Pub Theatres: Love London’s Oldest New Pastime

The lights go down, and the curtain comes up. Or, in some spaces, the curtains stay where they are, and the lights come up. Or, theatre people, wherever they are, adapt to their situations and surroundings. Maybe that’s a small budget, a smaller space, or even… performing above a pub. A number of theatres here in London have adapted to mix creative spaces of art and performance with another space of community and production: the pub. Find out more about London’s pub theatres in Pub Theatres: London’s Oldest New Pastime.

The theatre has always been an inherently fluid art. From giant theatres to family living rooms, all you really need is a can-do attitude, and you could put on a show yourself. From grand spaces to rooms above pubs, theatre is a most loved art form in the UK. One pub theatre, the Circle & Star, is reopening next week with the goal of creating space for artists and bringing people together through it.

New Theatres London

London’s oldest pub theatre is the former Pentameters Theatre, which reopens next week in Hampstead as the Circle & Star Theatre. Earlier this year, the Pentameters was evicted from its home above The Horseshoe pub. Mid-2025, the theatre’s doors were locked. Its community banded together, fundraising to preserve its legacy.

Matt Lucas and David Walliams

On Monday, December 8, the Circle & Star Theatre will reopen with a night of performance hosted by Steve Furst under his cabaret persona Lenny Beige. The programme features comedy, conversation and live music, with performances by UK performers including Matt Lucas, David Walliams and Matt Berry. After the grand reopening, the Circle & Star already has a stacked lineup of upcoming shows. Improv, cabarets, and holiday offerings will fill December. Artists such as David Arnold, Guy Chambers and Debs Tammer will host monthly residencies.

Company Values

The theatre speaks of being born in the room, carried by the community, and that it holds the space in trust for artists, audiences, and the community. Their mission is to safeguard the future of the theatre by building long-term foundations that protect artistic freedom and ensure the theatre thrives for future generations. The Trustees protect the mission, support the team, and champion the vision. They ensure independence, integrity, and cultural purpose stay aligned. They serve as guardians of our purpose and stewards of the space’s future. They are made up of Kate Alderton, Tim Arnold,
Ashley Campbell, Steve Furst, Melinda Hughes, Mike Leigh, and
Tomi Pauk. See the Opening Programme Listings at the end of the post

Pub Theatre History

There are many pub theatres scattered across London. These places of entertainment have a long history. In the Medieval and Elizabethan Eras, troupes of travelling actors and musicians would perform in the courtyards of inns and taverns. Landlords would charge playgoers for entry into the yard or for a better view from the covered balconies (galleries). These inn-yard theatres served as the model for the first purpose-built Elizabethan theatres, such as Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

The tradition continued through the 18th century, evolving into “song and supper” rooms and, by the 1830s, the saloon bars of pubs, which were the origins of the British music hall. Entertainment became so popular that some pubs were demolished to make way for specialised music hall theatres. 

But it was the 20th century that saw the real rise of pub theatres becoming part if the fringe movement. In 1968, he first modern pub theatre was founded at the Freemasons’ Arms in Hampstead by Leonie Scott-Matthews, who used a disused skittle alley for performances. She later established the long-running Pentameters Theatre, mentioned at the top, above the Horseshoe pub.

Horseshoe Hampstead

Downstairs, the Horseshoe has remained a Hampstead institution since its founding. With a charming green exterior and a warm wood-centred interior, it will continue to offer its acclaimed food and drink and cosy atmosphere under the freshly renamed theatre.

Pub Theatre London

The Old Red Lion Theatre sits atop the Old Red Lion Pub, appropriately dressed with red doors and siding. Located in Islington, he pub is one of the oldest in England, dating back to the early 1400s. The theatre opened its doors in 1979. Since then, it’s hosted a number of productions that later transferred to the West End and Broadway, including Mischief Theatre’s “The Play That Goes Wrong” in 2012, which is still running in the West End. The theatre is simple on the inside: 45 to 60 seats and a black box stage space, which theatremakers can transform. From a handful of folding chairs to giant lightboxes to fully furnished halls, the small space metamorphoses.

Etcetera Theatre

Etcetera Theatre also seems appropriately named, putting on a wide variety of innovative productions in its space above The Oxford Arms in Camden. With bench-like seating in its black box spaces, Etcetera has brought in some of London’s most exciting fringe performances.  For thirty-seven years, the award-winning theatre has placed an emphasis on supporting new artists. It’s a common theme for these pub theatres, which embrace all kinds of art at a wide range of levels. It’s a welcoming place, created “for artists, by artists.”

