The Wapping Tavern: Ping Pong in London

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78-80 Wapping Lane, London · E1W 2RT · Mo 17:00-23:00; Tu-Th 12:00-23:00; Fr-Sa 12:00-00:00; Su 12:00-22:00

The Wapping Tavern is a neighbourhood pub in a converted former spice factory, with a proper games room tucked away in the basement. It suits people who want a few rounds of table tennis without making a whole night of it, then a pint and the football upstairs. The single most useful thing to know: the bat-and-ball tables sit among pool, shuffleboard, smart darts, pinball and arcade machines, so a group rarely runs out of things to do.

You can wander in for a drink, but if you want a table tennis table to yourself it is worth booking and pre-paying through DesignMyNight first. Upstairs there are craft beers, cocktails and 17 screens showing Sky Sports and TNT Sports, so it works as a sports pub as much as a games spot.

The games setup

Everything sits in the basement games room rather than out on the main floor. Table tennis is the headline, but you also get pool, shuffleboard, smart darts, pinball, giant Jenga and a bank of arcade and console games. That mix is the point here: it is built for groups who want to drift between games rather than commit to one. The venue does not publish how many table tennis tables it runs, so if numbers matter for your group it is worth a quick call to 020 7709 0515 before you turn up.

Good to know

Table tennis, shuffleboard and smart darts can be booked and pre-paid through DesignMyNight, which is the safest way to guarantee a table at busy times. Casual walk-ins are fine for a drink, but games are first come unless reserved. Opening is from noon most days, with a 5pm start on Mondays, and late closes at midnight on Friday and Saturday. The kitchen and bar cover food, craft beer, cocktails and wine, and 17 screens carry Sky Sports and TNT Sports.

Getting there

You will find it at 78-80 Wapping Lane, E1W 2RT, a short walk from Wapping station on the London Overground. Shadwell, on the Overground and DLR, is the next closest option if you are coming from further out. The building is the old spice factory on Wapping Lane, so it is easy enough to spot once you are on the street.

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Common questions

What is The Wapping Tavern?
It is a neighbourhood pub in Wapping, set in a former spice factory, with a basement games room that includes table tennis plus pool, shuffleboard, smart darts and arcade games.
Is table tennis free at The Wapping Tavern?
No. Table tennis can be booked and pre-paid through DesignMyNight. The venue does not publish an exact price, so check the booking page or call ahead.
Do I need to book or can I walk in?
You can walk in for a drink, but games are first come. To guarantee a table tennis table, book and pre-pay through DesignMyNight first.
What other games are there?
Besides table tennis, the basement games room has pool, shuffleboard, smart darts, pinball, giant Jenga and arcade and console games.
What are the opening hours?
Monday 5pm to 11pm, Tuesday to Thursday noon to 11pm, Friday and Saturday noon to midnight, and Sunday noon to 10pm.
What is the nearest station?
Wapping station on the London Overground is closest, with Shadwell (Overground and DLR) the next nearest option.

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