This article is sponsored by SOUND Sports Bar.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup takes place in various French cities from 8 September-28 October — but there are plenty of places to watch it on the screen in London. Here's our pick of venues for catching the action.
Watch the Rugby World Cup in Central London
Adam & Eve, Oxford Street
Six screens at the Adam & Eve broadcast every tackle and try of all 48 World Cup matches — a handy spot to know if you're in the centre of town.
Clubhouse 5, Leicester Square
There's an all-American vibe to the newly minted Clubhouse 5 in Leicester Square — TVs galore above the bar, and a menu of burgers, wings, loaded fries etc al to chomp on while you watch.
Tyrwhitt Arms @ Nags Head, Covent Garden
Mens clothing brand Charles Tyrwhitt takes over the Nags Head in Covent Garden for two special screenings: England Vs Argentina on 9 September and England Vs Samoa on 7 October. Ahead of each kick-off, there's a special pub quiz hosted by pundit Andy Goode. Tickets are free, but you'll have to book in advance.
Watch the Rugby World Cup in north London
Vine, Kentish Town
Come for the World Cup, stay for the shuffleboard at this perky north London pub — it's showing all the rugby action, from the inuagural kick-off to the final broken nose.
The Vine, Kentish Town
Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
This Finsbury Park stalwart is one of the great London rugby pubs, so it's little wonder they're screening the whole World Cup tournament. Line your stomach with a cracking Thai curry, and be sure to step out for air during half time — the pub boasts a veritable Ewok's Village of a beer garden. FYI: they don't take bookings, so arrive in plenty of time.
Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park
The Gallery, West Hampstead
More of a bar than a pub vibe, The Gallery serves up fried chicken, cocktails — and a dizzying list of 101 whiskies — alongside its comprehensive World Cup coverage. Sound is up except on Friday and Saturday nights.
Sponsor message
4k screens and half-price drinks at SOUND Sports Bar
Catch every tackle, try, tribulation and triumph of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in serious style — at The Cumberland hotel's swish new three-in-one social hub. The four-star music inspired hotel in Marble Arch has just unveiled SOUND London — part cocktail bar, part all day restaurant with live nightly music and entertainment, part sports bar.
Here, each match of the tournament will be shown across multiple large ultra-HD screens. But that's not all — from kick off to final whistle, punters can enjoy 50% off almost all drinks*! That leaves you with more pennies to spend on SOUND's scrum-ptious food offering. Choose between stone-baked pizzas, next-level burgers, and club classics like BBQ chicken or New York strip steaks. Sharers and indulgent desserts are also available.
It all begins Friday 8 September at 8.15pm, when host nation France take on New Zealand. Book your table at SOUND Sports Bar for then, or for any of the following matches today.
*The manager's decision is final. This promotion can be withdrawn at any time and without notice. The promotion has no cash value. It does not include champagne. Soft drink refills are also excluded from the promotion. It cannot be used in conjunction will other promotions.
Watch the Rugby World Cup in south London
Belleville, Wandsworth
A smashing brewery tap serving up fresh 2/3 measures of pales, IPAs and plenty other brews, Belleville is screening every England match (whether or not it's outside normal taproom opening hours). All other matches will be screened, so long as they fall within usual taproom opening times. In short: they're showing loads of rugby.
England Rugby Fanzone @Vinegar Yard
For those wearing their red rose on their sleeve, Vinegar Yard, near London Bridge station, has created an England Rugby Fanzone — with packages staring at £10 inc. a "free" drink, available for each England match. There's also a shop selling official England merch, and appearance from former England players. Otherwise, the al fresco screens here — scattered around the covered, heated terrace — is screening every match in the tournament (you don't need to book tickets for these — at least until it get to the finals).
England Rugby Fanzone @Vinegar Yard
Camden Clubhouse @ Flat Iron Square
North London brewery Camden Town have set up their own 'clubhouse' at Flat Iron Square (close to London Bridge) for the duration of this year's World Cup. An improved experience has been promised for this year, meaning more screens, and more bars. Packages are available to buy.
Camden Clubhouse @ Flat Iron Square
Princess of Wales, Blackheath
This somewhat upmarket Blackheath boozer promises to keep 'glasses and bellies full' throughout the tournament; a good shout if you want to pair the match with good gastro grub.
The Princess of Wales, Blackheath
The Exhibit, Balham
If the weather plays ball, The Exhibit will be a smashing place to watch — they're screening the rugby on their rooftop (although you can watch inside too). £10 tickets (inc. burger and beer) are already selling fast, with some dates sold out.
