Guide to the best happy hours in the West End

Find out where to secure a delicious pre-theatre tipple with our comprehensive guide to the best bars offering Happy Hour drinks in the West End.

If you’re visiting London and looking to enjoy some drinks, there’s plenty to choose from in the West End (including Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, Shaftesbury Avenue, and Soho) when it comes to happy hour – usually defined as drinks served at discounted prices while the night is young.

Wine and beer are on offer, as well as many delicious and decadent cocktails. Most cocktail venues don’t insist on a formal dress code (apart from no shorts and gym wear), but it can be fun to dress up for an evening out in the West End, especially if you’re combining it with a theatre trip.

Read on for our guide to lively chains and atmospheric independent joints. It’s probably best to stick to one or two drinks if it’s a pre-theatre treat. If you’re heading out post-show, you can let your hair down. Drink responsibly and have fun!

Simmons Bar

Simmons Bar is a chain of retro-style bars located around London with four to choose from within Theatreland (Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Soho, Greek Street). You can enjoy happy hour Sundays to Fridays from 3pm to 8pm (from £2.50 for a spirit and mixer to £15 for cocktails teapots serving 3-4 people).

Weekly events include Margarita Monday (two Margaritas for £10 all night long), Teapot Tuesdays (in which the price comes down), and House of Spritz (£5 spritz cocktails every Wednesday until closing time).

28a Leicester Square, WC2H 7LE
Nearby theatres: Criterion Theatre, Prince of Wales Theatre, His Majesty’s Theatre, Theatre Royal Haymarket, Comedy Theatre

4 Golden Square, W1F 9HT
Nearby theatres: Piccadilly Theatre

2 Bateman Street, W1D 4AE
Nearby theatres: @sohoplace, Phoenix Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre

7 Greek Street, W1D 4DF
Nearby theatres: @sohoplace, Phoenix Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre

Tequila Mockingbird

Harper Lee’s Southern classic To Kill a Mockingbird was last seen in the West End in 2023, but the popular cocktail chain punning on the title has outlets all over London and guarantees a lively experience with plenty of hip hop beats. There’s much more than tequila on the menu! There are two branches in Covent Garden for West End-goers. Get started with £3.50 shots and enjoy 2-for-1 on the bar’s top 15 cocktails, from opening to 10pm Sunday to Friday, and until 7pm on Saturdays.

3-5 Burleigh Street, WC2E 7PX
Nearby theatres: Novello Theatre, Aldwych Theatre, Lyceum Theatre, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Royal Opera House, Duchess Theatre, Fortune Theatre

42 William IV Street, WC2N 4DD
Nearby theatres: Garrick Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre, London Coliseum, Noël Coward Theatre, Duke of York’s Theatre

Be at One

At this friendly and welcoming chain, happy hour takes place between 4pm-7pm from Sunday to Thursday; 3pm-7pm on Friday, and 12pm-6pm on Saturday. The 2-for-1 deal includes all drinks on the menu (aside from low and alcohol-free offerings), including the posh new additions from the deluxe line of cocktails. With 100+ cocktails on the menu, you could spend all night deciding – but best not to overthink it and go with your gut!

17 Greek Street, W1D 4DR
Nearby theatres: Lyceum Theatre, Royal Opera House, Theatre Royal Drury Lane, Duchess Theatre, Fortune Theatre

Bar Rumba

A real party venue, one of the West End’s leading nightclubs located a stone’s throw from Piccadilly Circus, with a large dance floor. The happy hour menu starts with beer, house spirit mixers, shots, and wine for £2.50, with cocktail jugs for £10. Unsurprisingly, it’s popular with young people and there are special perks for students with ID. Visitors from out of town are also eligible for free VIP entry on showing a valid boarding pass. The venue is always filled to the brim with guests from all over the world looking for connection, so prepare to be sociable!

36 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7EP
Nearby theatres: Sondheim Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Apollo Theatre

The Cocktail Club

Open from Tuesday to Sunday with a daily happy hour (5pm to 8pm on Tuesday to Thursday, 4pm to 8pm Fridays and Sundays and 3pm to 7pm on Saturdays), The Cocktail Club has a gothic vintage vibe with its plush red furniture and dark floral wallpaper. There’s a regular rotation of flavours of the month. Plus, musical theatre fans are sure to adore the Broadway Musical Bottomless Brunch on Saturdays from 12-2pm with fierce vocalists belting out all the most iconic showtunes. We’ll drink to that!

Sovereign House, 224a Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8EB
Nearby theatres: Shaftesbury Theatre, Palace Theatre, Cambridge Theatre, Gillian Lynne Theatre

Covent Garden Social Club

An intimate venue with a suitably social vibe, happy hour takes place every evening before 8pm on £13 cocktails – enjoy in the cosy underground basement bar. There’s live comedy from Monday to Thursday in the upstairs piano bar, and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. With the atmosphere of a bohemian private members’ club, this joint is a great favourite of the West End community. Who knows who you might spot!

6-7 Great Newport Street, WC2H 7JB
Nearby theatres: Arts Theatre, St Martin’s Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre, Garrick Theatre, Wyndham’s Theatre, Noël Coward Theatre, Duke of York’s Theatre, London Coliseum

The Escapologist

Another popular Covent Garden spot, located in the headquarters of a Victorian secret society that styles itself as a “modern day Victorian men’s club” and “part Masonic lodge” where visitors are invited to party like it’s 1899 every week. Fortunately, ladies are admitted to this quirky space on equal terms with gentlemen. Happy hour is available Sunday to Friday and includes 2 for £14 on cocktails and £20 bottles of prosecco. Seasonal botanical cocktails are available if you’re there at the right time of year – they look absolutely beautiful.

35 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LD
Nearby theatres: Donmar Warehouse, Cambridge Theatre, St Martin’s Theatre, Ambassadors Theatre

Louche Soho

“Louche” means “Disreputable or sordid in a rakish or appealing way”, and this proudly independent Greek Street venue leans into the storied seediness of Soho past (in a good way!) before it became sanitised and gentrified, with low lighting and a shabby chic aesthetic. Happy hour for house cocktails takes place between opening to 8pm from Tuesday to Saturday and on Sunday from 6pm-8pm. There are regular live music performances and occasional burlesque acts – very Soho indeed!

5 Greek Street, W1D 4DD
Nearby theatres: @sohoplace, Phoenix Theatre, Prince Edward Theatre, Sondheim Theatre, Gielgud Theatre, Lyric Theatre, Apollo Theatre

Photo credit: The Cocktail Club