The Best Happy Hours In London (2023)

FAQs

What time is happy hour in London? ›

Mon-Fri, 4-7pm. Sun, 5-9pm. This is a crowd-pleasing kind of happy hour, set bang in the middle of central London and covering all the bases: cocktails, house beers, house wines and even house fizz in the form of prosecco fall under the daily two-for-one deal.

Luckily for us, London actually comes up trumps when it comes to happy hours. From big chains dotted about the whole city to single breweries in E17 – or Walthamstow to those not in the know – here's our rundown of 14 of the best happy hours in London for you to get your drink on. We'll cheers to that!

What time is Happy Hour? Our happy hour is Sunday - Friday until 7pm at our London venues. If you are visiting our Bristol Triangle, Bristol Corn Street or Reading venues - you get an extra hour until 8pm all week.

UK-Wide: Be At One

The Be At One happy hour takes place all across the UK, offering 2 for 1 concoctions between 4.30 and 8pm on weekdays or 2 'til 7pm come weekends. Think venues everywhere from Chelmsford to Leeds, Manchester and beyond, all whipping up cheap cocktails.

Take cues from Casual Friday and go with a button-down and a nice pair of slacks, or a knit shirt and denim pants. Pair a colorful dress with a business-savvy blazer, or wear a classic blouse with denim jeans.

United Kingdom. The National Mandatory Licensing Conditions introduced in 2010 required licensees to take "all reasonable steps" to prevent irresponsible drinks promotions which effectively banned traditional happy hours.

The pubs have to close at 11pm as this is the time that the beer refineries cease operations for the evening and stop piping beer to the pubs. During the night the ageing pipe work is then inspected and any breaks or leaks are fixed so as to prevent flooding.

The majority of tipped employees who work during those periods tell me they're tipped based on the Happy Hour total. But consider that a group occupies a table for an hour or two and orders several rounds of what today has become half-price food and drinks. So a $100 bill becomes $50 and the $20 tip becomes $10.

What is the best time for happy hour? Though happy hours can vary, the best happy hour time is usually 5 PM to 7 PM. This is when most bars and restaurants experience a lull and haven't experienced nightly dinner crowds yet.

1. fabric. The first entry on this list of the best nightclubs in London is one of the city's most famous spots. fabric officially opened in October, 1999 – just in time to begin serving a new millennium of ravers from all around the world.

What is the most famous drink in London? ›

And no list of London cocktails would be complete without the city's most famous cocktail, the Vesper Martini, of course.

What part of London has the best nightlife? West End - London's West End is world-famous for its nightlife. The area is home to some of the best bars, clubs, and restaurants in the city. If you're looking for a night out on the town, this is the place to be.

The price of 1 cocktail drink in downtown club in London is £12. This average is based on 12 price points. It can be considered reliable and accurate. Latest update: January 29, 2023.

Aperitivo is both the name for a category of drinks (a before-dinner beverage; aperitivo is the Italian word for aperitif, which we borrowed from the French) and the post-work ritual of enjoying those drinks. It's the Italian happy hour.

In France, the happy hour time frame tends to be a bit longer, often three to four hours. Most happy hours start around 5pm or 6pm and last until 8pm or 9pm.

Remember: Happy hour is just that—an hour

You don't have to stay there all night.” Really, showing your face is the important part.

A cocktail hour is sometimes used by managers of hotels and restaurants as a means of attracting bar patrons between 4 pm and 6 pm. Some events, such as wedding receptions, are preceded by a cocktail hour. During the cocktail hour, guests socialize while drinking and eating appetizers.

Why is Happy Hour Illegal in Massachusetts? In the early 1980s, there was an uptick in drunk driving accidents and fatalities across the U.S. and then Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis banned the sale of special or low-priced alcohol in order to curb these incidences.

What time is last call in England? ›

The majority of pubs close at 11pm, though recent statute reforms allow premises to apply for 24 hour licensing. Some pubs have stuck to 11pm closing but chain pubs, bars (close between 12:30 and 1:30am weekdays, 1-3am weekends) and clubs (most close at 4am, some open until 7 or 8am) generally stay open later.

As per Council/Government law, all nightclubs guests have to be 18+. Some clubs require cleints to be over 21. This can be anytime or on specific day of the week.

Pubs in London are generally a seat yourself thing, if you can find one. Some do let you call ahead and reserve a table, so you might see signs that say “reserved”. If you have a big group, call up to reserve a table if you can think that far ahead! Otherwise, just find yourself a spot when you get there.

In the U.S., a tip of 15% of the before tax meal price is typically expected.

15-20% of the bill, including drinks.

"Three to five dollars is a sufficient tip," Swann says. "It doesn't necessarily need to be a percentage of the food you ordered."

TGI Fridays™ Launches America's Longest Happy Hour.

Happy hour is beneficial for bars and bar patrons alike. Overall, happy hours give customers a time to come enjoy a special deal and often, an extra special treat. For bars, happy hours bring in more customers, and they give bar owners a chance to shake things up and upgrade the reputation of their bar.

Happy Hour Deals: Weekdays 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm – $6 well liquor, $5 drafts, $7 house red and white wine, and $7 mules. Sunday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm – $6 well liquor, $5 drafts, $7 house red and white wine, and $7 mules.

The first is Mahiki (Address: 1 Dover Street, London, W1S 4LD). This is probably the undisputed king of celebrity clubs in London. Places go in and out of vogue, with celebrity crowds gradually migrating around Chelsea and Kensington nightclubs, but Mahiki is the reliable go-to for guaranteed celebrity hobnobbing.