Peckham Arches
Multiple screens are showing all the action at this 600-strong venue — and if the weather's fine, you can watch in the beer garden. Cocktails, local beers and wood-fired pizza are in the offing too.
Watch the Rugby World Cup in east London
Big Penny Social, Walthamstow
Expect electric vibes at what is surely London's biggest beer hall — Big Penny Social will broadcast every match of the tournament on massive screens, served up alongside their own beers, and a solid food menu, featuring pizzas, porchetta sandwiches, and sundry sharers.
Dockside Vaults, St Katharine Docks
We can practically hear the cheers and jeers ricocheting off the brick walls of this new subterranean venue a stone's throw from Tower Bridge. 10 HD screens have been set up in the cellar-esque bar — each with seating for 36 — so if you've got 35 rugby-loving chums, this one's worth looking into.
Hackney Bridge, Hackney Wick
A garden on the canal makes a rather pleasant spot to watch the rugby on the big screen at Hackney Bridge — otherwise, there's an indoors screen in the Hanger Bar. Walk-ins welcome.
Mrs Fogg's Dockside Drinkery & Distillery, Liverpool Street
If you're hankering for a good cocktail while you watch — and don't fancy your chances asking the barman at O'Neill's to mix you a Midori sour, Mrs Fogg's could be the place for you; the nautical-themed bar is showing all the games.
Mrs Fogg's Dockside Drinkery & Distillery
Watch the Rugby World Cup in west London
Prince, West Brompton
Every tackle and try is screened at this rugby-mad (and foliage-strewn) boozer — with a liberal scattering of big screens, plus special drinks promotions and match day menus. It's recommended you book tables, especially for England matches, but walk-ins are available. The final coincides with the pub's Halloween party, which you'll need to book for.
The Prince, West Brompton
Cabbage Patch, Twickenham
Located a rugby ball's throw from Twickenham Stadium, The Cabbage Patch is stuffed with rugby memorabilia and is a shoo-in for watching the rugger with a pint (or maybe a scotch from its impressive stock). Unsurprisingly, they're screening every World Cup match; when England are playing, expect the atmosphere to be very... English.
Orange Tree, Richmond
Rugby runs through the veins of the Orange Tree — another boozer situated in the upmarket, rugger-loving environs of west London. It goes without saying that every game is being screened, with 'the best match day atmosphere in Richmond' guaranteed.
Broadcaster, Wood Lane
Two floors of this four-storey White City boozer are screening the World Cup — including the rooftop bar (so pray for sunshine). They've got some decent beers on tap her, from breweries inc. Crate and Five Points.
Other bars screening the Rugby World Cup in London
Boxpark Wembley and Croydon
Two of the three Boxparks are firing up their big screens to show every World Cup match. If you like to watch your sport surrounded by hundreds of other voracious fans — and potentially end up with half a pint of Guinness in your hair — you've found the venue for you. Like other places on this list, entry is free — although you can also buy a ticket which gets you a £10 food voucher.
Various 'Star' pubs
Every England match (and plenty of others besides) are broadcast in these voguish collection of London pubs, which dish up burgers as a speciality:
- Star By Liverpool Street
- Star in Shoreditch
- Star By Hackney Downs
- Leyton Star
- Heathcote & Star (Leytonstone)
- Star of Kings (King's Cross)
ETM Group pubs, across London
The ETM chain — great for watching any sport, thanks to an abundance of screens, and decent food — will likely be screening all of the World Cup action. These days, you'll find them across most of London:
- Greenwood in Victoria
- Redwood in London Bridge
- Westwood in Shepherd's Bush
- Northwood in Angel (opens in September just in time for the start of the Rugby World Cup)
- Goldwood, Broadleaf, Long Arm, The Hat and Tun, and Beechwood in the City
View this post on Instagram
Skylight, Wapping and Peckham
Hit the rooftops of Skylight's brace of venues, for five screens apiece showing every game. Selected pints are £4.95 throughout the day, while £7 tickets guarantee you entry and your first drink.
Wolfpack, various
So far as we can tell, all three Wolfpack bars (or 'dens' as they like to call them) will be screening matches — an opportunity to choose from 20+ craft beers, while you cheer on your team. The bars are:
- Wolfpack Fulham
- Wolfpack West Hampstead
- Wolfpack Queens Park (their lack of apostrophe not ours)
Twickenham Stadium
The home of the England rugby team is screening each England group match (and we presume subsequent matches too, should the team progress). Note that screenings take place inside, NOT on a big screen in the stadium itself (although there is, apparently, a chance to go out and see the hallowed turf). There's plenty to keep you occupied pre and post match, including a pool table, arcade games and live music.
