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The Understudy

Our friendly riverside craft beer bar. Serving sizzling street food from KERB.

A table at The Understudy featuring Luckys Hot Chicken burgers, pizzas from BBPS Square and Indian vegan dishes from Mumbai Mix
Lucky's famous spice chicken burgers and sides
A smiling barperson pouring a stein of beer.

From our riverside location on London’s vibrant South Bank, The Understudy serves up an unbeatable line-up of Gipsy Hill beers and guest ales, wine from the best independent makers, spirits by East London Liquor Co. and a curated selection of three KERB street food traders.

Bring your mates and settle into our vibrant indoor bar, or soak up the views on our outdoor terrace.

Look out for regular tap takeovers, special events and limited edition themed dishes.

Follow on Instagram @KERBnationaltheatre

Book a table

Opening times
Monday – Wednesday: 12 noon – 12 Midnight (food service until 10pm)
Thursday – Saturday: 12 noon – 1am (food service until 10pm)
Sunday: 12 noon – 10pm (food service until 9pm)
The Understudy will be closed on 24, 25 & 31 December.

The Understudy, National Theatre, Upper Ground, SE1 9PX
Get directions

Email: kerb_understudy@ntfoodanddrink.org.uk and we will get back to you within 48 hours.

Tel: +44 (0)20 7452 3551

KERB traders at The Understudy

Meltdown Cheeseburgers

Our newest act are slinging out a range of juicy, oozy burgers, (choose from double smashed beef patty, spiced chicken thigh or vegan patty) – plus rotating monthly specials and loaded beef brisket fries.

View the Meltdown Cheesburgers menu

Mumbai Mix

Family-run Mumbai Mix are serving up tasty Indian street food with vegetarian and vegan Thalis, mouth-watering Mumbai toasties and juicy paneer or spicy vegetable burgers.

View the Mix’s menu

A close up of people's hands picking up three pieces of pizza, leaving a fourth piece on a tray.

Bad Boy Pizza Society

National Pizza of the Year 2022 winners with their Pepperoni Alla Vodka pizza, BBPS are serving their fluffy yet crispy Sicilian-style rectangular pizza only at the National Theatre. (vegan options available).

View the BBPS menu

Kids menu

Meltdown Cheesburgers have a kids burger, ketchup and chips deal, and Bad Boy Pizza Society and the Mumbai Mix kids options are detailed in the menu below.

View the kids menu options

Deals & special offers

A close up of people's hands picking up three pieces of pizza, leaving a fourth piece on a tray.

Medium pizza and a drink for £16

When you order from Bad Boy Pizza Society at the Understudy

Drinks included in the offer: Pint of KERB lager, 175ml of house wine, soft drinks

To redeem simply show this flyer at the bar.

For full terms and conditions:

A table at The Understudy featuring Luckys Hot Chicken burgers, pizzas from BBPS Square and Indian vegan dishes from Mumbai Mix

Student deals: 20% discount

On all food & drinks at The Understudy

Available all day

To redeem this offer, show your student card to The Understudy bar team.

Not available when ordering via QR codes.

A smiling bartender with long dark hair pouring a pint of beer.

Student deals: 2 for 1 drinks

At The Understudy

Offer only applicable between 3pm – 6pm,  every Monday to Thursday.

To redeem this offer, show your student card to the bar team at The Understudy.

For drinks included in the offer and full terms and conditions:

The Understudy gallery

View 14 images
A table at The Understudy featuring Luckys Hot Chicken burgers, pizzas from BBPS Square and Indian vegan dishes from Mumbai Mix The Understudy bar interior, with a long wooden table with wooden chairs, several round tables - low ones with chairs and tall ones with high stools. Sofas by windows, and a bar with beer taps, and bottles on shelves. A barman mixing drinks with shelves of bottles behind him A smiling bartender with long dark hair pouring a pint of beer. Three outdoor diners eating spiced chicken burger and sides A close up of people's hands picking up three pieces of pizza, leaving a fourth piece on a tray.