The Hottest Places To Play Ping Pong In London

Tabby Powell-Tuck • 22 June, 2015

Remember when ping-pong used to be geeky? The game that all the nerds skipped football for? Well a couple of years ago it made a comeback – and now all the cool kids are playing it. Fancy yourself as a bit of table tennis pro? We’ve devised a list of some of the best ping-pong bars and events happening across the capital… It’s Game On.

Bounce, EC1N 2TD

Supposedly standing on the very same spot that the game was invented, Bounce is a ping-pong bar that promises a night of sporty entertainment in an industrial-chic space in Farringdon. The 12,000 square-foot venue showcases 17 bespoke designed ping pong tables, a cocktail bar and a restaurant that serves up pizzas straight from a wood-burning oven. Every Friday night is games night and last year they even hosted the world’s first naked table tennis tournament, so who knows what Bounce has got in store for this summer… We’re already warming up.

121 Holborn, EC1N 2TD

Pongathon @ Richmix, E1 6LA

Pongathon Mondays are the Capital’s best start to the week, a bi-monthly ping-pong social session in Shoreditch featuring wall-to-wall ping pong tables, DJs and live visual art. The Pongbot Challenge has become something of a legend among table tennis titans – a ping-pong robot takes on all-comers in a 60 second dual that will leave you shaking… Think you’ve got what it takes? Well it’s happening TONIGHT so it’s time to put your money where your mouth is: you can book your table if you download our favourite events discovery app Fever for either an afterwork slot or an evening one. We’ve been before. It was kind of spectacular.

Richmix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, E1 6LA

Ping! London 1st-31st July

Last summer Ping! placed over 750 ping pong tables all across the country and this year they have bounced back, promising to be bigger and better than before. Throughout the month of July, ping-pong tables will be popping up all over the capital. It’s easy to find your nearest table – just visit their website and type in your postcode. Bats and balls are provided and it’s totally free of charge so all you’ve got to do is rock up. Special events will also be held, such as “Smash The City” on 8 July – a knockout table tennis tournament held in Finsbury Square Avenue for anyone who lives or works in the Square Mile. A bit of free, friendly fun? Something tells us things are going to get competitive… Watch this space.

The Game, SW5 9QG

Ping Rooms has now become The Game, a 1990s inspired American Sports Bar, Kitchen and Games Room that promises to bring friends and new friends together through a love of cocktails, music, sports and soul food. Aside from regular table tennis tournaments, the Games Room also offers a trip down memory lane with Giant Jenga and classic Arcade Machines. There’s also been talk of cereal box cocktails, which sound confusing (soggy cardboard boxes anyone?) but we’ve heard they’re pretty sensational. With two new venues set to open in the near future, it’s time to get your game face on.

180 Earls Court Rd, SW5 9QG

Tags: bars, fun, games, ping pong, table tennis