The Sheaf

The Sheaf sits underground in the vaulted cellars of the Hop Exchange at 24 Southwark Street, a short walk from Borough Market. The bar lines the brick arches with screens for the big games and keeps a couple of dartboards in regular use. Londonist files it among the reliable Borough basements for watching sport without paying West End prices.

This is a watch the game and stay for a round room, not a cocktail destination. The cellar setting keeps it cool and cavernous, and on a major fixture it fills with a loud, good natured crowd. If you want quiet and candlelight, look elsewhere in SE1. If you want a pint and a screen, it does the job well.

The vaulted brick cellars of the Hop Exchange give the bar its character, with arches, long tables and screens angled for the crowd. CAMRA's WhatPub entry notes the heritage building and the basement layout, which is why it swallows a big match crowd without feeling cramped.

The draught range covers cask and keg with pints from around six pounds, and the focus is steady drinking rather than a long cocktail list. There is enough choice to keep a beer drinker happy across a full ninety minutes plus extra time.

Food leans pub standard to soak up the session, and the kitchen and bar are built for volume on match days. Arrive early for a marquee fixture to claim a table with a clear sightline rather than standing at the back.

A Borough after work and matchday crowd, loudest when a big game is on the screens. Midweek early evenings are quieter, with the room filling from kickoff on fixture nights and weekends.

Planning a matchday? Read our best sports bars in London guide and our wider best bars in London list. Searching nearby? Start at the sports bars near me hub or the London sports bars page.