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The Understudy

Our friendly riverside craft beer bar. Serving sizzling street food from KERB.

A bustling restaurant counter with people standing and ordering food. The overhead menu displays various dishes and ordering instructions. Staff members are preparing food in the open kitchen behind the counter, while colorful food images are displayed on digital screens.
A lively bar scene with several people sitting at wooden tables, enjoying drinks and conversation. The walls are decorated with colorful posters and warm lighting, creating a cozy atmosphere. Patrons appear to be in good spirits, engaged in various conversations.
A selection of eastern mediteranean inspired dishes from Sireli.
A juicy cheeseburger with melty cheese, lettuce, pickles, and mayonnaise is served on a shiny brioche bun on a parchment-lined tray. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the well-lit, appetizing burger in the forefront.
Three bowls of ramen with various toppings, including sliced meat, boiled egg, and vegetables, are displayed on a red background. A can of KERB lager and a can of East London Liquor Co. Vodka & Rhubarb are placed beside the bowls. Chopsticks are also visible.

From our riverside location on London’s vibrant South Bank, The Understudy serves up an unbeatable line-up of drinks from independent makers like Black Lines, Gipsy Hill Brewing, Nirvana Brewing and East London Liquor Co., plus a curated selection of three KERB street food traders.

Bring your mates and settle into our cosy indoor bar, or soak up the views on our outdoor terrace.

For the run of Ballet Shoes (26 November – 22 February), we will be offering child-friendly options – ask our team on the day!

Follow on Instagram @KERBnationaltheatre

 

Opening times

Monday – Wednesday: 12 noon – 12 midnight (food service until 10pm)
Thursday – Saturday: 12 noon – 1am (food service until 10pm)
Sunday: 12 noon – 10pm (food service until 9pm)

Book a table

Special opening hours:
19 January: Closed
2 February: Closed
9 February: Closed
30 March: Closed

Email: kerb.understudy@ntfoodanddrink.org.uk.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7452 3551

Directions

The Understudy, National Theatre, Upper Ground, SE1 9PX
View a map and get directions

KERB traders at The Understudy

A juicy cheeseburger with melty cheese, lettuce, pickles, and mayonnaise is served on a shiny brioche bun on a parchment-lined tray. The background is softly blurred, emphasizing the well-lit, appetizing burger in the forefront.

Meltdown Cheeseburgers

Slinging out a range of juicy, oozy burgers, (choose from double smashed beef patty, spiced chicken thigh or vegan patty) – plus rotating monthly specials and loaded beef brisket fries. Ask about our child-friendly options!

View Meltdown’s menu

A wooden table filled with various Asian dishes, including bowls of ramen, grilled vegetables, and salads, accompanied by a can of beverage. The dishes are colorful, featuring ingredients like corn, scallions, and leafy greens, with chopsticks and spoons placed nearby.

Sen Noods

Serving up tasty East-Asian ramen bowls and dumplings, plus Japanese fried chicken, Hong Kong noodles and child-friendly options.

View Sen Noods’ menu

A selection of eastern mediteranean inspired dishes from Sireli.

Sireli

Translating to ‘my love’ in Armenian, Sireli focuses on delicious, modern Middle-Eastern food, with a selection of flatbread wraps and small plates, including halloumi fries. Ask us about our kids menu!

View Sireli’s menu

Drinks at The Understudy

We’re proud to work with some of the UK’s best independent drinks suppliers, including Gipsy Hill Brewing Co, Nirvana Brewery, Black Lines Drinks and East London Liquor Company.

Explore our drinks menu

What’s on at the Understudy

Join us in our South Bank home for live music, brewery takeovers and much more.
Images of Tom Bright, Charlotte Campbell, Cloudy Galvez and Alice SK in one collage

Gipsy Hill Sessions

Join us at on select Sundays for live music from some of the city’s best emerging artists, plus 2 for £12 pints of Gipsy Hill Hepcat Session IPA all day long. Paired with a £15 meal deal from our KERB traders, it’s the perfect end to the weekend.

We’ll be welcoming four brilliant artists over six dates, each bringing their unique sound to our stage.

12 January Tom Bright
26 January: Cloudy Galvez
16 February: Charlotte Campbell
23 February: Tom Bright
2 March: Alice SK
23 March: Charlotte Campbell

Book a table

A hand holding a bottle of Nirvana Brewery Lemon Lager next to a filled glass on a bar counter. The bottle features a green label with a hand logo. The background is softly blurred, highlighting the beer.

January Brewery of the Month: Nirvana Brewing

Start 2025 fresh with Nirvana Brewery, the UK’s first dedicated alcohol-free brewery. Pop in all month long to try their Pils, Amber Ale and IPA on tap, or the Cloudy Lemon Lager or Hefeweizen in bottles.

On Friday 17th January, we’re throwing a sober-curious celebration, with a chance to try their range, meet the brewer and dance the night away.

Book a table for our Dry January event

 

Special offers

A tray of chips covered in parmesan and with a beef in gravy topping being piled on top.

Student deals: 15% discount

On all food & drinks at The Understudy

Available all day, every day.

To redeem this offer, show your student card to The Understudy bar team.

Not available when ordering via QR codes.

A cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato on a bun sits on a tray lined with paper. A side of French fries is placed next to it.

£15 meal deals

Enjoy the best of KERB at the Understudy with our £15 meal deals, available Monday-Friday (excluding Wednesdays) from 12pm-4pm, plus all day Sunday

Meltdown Cheeseburgers: Any burger (excluding the special), plus chips and a drink

Sireli: Any wrap with a side of halloumi fries, plus a drink

Sen Noods: Any noodle dish with cucumber salad or kimchi, plus a drink

Drink options include: a can of KERB lager, can of Nirvana Pils (non-alcoholic) or a soft drink.

A tabletop view of three dishes: a flatbread with vegan lamb shish kebab, greens and a white sauce, a bowl of ramen with corn, greens, and grilled tofu, and fries topped with vegan brisket. Two beverage cans are partially visible.

Veganuary specials

Enjoy plant-based versions of your favourite flavours this January.

Sen Noods: Bang Bang Noodles or Tonkotsu Ramen with teriyaki tofu

Meltdown Cheeseburgers: Rosemary fries topped with cheese, plant-based BBQ brisket and relish.

Sireli: Plant-based lamb shish kebab, hummus, pickled cabbage, shawarma plant-based yoghurt, plant-based feta