The Sidings
A new shopping and leisure precinct adjoining Waterloo Station.
On 3 September a new Wetherspoons pub is opening in The Sidings complex adjoining Waterloo Station.
The new pub, The Lion & The Unicorn, is located next to Nando’s and will be open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The pub is named after The Lion and The Unicorn Pavilion from the 1951 Festival of Britain. Located on what is now the Jubilee Gardens, the pavilion showcased a range of whimsical and upbeat exhibitions that explored British traditions, innovations and eccentricities.
What’s the space like?
Taking inspiration from the Festival of Britain, the pub’s interiors nod to mid-century modernism and celebrate the festival’s optimistic attitude to colour and light.
Family members of the 1951 pavilion architects and festival graphic designers have shared original drawings and sketches with the Wetherspoons team, and these have been incorporated into the new pub design.
Historic photos, artworks and images of local scenes and personalities are also a feature of the décor, with key figures who brought the 1951 festival to life celebrated on the walls.
Entrance front of the Lion and Unicorn Pavilion via The National Archives Catalogue ref: WORK 25/209/D1/FOB3887
When’s it open?
The pub will open Sun–Thu from 6.30am until midnight, Friday and Saturday 6:30am–1am, 7:30am to midnight on Sundays.
Where is it?
The Lion and the Unicorn is located inside The Sidings centre adjoining Waterloo Station.
A transformation of what was once the Eurostar terminal, The Sidings is now home to a variety of lifestyle attractions including Lucky Voice karaoke club and the gargantuan BrewDog Waterloo (said to be the biggest bar in Britain).
Connecting the Waterloo Station concourse with the insta-famous Leake Street graffiti tunnel, The Sidings occupies the space beneath platforms 20 to 24. The Sidings can be accessed via the ‘Orchestra Pit’ below the station’s famous Victory Arch, or via the street entrance next to the Leake Street graffiti tunnel.
