London isn’t particularly lacking in the ‘unconventional places to neck a pint‘ department. But if you do happen to be on the lookout for a new item to add to your list of I-know-a-little-place places; look no further than Vaulty Towers. This weird and wonderful Waterloo watering hole (blimey, try saying that three times after a few drinks) is filled to the brim with eccentric décor and quirky corners to sink a few pints and put the world to rights.
This bizarre and brilliant boozer is basically London’s answer to Aladdin’s cave. Well, if Aladdin’s cave had a treehouse inside and cocktails on tap. Perhaps it’s more comparable to falling down the rabbit hole and arriving in Wonderland. Either way, you get the picture – it’s pretty bloody magical.
Credit: @vaultytowersuk via Instagram
Owned by the same people who run The Vaults (the arts venue hiding beneath Waterloo station), Vaulty Towers is a hub of fun and creativity. Packed full of props, puppets, and pieces of set and scenery from previous productions; you could visit this perfectly peculiar pub a hundred times over, and still feast your eyes on something new with each and every visit.
The random assortment of furniture and the plethora of unconventional seating truly add to the charm of the place. You could find yourself sat in or on all matter of things. A treehouse, a huge sparkly crescent moon, an outrageously high bar stool, a piece of camouflage netting… the list goes on.
Credit: @vaultytowersuk via Instagram
Whilst the wine and beer offering is decent at Vaulty Towers, the cocktail menu is bursting at the seams. Twists on all the classics can be found on the menu alongside the likes of a Lyché Slushé (a lychee slush for us mere mortals) and a constantly-changing cocktail of the month. Food-wise, they serve up a whole host of comforting pub grub in the form of burgers, sausage and mash and mac and cheese.
Vaulty Towers also boasts a thriving social calendar (can’t relate) and hosts plenty of events. We’re talking comedy nights, live music, life drawing, and a weekly quiz that I’ve heard is utterly raucous – just the way we like it. They also have a basement downstairs that they hire out for free during the week to support emerging artists. What more could we ask for, hey?
Find out more and plan your visit here.
📍 34 Lower Marsh, SE1 7RG.