Southwark Food & Beverage Spaces

Food & beverage spaces to rent in Southwark: Restaurants, cafés and bars

Looking to launch a restaurant, café or bar in Southwark? The Arch Company has flexible, characterful spaces available across one of Central London's most established food and culture destinations. From artisan coffee counters to full-service dining venues, our railway arches deliver distinctive design, exceptional footfall and unrivalled transport connections.

Southwark sits at the heart of London's culinary map, drawing locals, office workers and millions of visitors to Borough Market, the Southbank and London Bridge. With some of the capital's busiest stations on your doorstep, these arch units place your hospitality business exactly where customers are already gathering, which is a strategic advantage that conventional high street properties rarely offer.

Our leases are built for flexibility, our terms are transparent, and our team brings specialist knowledge of what hospitality operators need to thrive. Finding the right food and beverage space to rent in Southwark doesn't have to be complicated.

Why choose a railway arch for your food & beverage business in Southwark?

For hospitality brands seeking spaces with character, adaptability and serious customer footfall, Southwark's railway arches tick every box. High ceilings, original brickwork and industrial detailing give these units an aesthetic edge that works beautifully for everything from neighbourhood wine bars to destination restaurants.

The area's reputation as a food lover's destination is firmly established, anchored by Borough Market and bolstered by the constant flow of visitors to Southbank, Tate Modern and the theatre district. Meanwhile, our arches benefit from their proximity to key transport arteries, putting you within easy reach of commuters, tourists and the local community.

We've partnered with hundreds of food and drink businesses across the city, so we know the practicalities matter just as much as the location. Whether it's adapting a layout, navigating licensing or planning your fit-out, we'll work with you to find a restaurant, bar space or cafe spot in Southwark that aligns with your vision and commercial objectives.

Prime location

Southwark's food and beverage arches are located in some of London's highest-traffic zones such as Borough Market, London Bridge station, Bermondsey Street and Elephant & Castle. You're surrounded by a vibrant mix of daily commuters, international visitors and established residential neighbourhoods, all with direct access to the rest of the capital.

Whether your concept is quick-service or sit-down dining, these locations deliver consistent visibility and customer flow every day of the week.

Vehicle access

Hospitality businesses run on reliable logistics. Several of our Southwark properties feature dedicated loading bays or off-street vehicle access, streamlining deliveries and reducing the hassle of morning restocking or evening prep. For high-volume cafés or restaurants with complex supply chains, this kind of infrastructure makes a real difference.

Flexible spaces

Every hospitality concept has different spatial requirements. Our Southwark arches range from compact coffee shop units to larger venues suited to table service, bar seating or multi-use formats. Layouts can be configured to suit your service model, kitchen needs and customer experience.

Different types of food & beverage spaces available

Across Southwark, The Arch Company manages a diverse range of hospitality properties, from intimate café units to larger restaurant and bar premises. Each space retains the architectural charm and industrial heritage of the original railway arches, while offering the practical infrastructure modern food businesses require.

Located close to Borough Market, London Bridge and the cultural institutions that define the area, these units benefit from Southwark's status as one of the most visited parts of the capital. A built-in advantage for any operator.

Restaurants to rent in Vauxhall

Southwark is one of London's most credible locations for restaurant operators. With Borough Market setting the standard and a steady stream of diners moving between the Southbank, London Bridge and Bermondsey, our arches put you right in the thick of it. You'll have access to an audience that's already primed for quality food experiences.

These units are adaptable enough to suit everything from fast-casual formats to fine dining. The arches themselves add instant personality to your brand, creating an environment that feels curated from day one.

Bars to rent in London

Southwark's bar scene spans historic pubs, modern cocktail lounges and late-night spots clustered around Borough, Bermondsey and Waterloo. Our bar-ready arch units bring the flexibility and atmosphere you need to build a regular following among professionals, creatives and the weekend crowd drawn to the area's galleries, markets and riverfront.

The arches provide distinctive interiors with minimal intervention, and select sites have key assets for evening and weekend trade such as the scope for outdoor seating or extended trading hours.

See how Little Nan’s Bar in Deptford brought their quirky cocktail concept to life in one of our arches.

Coffee Shops to let in London

With London Bridge alone serving over 50 million passengers a year, Southwark is a natural home for coffee-focused businesses. Add in the foot traffic from Borough Market, the Southbank and a well-established residential base, and you have the kind of daily demand that independent coffee shops and artisan bakeries depend on.

Our arch units offer compact, character-rich layouts with plenty of natural light and volume. They're quick to brand and straightforward to fit out, whether you're focused on grab-and-go or building a destination café with seating.

See how Sendero Specialty Coffee has built a thriving presence in Brixton and Putney using our arch spaces as welcoming neighbourhood cafés with a unique edge.

Cafés Shops to let in London

Southwark's café scene caters to everyone from early-morning commuters to leisurely weekend brunchers. Our arch units work well for bakery-café hybrids, all-day dining concepts and neighbourhood spots looking to establish a loyal local base. The exposed brick and industrial touches give these spaces an authenticity that's hard to replicate in newer developments.

With strong daytime footfall from London Bridge, Borough Market shoppers and Southbank visitors, you'll see consistent trade across opening hours. Some units also offer potential for street-facing counters or external seating to maximise revenue during peak periods.

Commercial properties for rent in key locations

Beyond Southwark, The Arch Company's portfolio extends across London. Whether you're exploring restaurants in Waterloo or café opportunities in Brixton, our railway arches accommodate a wide variety of hospitality businesses and budgets.

Browse available units by location using our interactive map.

Our commercial property management process

The Arch Company takes a hands-on approach to managing its hospitality portfolio. From initial site preparation and compliance checks through to ongoing maintenance and repairs, our in-house team keeps your premises in good working order so you can stay focused on service.

We continue to support tenants throughout the lease term, with a management structure designed around the realities of running a food and beverage operation. Our agreements are clear, and our team understands the sector.

Get in touch with our property experts

In hospitality, location is everything. Our Southwark spaces place you at the centre of London's most dynamic food quarter, surrounded by the kind of footfall, transport links and cultural energy that drive long-term success. Your business deserves a setting that works as hard as you do.

So, whether you've already identified a unit or need a little bit of guidance on where to start, our team is here to help you find the right fit.

Learn how renting with us works, or get in touch today to get started.