BrewDog to open huge flagship venue in London's Waterloo station

Scottish brewer BrewDog is to open a 26,500sq ft global flagship venue in London’s Waterloo Station next summer in the space formerly earmarked for Time Out Market.

The venue, which will be the biggest BrewDog location in the world, is being touted as a “craft beer destination” with a bar, brewery, cocktail bar, coffee shop, workspaces and gaming area across two floors, including a duckpin bowling alley, shuffle boards and a slide to get between the floors.

The onsite brewery will host tours and food options will include a pop-up food truck, and an outdoor terrace for alfresco drinking with a florist selling flowers and potted plants.

The workspace area will include meeting rooms while the coffee shop will be a partnership with Grind.

BrewDog has worked with station owners London & Continental Railways on plans for the site as the former International Eurostar Terminal looks to open for visitors again. Time Out Group confirmed that it no longer intended to proceed with the development of the market earlier this year due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

James Watt, chief executive of BrewDog, said: “London’s beer scene is the rival of any in the world, and our supersized plans for BrewDog Waterloo, at the epicentre of the UK’s busiest railway station, are a testament to that; this is quite simply one of the biggest things we have ever announced.

“We can’t wait for Londoners and visitors to the city alike to see our new flagship for the capital. Beer, bowling, cocktails and coffee; BrewDog Waterloo will be a destination for anyone seeking out great food, great drinks and an amazing time.”

David Abrahamovitch, chief executive and founder of Grind, added: “BrewDog’s plans for their new flagship are incredible, and we’re really excited to be a part of it. Grind coffee is already served in BrewDog bars across the country, and we’re excited to take our partnership further with the launch of a Grind café inside the new space at Waterloo."

BrewDog launched in 2007 and runs more than 100 bars across the globe, as well as five hotels. The group recently appointed former Asda chief executive Allan Leighton to its board as it gears up for a ‘new phase of growth'.

The brand reported £13m in pre-tax losses for 2020 as the impact of Covid-19 across the on-trade and its bar network hit volumes and revenue by around 50% and is undergoing a “culture review” after more than 100 former employees signed an open letter alleging there was a “culture of fear” within the business.