The Wapping Tavern: Ping Pong & Shuffleboard in London
The Wapping Tavern is a neighbourhood pub in a converted former spice factory, with a proper games room tucked away in the basement. Table tennis and shuffleboard sit at the heart of it, so it suits people who want a few rounds of bat-and-ball or a slide of the pucks without making a whole night of it, then a pint and the football upstairs. The single most useful thing to know: the tables sit among pool, smart darts, pinball and arcade machines, so a group rarely runs out of things to do.
You can wander in for a drink, but if you want a table tennis or shuffleboard table to yourself it is worth booking and pre-paying through DesignMyNight first. Upstairs there are craft beers, cocktails and 17 screens showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports, so it works as a sports pub as much as a games spot.
Contact
- Address 78-80 Wapping Lane, London, E1W 2RT
Opening hours
- Mon 17:00-23:00
- Tue 12:00-23:00
- Wed 12:00-23:00
- Thu 12:00-23:00
- Fri 12:00-00:00
- Sat 12:00-00:00
- Sun 12:00-22:00
Good to know
- Table tennis
- Shuffleboard
- Pool
- Smart darts
- Pinball
- Arcade games
- Sports screened
The games setup
Everything sits in the basement games room rather than out on the main floor. Table tennis is the headline, but you also get pool, shuffleboard, smart darts, pinball, giant Jenga and a bank of arcade and console games. That mix is the point here: it is built for groups who want to drift between games rather than commit to one. The venue does not publish how many table tennis tables it runs, so if numbers matter for your group it is worth a quick call to 020 7709 0515 before you turn up.
Good to know
Table tennis, shuffleboard and smart darts can be booked and pre-paid through DesignMyNight, which is the safest way to guarantee a table at busy times. Casual walk-ins are fine for a drink, but games are first come unless reserved. Opening is from noon most days, with a 5pm start on Mondays, and late closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday. The kitchen and bar cover food, craft beer, cocktails and wine, and 17 screens carry Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
Getting there
You will find it at 78-80 Wapping Lane, E1W 2RT, a short walk from Wapping station on the London Overground. Shadwell, on the Overground and DLR, is the next closest option if you are coming from further out. The building is the old spice factory on Wapping Lane, so it is easy enough to spot once you are on the street.
Common questions
- What is The Wapping Tavern?
- It is a neighbourhood pub in Wapping, set in a former spice factory, with a basement games room that includes table tennis and shuffleboard plus pool, smart darts and arcade games.
- Is table tennis free at The Wapping Tavern?
- No. Table tennis can be booked and pre-paid through DesignMyNight. The venue does not publish an exact price, so check the booking page or call ahead.
- Can you play shuffleboard here?
- Yes. Shuffleboard sits in the basement games room alongside the table tennis, pool, smart darts and pinball. Like the other tables it can be booked and pre-paid through DesignMyNight, and no exact price is published.
- Do I need to book or can I walk in?
- You can walk in for a drink, but games are first come. To guarantee a table tennis or shuffleboard table, book and pre-pay through DesignMyNight first.
- What is the nearest station?
- Wapping station on the London Overground is closest, with Shadwell (Overground and DLR) the next nearest option.
Other ping pong bars nearby
- Table Tennis Fight Club (Bermondsey) Bermondsey
- Southwark Park Bermondsey / Rotherhithe
- The Doodle Bar Bermondsey / Tower Bridge
- Players Social Spitalfields
- The Bermondsey Bierkeller London Bridge London Bridge
- Bermondsey Bierkeller London Bridge