A new £2.8 million Wetherspoons has opened in a south London station – and here is a sneak peek of what it has to offer inside.
JD Wetherspoon opened its newest pub, The Lion & the Unicorn, on Tuesday, September 3, at Waterloo Station in SE1.
The pub is located in the former Eurostar terminal, following a significant £2.8 million investment.
It features a modern and stylish interior with a mix of contemporary and industrial design elements.
The space is well-lit, with large overhead lights hanging from the exposed ceiling, which shows off various structural and utility elements like pipes and ducts, giving the venue an urban, industrial feel.
The famous Wetherspoons flooring has a bold, geometric patterned carpet in shades of beige, black, and brown.
There is plenty of seating with booths, high tables and dining tables with many of them having available charging port.
The Lion & the Unicorn will create 70 new jobs in the area.
The pub will be open from 6.30am to midnight, Monday to Thursday, and from 6.30am to 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Sunday hours are slightly more relaxed, with doors opening at 7.30am and closing at midnight.
Food will be served throughout the day, from opening until 11pm and the pub boasts a wide range of real ales, traditional ciders, craft beers and world brews, including offerings from local and regional brewers.
The Lion & the Unicorn also caters to families, with children accompanied by an adult welcome until 9pm each day.
The pub’s design is a nod to its namesake, The Lion and The Unicorn Pavilion, a much-loved attraction at the 1951 Festival of Britain.
According to a spokesperson for Wetherspoon, original drawings and sketches shared by family members of the pavilion's architects and graphic designers have been woven into the design, along with historical photos and local artwork.
The Lion and The Unicorn Pavilion, a much-loved attraction at the 1951 Festival of Britain (Image: Wetherspoons) The Royal Festival Hall, the sole remaining structure from the 1951 festival, serves as a nearby reminder of this rich history.
The Festival of Britain was held from May to September 1951 and covered a 27-acre site along the South Bank, extending from Westminster Bridge to Waterloo Bridge.
It attracted over eight million visitors, who marvelled at futuristic structures like the Dome of Discovery and the towering Skylon.
Wetherspoon regional manager, Barry Brewster, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming customers into The Lion & the Unicorn and we are confident that the pub will be a great addition to Waterloo’s social scene.”
Although Wetherspoon has scaled down its pub portfolio in recent years, selling or surrendering the leases on 26 of its outlets since November, the company says it remains committed to its long-term goal of expanding from 801 venues to 1,000.
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