Draughts - Waterloo
BEST FOR
Ages 0-12
ENTRY
from £7.95
SETTING
Indoors
WHERE
London
What it’s like
A café where kids play free from a wall of over 1,000 board games while food comes to the table.
The pitch here is simple: pick a game, any game, from a shelf of over 1,000 titles, and someone brings your food and drink to the table while you play. Under-12s get in free, which is the bit that makes this worth a look if you've got a house full of kids who've worn out every board game you own. Staff can point you toward something for a six-year-old or something that'll actually hold a ten-year-old's attention, and gaming admission runs up to three hours, though that's subject to availability so it's not a guaranteed slot.
You can't bring your own snacks or a flask of squash, everything has to come from their menu, which does stretch to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options and runs until 10pm. That's fine for a proper visit but a bit of a faff if you'd just wanted to pop in with a packed lunch. Under-18s have to leave by 9pm regardless of when you arrived, so this isn't a late one with the kids in tow even though the venue itself stays open to 11pm.
Prices shift by time of day. Off-peak is midweek before 4pm and comes in cheaper for adults, peak covers weekday evenings and all weekend. Teenagers aged 13-17 pay a reduced rate either way, and under-12s are always free to play. Booking is recommended rather than optional if you want to guarantee a table, and for bigger groups of 15 or more they want you to email ahead and may ask for a deposit.
It's wheelchair accessible and there's baby changing on site, and dogs are allowed too if that's part of your outing. Card only for payment, so leave the cash at home.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 0 to 12; teens can join in too at a reduced rate
- Food
- On-site restaurant with vegetarian, gluten-free and vegan options
- Dogs
- Allowed
- Parties
- Private hire available. Semi-private Mezzanine space
- Card only, no cash accepted
- Under-18s have to leave by 9pm even though the venue's open till 11pm
- Gaming time is capped at three hours and isn't guaranteed if it's busy
- Dogs are welcome if you're bringing one along
- They sell games too, so budget extra if your kids fall in love with something on the shelf
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Under-12s play free. Adults pay £7.95 off-peak or £9.95 peak, and teens aged 13-17 pay £4 or £5 depending on the time.
What counts as off-peak and peak?
Off-peak is midweek before 4pm. Peak covers weekday evenings from 4pm plus all day Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays.
Do we need to book?
Booking's recommended through their reservations page. Groups of 15 or more need to email ahead and may be asked for a deposit.
How long do we get to play?
Gaming admission runs up to three hours, though that's subject to availability rather than guaranteed.
Can we bring our own food?
No, everything has to be bought from their menu, which covers vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.
What time does the kitchen serve until?
Food is served until 10pm, seven days a week.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Children have to be accompanied by an adult and there's baby changing on site, so it works for younger ones too.
Is there a curfew for kids?
Under-18s aren't allowed on site after 9pm, whatever time you arrived.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
It's a wheelchair accessible venue, and you can email ahead for any specific mobility needs.
Can we host a birthday party there?
They do private hire and a semi-private mezzanine space, with food and drinks packages for groups of 15 or more.
How do we pay?
Card only, they take major credit and debit cards and prefer contactless or chip and pin.
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