Lurking in the depths of Waterloo’s forgotten railway arches is London’s newest pop-up, Rat Bar.
The brainchild of leading creative events agency, Shout About London, Rat Bar celebrates all things graffiti, launching on June 16th with a rare Banksy artwork!
Embracing the history and heritage of the area, the rodent inspired speakeasy will exclusively play host to a Banksy original known simply as Giant Rat (how fitting!). Previously unseen in London, this masterpiece will take pride of place within Rat Bar, adjacent to the Leake Street Tunnel that Banksy himself helped put on the map in the early days of his artistry.
The cocktail list will pay homage to Giant Rat with signature drinks including El Raton, Black Death and You Dirty, Double Crossing Rat gracing the menu. To set the tone, an eclectic mix of music will resonate throughout the bar, with live sessions showcased weekly and announced during the venue’s 3-month stint.
Located at 26 Leake Street and launched as part of the regeneration for London’s “Graffiti Tunnel”, visitors can expect authentic street art from local and iconic creators on all surfaces.
A once down-trodden space lost to the ether under Waterloo station, 26 Leake Street boasts a cavernous 13,000 sq ft on the iconic Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel. Opened earlier this year, the venue (in its raw state) is already in high demand having played host to A-list celebrities, global brands such as Adidas and Fendi, and been the talk of LFW 2018.
Currently undergoing extensive restoration to become a multi-purpose venue, Rat Bar debuts phase one of the project, with a restaurant, brewery and dedicated event spaces to follow suit.
With the aspiration to help further establish the neighbourhood through live music, collaborations, art and culture, Rat Bar offers the perfect hideout to escape the rat race and find your very own poison.
