Little Kudu

Little Kudu | South African Tapas in a Railway Arch

London’s best cocktail bar named after an antelope… has eloped.

Smokey Kudu has now relocated to Chelsea, leaving something of a hole behind in its former railway arch home by Queen’s Road Peckham station – but don’t worry, because the Kudu team intend to fill it.

If, somehow, you’ve managed to avoid Amy Corbin and Patrick Williams’ burgeoning South London empire thus far, here’s a quick primer. It all kicked off with their original South African restaurant Kudu, named after the antelope-like animal native to the southern part of the continent: it’s famed for being extremely difficult to hunt, for its beautifully curved horns, and for the annual kudu dung spitting championship, held since 1994.

The world record is 51 feet, FYI.

Kudu swiftly became one of the most popular restaurants in Peckham, winning itself a Michelin Bib Gourmand and spawning offshoots in the forms of Smokey Kudu, Curious Kudu, and Kudu Grill. A little ‘tapas’-style version of the restaurant has long been in the running, too… and now, Little Kudu is finally set to open, taking over the old Smokey Kudu site.

Anyone who’s visited the arch in its former incarnation will appreciate just how little Little Kudu will be. They’re reshuffling the space to squeeze in a few more diners – you’ll find high stools and marble tables scattered across the space, plus an open kitchen with counter seating. And yes, that beautiful art deco chandelier will be staying behind to illuminate the newly rose-pink brick walls.

Chef patron Williams and head chef Chace Wagenhauser will be designing the menu of small plates, which is so far set to feature smoked peri-peri mussels; ‘Little Kudu Loaf’ with Cape Malay butter; ham hock terrine with biltong scratchings; and Braaibroodjie, the South African take on the grilled cheese sandwich. And you can bet there’ll be a decent wine list alongside it all, with over 30 of the country’s ‘most sought-after’ bottles to sample.

Thankfully, it’s only about 50 feet to the station.

Spitting distance, really.

NOTE: Little Kudu is set to open on Wednesday 21st June 2023 – you can keep an eye on their progress HERE.

Little Kudu | 133 Queens Road, SE15 2AY

Making a night of it? Here are our favourite bars in Peckham