Can’t decide between a night in the pub or a night of culture? Combine both with a trip to one of London’s pub theaters, where you can catch an avant-garde play with a pint in hand. With most tickets under £ 20, it’s a great way to get a taste of London’s theater scene without spending an expensive seat in the West End. And you may see the next big thing in the process. Many Hollywood stars and Olivier Award-winning directors cut their teeth in pub theaters across London. Take a look at our selection of the best places.
Pub King’s Head Theatre
Founded in 1970 as the first pub pub since Shakespeare’s days, the King’s Head Theater Pub on Islington’s bustling Upper Street is a stalwart of London’s fringe theater scene and is home to stage productions, musicals and comedy shows. Stars like Alan Rickman, Sir Ben Kingsley and Richard E Grant have all stepped onto the boards here and several plays have garnered prestigious Olivier Awards and then transferred to the West End and Broadway. The theater is located at the back of a Victorian pub, a cozy space with a traditional horseshoe-shaped bar and a roaring fire. The bar serves snacks and a variety of beers, craft beers and an impressive selection of wines.
Pub Old Red Lion Theatre
This little pub between Islington and Clerkenwell is said to date back to 1415 and may count on Charles Dickens, George Orwell, Karl Marx and Stalin as former patrons. It was established on land owned by the Priory of the Knights of St. John and was once a popular inn on one of the main routes into the city of London. The family-owned pub serves real Pieminister beer and cakes and there’s a secluded brewery to the rear. The upstairs theater first opened in 1979 and the small venue seats around 60 people. Several of the plays featured here have been carried over to the West End and you can grab matinee tickets from just £ 10.
Rosemary branch
This old Victorian music hall once welcomed Charlie Chaplin on stage and
Notting Hill Door Theater
Above the Prince Albert pub in Notting Hill Gate, the Gate Theater has received a number of prestigious theater awards since its opening in 1979 and has seen stars like Jude Law, Rachel Weisz and Sophie Okonedo on stage. The theater program is dedicated to international drama and emerging productions, and hosts workshops, discussions, and special youth events (keep an eye on the blog for listings). The pub is cozy and colorful and features an outdoor beer patio for pre-show drinks and pub food.
Tabard Theater
Larger and more comfortable than most traditional pub theaters in London, the Tabard Theater is an impressive space above a historic pub in Chiswick. This West London venue opened in 1985 as a 96-seat theater and is home to in-house productions, musicals, contemporary revivals and comedy shows. The popular pub was built in 1880 and features original details like decorative tiles and Arts & Crafts mirrors. There is a regularly changing guest beer menu and a selection of local ales alongside classic British pub food. Take a seat in the library room or head out to the lush beer garden.
