Big John's Biltong Bar
A ramshackle one-room Deptford dive bar with beer-mat-covered walls, cheap pints, house-made biltong and a sing-along crowd. Time Out named it London's best dive bar for 2026.
- Nightlife
- Price: £ · Budget
Open in A Reason to StopFree on the App Store. iPhone, iOS 26 or later.
Did you know
The owner makes all the biltong in-house, marinating it for 24 hours in vinegar, salt and spices, then hanging it to dry for a week.
Local tip
Open from 4pm on weekdays and 2pm at weekends. It is one small room, so go early for a seat. Not suited to vegans or anyone avoiding strong, salty flavours.
Famous dishes
Finding it
- Address
- 29 Deptford High Street, London SE8 4AD
- Nearest station
- Deptford Bridge DLR Station, 262 m away
Details change, so check with the place before you set off.
More places nearby
- Deptford MarketDeptford's long-running street market along Deptford High Street and Douglas Way, trading Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, split between fresh food and fashion on the High Street and bric-a-brac and second-hand goods on Douglas Way.
- Viet RestA long-running, unpretentious Vietnamese restaurant on Deptford High Street known for fresh pho, bun cha and spring rolls at low prices.
- The Bird's NestA live-music pub on Deptford Church Street at the edge of Deptford Creek, running gigs across folk, punk, blues and ska most nights, plus a Wednesday open-mic "Play for a Pint" session.
- Deptford Market YardA row of 14 restored Grade II-listed railway arches next to Deptford station, converted in 2017 into independent food, drink and retail units.