A new London rooftop bar housed within decommissioned Jubilee line carriages is taking the internet by storm – and it’s not hard to see why. The bar permanently opened its doors to the public as a brand-new 300-capacity open-air bar back in July this year
Londoners are forever on the hunt for exciting new venues on their doorstep – and there’s a brilliant new addition to the mix. You may well be accustomed to commuting on the Tube every day, but how does the idea of having a drink inside one grab you?
A new London rooftop bar housed within decommissioned Jubilee line carriages is taking the internet by storm – and it’s not hard to see why. For nearly 20 years, these iconic, graffiti-covered 1983-stock train carriages sat on a railway viaduct atop a Victorian warehouse, served strictly as private creative studios and office spaces.
However, the Village Underground Rooftop, located in Shoreditch, permanently opened its doors to the public as a brand-new 300-capacity open-air bar back in July this year.
The retired carriages have been thoroughly refurbished and reupholstered into a wonderfully quirky and inviting seating area. Visitors can even take a seat in the preserved driver’s cabin, complete with its original buttons and dials still intact.
The open-air bar sits beneath a canopy, offering premium spirits, draught beers, and signature cocktails. On the food front, they have teamed up with the much-loved Bad Boy Pizza Society, who dish up crispy 12-inch pizza pies.
The terrace affords sweeping panoramic views across the East London and Shoreditch skyline.
Visitors have been sharing footage of the bar on TikTok, with one clip from ‘The Big Smoke’ recently going viral, racking up more than 2,000 likes.
They captioned the post: “POV, you just found London’s most anticipated opening in Shoreditch.”
The account also described the rooftop terrace as “exactly as good as it looks” and dubbed it the “ultimate golden hour spot this summer”.
One person exclaimed: “So cool,” while another agreed: “One of the coolest rooftops bars to open this year.”
Those planning a visit should be aware that the bar operates on a completely cashless basis, accepting only card and contactless payments.
Do you need to book?
No, reservations aren’t mandatory, though securing one in advance is strongly advised.
The venue actively welcomes walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis, depending on availability. Given it’s a brand-new, heavily promoted venue, busy periods such as Friday evenings and Saturday afternoons can see lengthy queues and rapid capacity limits being reached.
It’s not possible to reserve a particular table within the actual train carriages themselves. The trains function as entirely communal public areas accessible to all guests enjoying food and drinks on the rooftop.
Standard online reservations are limited for group sizes. For parties exceeding 8 people, manual booking is required by contacting the team directly at [email protected]. uk.
