Looking for somewhere special to sink an eggnog or mulled wine with friends over the festive season? Try one of these pop-ups. Merry Hic-Mas! 🍸☃️
Apres Bar at London Bridge Rooftop
Though it's open year-round, London Bridge Rooftop gets into the alpine spirit from November (exact date TBC), becoming Apres Bar — a fir tree and bauble-festooned drinking setup, scattered with vintage alpine paraphernalia and serving up shots off skis. It's fully-covered, sheltering you from any snow rain storms, and those after a little privacy can book a private cable bar booth or Christmas grotto.
Apres Bar, London Bridge, from November (exact date TBC) 2026
Miracle on Russell Street, Covent Garden
Travel back to the gaudy Christmasses of decades past, with Miracle's spec-tacky-ular pop-up in Covent Garden. For 2026, it moves to a larger venue, with a minor rebrand to 'Miracle on Russell Street'. But the concept is reassuringly similar: slurp OTT festive cocktails from ludicrous mugs, while admiring plastic Christmas trees bespewed with tinsel. The drinks are gimmicky, yet delish. Our fave — and we have knocked back a few here in our time — was the Jingle Balls Nog, sloshed together with cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, cream, egg, vanilla and nutmeg. Miracle books up way in advance, although there are limited walk-ins each day. Don't forget to buy an armful of souvenir drinkware on the way out.
Miracle on Russell Street, Covent Garden, 9 November-30 December 2026
The Montague Ski Lodge, Bloomsbury
Transporting you to a wintry alpine mountaintop, the Montague Ski Lodge comprises a cosy setting of lanterns, fairy lights, snuggly woollen blankets and ski equipment pinned on the walls — complemented by a menu of festive drinks (think spiced cider, hot chocolate cocktails). Here's the rub: it's for exclusive hire and overnight guests of the Montague on the Gardens hotel. BUT they do occasionally accept walk-ins. In short: if you're in Bloomsbury and fancy a festive snifter, pop your head round the door and ask nicely.
The Montague Ski Lodge, Bloomsbury, 11 November 2026-31 March 2027
Churchill Arms, Kensington
London's most instagrammable pub once again cracks out 90-odd conifer trees, slaps them on the building's exterior and smothers them in fairy lights. We can only assume that the soaring leccy bills are cancelled out by the stream of thirsty punters pouring in through the doors. Though the Churchill Arms is not a festive pop-up per se, the pub's interior is also draped in garlands and twinkling fairy lights (plus the odd bonus tree because you can't have enough trees), and they serve mulled wine.
Churchill Arms at Christmas, 12 November 2026-early 2027
Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar, Greenwich
Mariah herself is in town this Xmas (well, late November), but if you don't get the chance to wish her a good one, you can at least pose with cardboard cutouts of her at Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar, pitching up at the O2. There are now eight festive pop-up Mariah bars, but the rest are in the US, and it'll prove a darn sight faster/cheaper to hop on the Jubilee line and get your fix of Make My Wish Come True cocktails here.
Mariah Carey's Holiday Bar, O2, Greenwich, November 19-late December 2026
Humbug, Greenwich
Less bar, more bonkers bacchanal, Humbug — which has shifted to Greenwich Borough Hall for 2026 — nudges you into playing festive games, and role-playing with characters including a disgruntled waitress and a mailman who's lost his letters. Order festive cocktails and grub, with live music from Santa himself (backed by house band Johnny Whiskey & the Barflies). A good bet for group parties, this, and definitely not for those seeking a quiet sherry by the fireside.
Humbug, Greenwich, 4-24 December 2026
