A new London rooftop bar housed within decommissioned Jubilee line carriages is taking the internet by storm. The Village Underground Rooftop, located in Shoreditch, permanently opened its doors to the public as a brand-new 300-capacity open-air bar in July this year, according to What's On.
From Creative Studios to Public Bar
For nearly 20 years, these iconic, graffiti-covered 1983-stock train carriages sat on a railway viaduct atop a Victorian warehouse, serving strictly as private creative studios and office spaces. Now, 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.
Drinks, Pizza, and Panoramic Views
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.
Viral Popularity and Visitor Reactions
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."
Practical Information for Visitors
Those planning a visit should be aware that the bar operates on a completely cashless basis, accepting only card and contactless payments. 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 bookings@villageunderground.co.uk.
