Monday to
Saturday
8AM – 8PM
Sunday
9AM – 7PM
The Sidings,
Waterloo Station,
London SE1 7BH
The summer holidays are over and whilst I’m sure many are very sad to see the kids going back to school, it is fine to look forward to some time with friends. You might not have seen certain groups of friends for a few months as priorities change, but it’s time to reconnect.
The South Bank is the perfect place for getting together with friends, whether you are a gang of mates looking for a few drinks, the boisterous crowd looking for a place to hang out or maybe you’re the cool kids that need that chilled vibe. Whatever group you fit in, the South Bank has the perfect option for you.
If your mates are the laid-back kind, looking for somewhere with a chilled vibe for the evening, then Gabriel’s Wharf is the ideal place.
It’s a charming little spot packed with quirky independent shops, bars and food stalls. The location, just off the riverside Queens Walk and close to Bernie Spain Gardens, adds to the venue’s charm.
It really is a celebration of all things independent, shopping, vintage fashion or affordable art. Share gourmet pizzas, amazing Caribbean food or some of the best Mexican street food in the area. It’s the place to escape the hustle of the day and experience something a little different with friends.
If you are looking to catch up with friends after a few months and want a slightly different and quirky experience, let us point you in the direction of our friends in The Vaults.
It’s an underground venue beneath Waterloo Station that offers immersive theatre, art installations, and a wide variety of events. For example, at the time of writing this, you could be attending a speakeasy for a night of close-up magic, jazz and cabaret.
Whilst you are visiting, you can always take a stroll through the Leake Street Graffiti tunnel that Banksy founded, which is open all year round. If you are a group of friends who thrive on having a truly unique experience, then this is surely the place for you.
Lucky Voice here in The Sidings is the latest and we think best venue for the popular karaoke club. If you and your mates love a few cocktails and letting your hair down with a good night’s singing, then we urge you to come along.
Open till 2.30 am most nights, meaning after you’ve sung your heart out, you can relax in the speakeasy-style bar and don’t worry about getting peckish, they have a fine selection of snacks to keep the party going.
But singing really is the best reason to visit, so hire yourself a private room (they can fit up to 32 people, so all groups are covered!) and choose from over 11,000 tunes and don’t forget the iconic ‘Thirsty’ button for the perfect room service!
We appreciate going to the movies might not seem like the most group-friendly activity but stick with us because this is not an ordinary night at the pictures.
Yes, they do show great movies in some of the most iconic theatres, and they host special evenings for different themes, including premiers and the chance to meet directors and actors. And whilst that’s already great for the movie buffs in the group, we have another reason to pick the BFI Southbank.
The BFI National Archive is the largest of its kind and allows you to pick from classic films and documentaries to old TV shows and even news reels. Take a seat, put on a headset and explore the archive, one of the most diverse in the world and all completely free!
If your gang love an art gallery, theatre, contemporary music or maybe some poetry and literature shows, then the Southbank Centre is the obvious choice. It’s a world-famous venue hosting over 5,000 events each year!
It’s the wide range of events that they put on which makes it such an attractive choice for the culture crowd, they are guaranteed to have something on that appeals to the group.
As well as unique events and a rotating list of important annual landmarks like the London Jazz Festival, they have staples all year round like the resident orchestras, contemporary art at the Hayward Gallery and the National Poetry Library.
We haven’t forgotten about food and drink, you’ll find plenty of popular chains right in front of the building and inside they have intimate bars, quirky cafes, rooftop gardens, as well as a wine and tapas bar. It covers all your needs.
If you simply want a few beers and some fun with friends, then why not head to the venue that comes with bowling, a secret cocktail bar, an on-site microbrewery, an ice cream van and a slide connecting the two floors!
This is why we say it’s for the fun crowd. If you do fancy a slightly different twist to the night, they also run a Beer School experience (beer tasting paired with a cheese board) or go old school and arrive Tuesday for the pub quiz.
Located perfectly in The Sidings, BrewDog is the ideal meeting spot for a group of friends looking for a relaxed and enjoyable evening. And the food’s pretty good to, the wings are always popular, but then so are the pizzas and burgers, so the choice is most definitely yours.
What are you waiting for, fire up the WhatsApp group and organise that post-summer holiday catch-up with friends and we’ll see you soon at The Sidings and across the whole of the South Bank.
