Original Sin: Pool & Snooker in Stoke Newington, London

Free poolWalk-inCocktail barDate nightGroups

129 Stoke Newington High Street, Stoke Newington, London · N16 0PH · Mo-We 18:00-00:00; Th-Sa 18:00-01:30; Su 18:00-23:00

Original Sin is a basement cocktail bar in Stoke Newington from the team behind Happiness Forgets in Hoxton, sitting below the Burger Bear diner on the High Street. It is a dark, low-lit room with a long bar, booth seating and retro '70s touches, and the draw for you is the free pool table. As Time Out puts it, the table is so suave that no 50-pence pieces are required, it is free to play.

This suits a relaxed evening rather than a quick game and run. Come for cocktails built on unusual spirits, grab a booth, and play a few frames without feeding coins into a slot. It opens evenings only, from 6pm, so it is a night-out spot rather than an afternoon one.

The pool setup

There is one pool table here, set into the basement room. The standout point, and the reason it is worth knowing about, is that it is free. There are no 50-pence slots to feed, so you can rack up and play as many frames as you like at no cost. It sits alongside the bar and booth seating rather than in a dedicated games room, so expect to share the space with drinkers and the general bar buzz. Best treated as a casual game over cocktails, not a serious tournament table.

Good to know

Original Sin is evening-only, opening at 6pm every day and running late on Thursday to Saturday until 1.30am. It is a cocktail bar first, with drinks built on unusual spirits like white rye, mezcal and Kamm & Sons, priced around £8. You do not book the pool table; it works on a turn-up basis, so the table is busiest later in the evening. The Burger Bear diner sits directly above if you want food before heading down. Nearest stations are Stoke Newington and Rectory Road, both a short walk away.

Who it suits

This is a good shout for a low-key date or a small group who want a drink and a relaxed game rather than a dedicated pool hall. The room is dark and intimate with retro lighting, so it leans more bar than sports venue. Because there is a single table and no booking, it works best if you are happy to wait your turn or play early in the evening before it fills up.

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Common questions

What is Original Sin?
It is a basement cocktail bar on Stoke Newington High Street, from the team behind Happiness Forgets in Hoxton. It has a long bar, booth seating and a free pool table.
Is the pool table free at Original Sin?
Yes. The table is free to play, with no 50-pence pieces required, as confirmed by Time Out and the venue's own description.
Do you need to book to play pool?
No, there is no booking. It is walk-in and turn-up, so the single table can get busy later in the evening.
How many pool tables are there?
There is one pool table, set within the main basement bar area.
What are the opening hours?
It opens evenings only: 6pm to midnight Monday to Wednesday, 6pm to 1.30am Thursday to Saturday, and 6pm to 11pm on Sunday.
What is the nearest station?
Stoke Newington and Rectory Road rail stations are both a short walk away.

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