What is the most exclusive bar in London? ›

The cost of entry to a club can vary from nothing (free admission) to as much as £15-£20 depending on the venue, the night of the week. Most club nights will sell advance tickets through a ticketing website such as Ticketmaster or Ticketweb, or through local specialist record shops.

Scottish whisky is one of the top British drinks to savour while travelling around the UK. Created during the 15th century, Scotch whisky or Uisge Beatha (meaning Water of Life), as it's known in Scottish, is the most popular alcoholic spirit in the world.

The Vesper Martini

This is probably London's most famous cocktail, created in the bar of Duke's Hotel in the 1950s for James Bond author, Ian Fleming.

Beer, it seems, is the most popular drink by a clear margin. 17% of survey respondents to Accor said 'beer' was their favourite drink, regardless of brand. Lots of this interest is driven by the rise of craft beer, with brands like Brewdog going from unknown to everyday in just a few years.

The most popular street is Bond Street. This area should be avoided by travellers on a budget. Soho: Soho is a must on any travellers list when visiting London and especially at night time. Located in central London, it is famous for its trendy restaurants, live music venues, cool bars and clubs.

The London Eye is busiest between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. during the UK school holidays, and is quieter at the beginning and end of their opening hours, which vary throughout the year.

It's especially nice to experience the nightfall, with the lights of the city, at the London Eye. To do this you should start the ride shortly after sunset (link with times below). Usually the queue times are not too long in the evening hours. The ride duration is around 30 minutes.

How to have a cheap night out in London? ›

But happy hours weren't always an American post-work staple, and nor did it begin as a marketing strategy. Rather, the historical roots of the happy hour date all the way back to the early 20th century. Today, happy hour is associated with letting loose without letting too much cash loose from your wallet.

What it is. An aperitivo (or apéritif) is often described as being similar to the American happy hour, but in reality, it's much more than that. An aperitivo is a pre-meal drink specifically meant to whet your appetite.

Happy hour refers to the period of time in the early evening—typically starting around 4 p.m.—during which drinks and appetizers are available at reduced prices at bars or restaurants.

Apéro is a staple in the daily repertoire of the French, highlighting their values on food and wine culture, friends, family, and relaxation. Apéro – 1, Happy Hour – 0.

The snacks

Traditional snacks include olives, nuts, bread, cheese (such as Chevre, Camembert or Comte), charcuterie (prosciutto or saucisson sec), and bite-size fruits or veggies, like cherry tomatoes or radishes.

Usually between 5 and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, though, in some cases it will stretch from as early as 4 to as late as 8. One of my favorite watering holes, New York's Pony Bar, has a happy hour that is literally just an hour, starting at 4:20 (marijuana reference, Mom).

Though happy hours can vary, the best happy hour time is usually 5 PM to 7 PM. This is when most bars and restaurants experience a lull and haven't experienced nightly dinner crowds yet.

Our delicious Xmas specials are available alongside our full food menu til 10pm today! Happy hour offers from 4:30pm inc. 2-4-1 cocktails and £1 drinks!

Is happy hour a thing in Paris? ›

The café and bar culture is an essential part of the Parisian lifestyle. Luckily many of the bars in Paris offer happy hours, allowing you to save money while having a good time. Here is our list of the best happy hours the city has to offer, ranging from cheap to chic.

A few situations merit extra tipping. If it's happy hour and drinks are discounted, Zaric suggests dropping at least $2 per beverage, while Katz says a tip of 25 percent is appropriate. And if you're lucky enough to get a freebie, Katz says to add a minimum $5 to what you'd have tipped if you'd had to pay for it.

How to ask – It's simple. Just ask. For some, asking a client out can be scary, and for others it the perk of the job. I often go with the basic “Hi [Name], I'll be in town on this date, what's a good bar or restaurant we can meet for happy hour?

The Huffington Post article explains it this way: “For those law-breaking Americans who wanted to imbibe in secrecy, a kind of a 20th century pre-game emerged. Friends would meet at speakeasies or someone's home before going out for dinner, thus creating the cocktail hour.”

In one large study from the Brookings Institute, for example, scientists found happiness was high for 18- to 21-year-olds and then dropped steadily until about age 40. But past middle age, the pattern began to reverse—gradually climbing back up to its highest point at age 98!

Popular happy hour beverages include gin and tonics, margaritas, Greyhounds, martinis, and Cosmopolitans. Happy hours also include drinks like rosé wine, summer shandies, and whiskey.

No frills or frocks necessary as we operate a fairly relaxed dress code, in line with the fun-filled vibe of the venue. We are open 7 days a week from mid-day till 4.00am and have high quality home-cooked food available 7 days per week all day every day.

Apéro is a staple in the daily repertoire of the French, highlighting their values on food and wine culture, friends, family, and relaxation. Apéro – 1, Happy Hour – 0.

We have fantastic live cover music 7 days a week from midday until midnight, before our DJs blast top hits and your favourite classic sing-a-longs until 4am.

Tipping is not required in France (although there are a few exceptions). You don't need to tip French waitstaff because they get a living wage and benefits. It is NOT considered rude to tip in France.

What time is happy hour in Italy? ›

Aperitivo or "happy hour" usually takes place between the hours of 7 and 9 p.m., and is a great way to relax, socialize and take in your surroundings.