August 28th 2024.
If you're someone who commutes into London Waterloo every day, you're in for a pleasant surprise! The bustling train station is about to welcome a brand new addition that will surely make your travels a little more exciting. Along with the existing selection of shops, cafes, and restaurants, a new Wetherspoons pub is set to open its doors next week. This means that you can now easily grab a refreshing pint after a long day at work.
The Lion and the Unicorn, located in The Sidings which was once home to Waterloo's Eurostar terminus, will be opening its doors to customers on Tuesday, September 3. The popular pub chain has invested a whopping £2.8 million into its development, making it a must-visit spot for all pub-goers. The name of the pub is inspired by the Festival of Britain, which was held at the nearby South Bank in 1951. This festival showcased the best of British achievements in arts, architecture, science, and technology. In a similar manner, the Wetherspoons pub has adopted the same attitude towards light, color, and innovation in its design. The interiors even feature sketches from the original architects and graphic designers, shared by their family members.
The Sidings at Waterloo, also known as the 'social side', is home to various other businesses such as Nando's, Brewdog, Blank Street coffee, and a Lucky Voice karaoke bar. While the neighboring Brewdog pub boasts an impressive giant slide and a secret speakeasy bar, the new Wetherspoons pub offers a unique experience for train enthusiasts. With its floor-to-ceiling glazing, customers can enjoy a drink while watching the bustling concourse.
The Lion and the Unicorn is wheelchair accessible and spread across a single level. It welcomes children until 9pm throughout the week. The pub will be open from 6.30am until midnight from Monday to Thursday, 6.30am until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 7.30am until midnight on Sundays. They will serve a full food menu from 11.30am to 11pm every day, and a breakfast menu from opening until noon.
Barry Brewster, regional manager of Wetherspoon, shared his excitement, stating, "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." Sian Evans, management director of LCR property developers, also expressed her enthusiasm, saying, "The Sidings at Waterloo is set to become one of London's leading leisure and entertainment destinations. The new Wetherspoons pub will provide another great reason for people to visit."
However, with the recent revelation that two of the chain's pubs are the most expensive Wetherspoons in the UK, charging a whopping £7 for a Corona, one might wonder about the prices at this new location. But that's not the only change coming to Waterloo. Ambitious plans to revamp the station and its surroundings were recently unveiled. These plans aim to make the station more pedestrian-friendly by removing barriers to movement and turning Cab Road into a foot-only piazza. The concourses will also be widened, and unused underground arches will be converted into shops and restaurants.
The designs for this revamp were created by architects from Grimshaw, who also designed the western wing of the station with its iconic curved glass roof. This was completed in 1993. This announcement comes after plans for a revamp of another busy commuter station, London Liverpool Street, were shared. However, this proposal has received backlash, with over 2,100 people objecting to the changes. The public, local authorities, Historic England, and Westminster City Council have all raised concerns, with some calling it 'ugly and uninspired'. The project is also quite expensive, with a budget of £1.5 billion. It involves demolishing part of the Victorian station and constructing a 20-storey tower above the neighboring Grade-II* listed former Great Eastern Hotel.
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