: From 17 April
WHERE: National Theatre
Over at the National Theatre, this year’s summer pop-up by street food incubators KERB is opening in time for the Easter weekend on 17 April. Expect a tasty selection of guest street food traders and a huge pop-up bar with plenty of tables and deck chairs to sit out in the sun on the piazza facing the BFI. Food traders joining for the summer include Duck Shed, Venezuelan fried chicken by El Pollote, and Moroccan street food by Harissa and Lemon. From May two more food trucks are rolling in; Happy Pot, serving spicy comfort food including signature coconut chicken rendang, and Oh My Dog hot dogs.
On the drinks side of things, you can look forward to craft beers by Two Tribes, cocktails by Black Lines and premium softs from Double Dutch. Meanwhile, you can find even more outdoor seating and street food options over at The Understudy, KERB’s permanent year-round home at the National Theatre.
Summer terrace at Forza at National Theatre
WHEN: From 17 April
WHERE: National Theatre
From April 17 Forza, the chic wine bar and 'Italianish' restaurant at National Theatre, 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.
Jimmy's BBQ Club
WHEN: From 24 April until 21 September
WHERE: Opposite Skate Park at Southbank Centre
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.
Riverside pop-ups at Hungerford Bridge
WHEN: From 24 April until 21 September
WHERE: Under Hungerford Bridge and in front of Jubilee Gardens
And finally, it simply wouldn’t be summer in South Bank without the quirky riverside pop-up bars and food trucks tucked in and around Hungerford Bridge between the London Eye and the Southbank Centre.
A new local favourite that keeps on expanding is The Thirsty Farrier, whose cute horsebox turned pop-up bar now has its own little cocktail garden with an iconic Big Ben view. Drinks on the menu include Pimms, spritz and spicy margaritas. Another summer regular is Truffle Burger, who'll be returning with a food truck underneath Hungerford Bridge where you can also find another pop-up bar and more street food options.