The downstairs Oxford Arms seems to match upstairs, with its eclectic decor and homey atmosphere. Dating back to 1968, it sits near the centre of Camden Town with welcoming arms.

Hope & Anchor London

One of London’s newest pub theatres, The Hope Theatre opened in 2013 and now puts on in-house and outside shows alike. It’s an intimate venue; seating fifty, its performances are “dramatic, surprising, and have something to say about the world we are living in now.”

Located underneath the theatre is The Hope and Anchor pub, dating back to 1880. A notable music venue, the pub has played host to such acts as U2, Madness, the Ramones and The Cure.

Opening Programme Listings Circle & Star Theatre.

Tuesday 9th December: MATT LUCAS in Chatshow Roulette with Justin Edwards. An improvised chat show format with some Stella guests led by Matt Lucas.

Wednesday 10th December: An Audience with Guy Chambers, one of the UK’s most successful songwriters of all time joined Steve Furst in conversation about his illustrious career and his plans for a regularly curated monthly rising stars night.

Thursday 11th December: Clinton Baptiste’s Paranormal Christmas Seance. Clinton made his name in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, but has since gone on to sell out theatres up and down the country for years.

Friday 12th December: An audience with David Arnold, composer of James Bond, Good Omens and many, many others. He will be chatting to Steve Furst and playing many of his compositions.

Monday 15th December: Liane Carroll’s Christmas Cracker. A night of chat and songs with one of the country’s finest jazz artistes.

Tuesday 16th December: Marcus Brigstocke. Marcus is without doubt, one of the UK’s finest stand-up comedians, always current, insightful and a damn fine impressionist to boot.

Thursday 18th December: Sexy Stories. The first of a semi-regular night featuring a group of brilliant comedy actors, including Matt Berry, Lewis Macleod (Deadringers), Doon Mackichan (Smack the Pony), Steve Furst,and Adam Longworth- reading stories from vintage adult publications.

Saturday 20th December:12 Days of JESSMAS. The Queen of female singing impressionists Jess Robinson presents her festive show.

Saturday 17th January: David Walliams in person – a matinee for kids, and an evening show where anything could happen. The show names TBC

Wednesday 21st January:

An Evening With Mel Giedroyc – Steve Furst interviews half of legendary double act Mel & Sue, former Bake Off hosts, in what will be a hilarious and frank show.

Thursday 22nd January: An Evening with Jay Rayner. Jay is one of this country’s most beloved restaurant critics and a damn fine jazz musician too. Hear him in conversation with Steve Furst and hear him play too.

Saturday 7th February: Simon Day in Character. An evening of the Fast Show’s Simon Day, presenting some of his best-loved characters in conversation with Steve Furst

REGULAR MONTHLY NIGHTS (TBC). C&MP – with Debs Tammer. A monthly night of comedy and variety hosted by Debs with some superb established circuit names and featuring rising stars. The last Thursday of the month, DAVID ARNOLD Presents – Songwriters. This monthly night is curated by legendary composer David Arnold. It will feature songwriters showcasing their craft.IN a world where there are fewer and fewer venues to showcase talent, this is sure to be an important night.

The last Monday of the month, GUY CHAMBERS Presents – Acoustic Showcase. Guy is without doubt one of this country’s best known and most successful songwriters. He still works with many of tomorrow’s stars and will be showcasing some of the most exciting up-and-coming talents.

This is just a small section of London’s pub theatres; dozens are spread throughout the city. They’re more accessible than some of our higher-budget productions, but they hold the same charm and so much creativity and passion. Theatre is a difficult life path; whether you’re writing, performing, directing, producing, building, designing, or running your own theatre, smaller theatres are in a league of their own. A welcoming theatre environment, like what these spaces offer, is important in lifting up the up-and-coming stars of the theatre community.

Book tickets and find all the info at circleandstar.com
 @circleandstartheatre. Circle & Star Theatre
28 Heath St, 
London
NW3 6TE

If you enjoyed Pub Theatres: London’s Oldest New Pastime, why not try Synthesis Theatre?

.Cent Magazine, London. Luxury Minded.