Walthamstow-on-Sea

Walthamstow-on-Sea | A classic British seaside town… in East London

You know what they say…

…life’s a beach, and then you find one in the sunny alfresco space outside the country’s biggest beer hall, complete with tons of sand, beach huts, deck chairs, fish & chips, and parties every weekend.

Welcome to Walthamstow-on-Sea, the revamped al fresco area at Big Penny Social on the Blackhorse Beer Mile. If you haven’t been there before, here’s a little rejoinder: it’s basically an absolutely gigantic brewery space that’s been converted into a kind of urban village hall, with arts, events, and social activities constantly to-ing and fro-ing from its barn-like doors (all of which are washed down with copious amounts of beer).

Now, they’ve recreated a quintessential slice of British seaside in their beer garden, bussing in tons of sand, and adding rentable beach huts, plenty of deck chairs, and fairy lights to illuminate it all as the sun dips below the horizon. There’s even a chippy called Penny’s serving up classic fish & chips (beer-battered, naturally), as well as fish finger sandwiches chip butties, and even a Sri Lankan number, as well as sides like fried halloumi with either a hot jalapeño sauce or Korean glaze. Because nothing is more traditionally British than plucking liberally from other nation’s cuisines.

On top of that, you can expect classic 99 ice creams; Walthamstow-on-Sea rock; frozen cocktails; beer (obviously) and even a special Walthamstow-on-Sea postal service which allows you to send postcards to your mates.

And as for those parties? They’ll be taking place every Saturday, with live DJs placing body-moving tunes into the night and guaranteed no sand in your socks…

…provided you leave them at home.

NOTE: Walthamstow-on-Sea runs throughout the summer, with free entry Tues-Thurs evenings and a small admission fee at other times. You can find out more, and book a table or beach hut, HERE.

Big Penny Social | 1 Priestley Way, E17 6AL

Want to soak up the sun? Here’s 75 great things to do outside in London