Spit & Sawdust Elephant and Castle: Shuffleboard in London

Free entryShuffleboardCraft beerGroupsWalk-in

21 Bartholomew Street, Elephant and Castle, London · SE1 4AL · Mo-Th 16:00-23:00; Fr 16:00-00:00; Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-23:00

Spit and Sawdust is a restored Victorian boozer just off the Bricklayers Arms roundabout, a short walk from Elephant and Castle. It suits a relaxed group session more than a polished games-bar night out, and the single most useful thing to know is that there is no entry charge, so you can wander in, grab a craft beer and have a go on the shuffleboard table without booking anything.

The pub leans hard on its drinks. It claims the biggest range of craft beer in SE1, plus a long gin and whisky list and a decent wine selection. There is a beer garden and a first-floor terrace if the weather holds. Add a weekly quiz, weekend DJ sets and retro video games and it works as an easy all-evening spot rather than a dedicated shuffleboard venue.

The shuffleboard setup

There is a single shuffleboard table sitting on the pub floor, so it is part of the room rather than a booked-out lane area. That makes it best for a casual game between rounds rather than a reserved competitive session. Because it is free to use and not ticketed, turn up earlier in the week or earlier in the evening if you want a clear run at it, since weekends get busy with the quiz crowd, DJ nights and the terrace drinkers. Pair it with the retro video games if you want to keep a group entertained across a longer stay.

Good to know

Entry is free and there is no cover charge, so you only pay for what you eat and drink. The pub opens from 4pm on weekdays and from midday at weekends, running late on Friday and Saturday. Food has rotated over the years from pub-style pies to street-food pop-ups, with weekday deals like taco and wing nights, so check what is on before a special trip. There are two outdoor areas, a beer garden and a first-floor terrace, which makes it a good warm-weather option.

Getting there

You will find it at 21 Bartholomew Street, SE1 4AL, near the Bricklayers Arms roundabout in a building that has been a pub since the 1850s. It is roughly an eight-minute walk from both Elephant and Castle and Borough tube stations, so it is easy to reach on the Northern line. The surrounding Elephant Park development means there are buses and plenty of foot traffic nearby, and it is a sensible meeting point if your group is coming from different parts of south London.

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Common questions

What is Spit and Sawdust in Elephant and Castle?
It is a restored Victorian pub on Bartholomew Street near the Bricklayers Arms roundabout. It is known for a large craft beer range and has a shuffleboard table, retro video games, a quiz night and two outdoor areas.
Is Spit and Sawdust free to get in?
Yes. There is no entry charge. You only pay for your food and drinks, and the shuffleboard table is free to use.
Do you need to book or can you walk in?
You can walk in. There is no ticketed booking required for the shuffleboard, though the pub does take bookings for groups and tables.
How many shuffleboard tables are there?
There is one shuffleboard table, set on the main pub floor rather than in a separate games room.
What are the opening hours?
It opens from 4pm Monday to Thursday and closes at 11pm, runs to midnight on Friday, opens midday to midnight on Saturday and midday to 11pm on Sunday.
What is the nearest station?
Both Elephant and Castle and Borough stations are about an eight-minute walk away, both on the Northern line.

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