Backstage at The Old Vic is set just behind the theatre on Waterloo Road and is open to everyone, making it a useful spot for breakfast, pre-show meals and drinks in one of central London’s busiest cultural neighbourhoods. Fully accessible, Backstage functions as a multi-use extension, with a triple-height cafe bar at the centre. Easily accessed from Waterloo Road, the space is composed of a series of interconnected volumes for users to occupy, a 'public living room' for the local community, creatives and visitors to gather, work and spend time throughout the day with affordable food, free Wi-Fi, and a projecting balcony overlooking Waterloo Millennium Green.
Backstage at The Old Vic's pre-show menus are seasonal, Mediterranean-inspired and evolve with each production at The Old Vic. Affordably priced as a set menu with two or three courses, menus here have featured starters like courgette fritters with herb mayonnaise and squash arancini with fried sage and aioli. Mains, meanwhile, might range from chicken escalope with fennel salad and pomodoro sauce to seared salmon with chorizo and borlotti cassoulet, with vegetarian options too. To finish, think along the lines of creme brulee and summer berry meringue.
To match, expect artisan coffee, soft drinks, and juices, running alongside bar drinks like draft beers, non alcoholic options, and wines from some of the world's top producing regions. Mornings at Backstage, meanwhile, offer a lovely breakfast menu, complete with pastries from the counter, breakfast baps, and huevos rancheros among other options.
For over 200 years, The Old Vic has been a centre for creativity and culture. With the opening of Backstage in October 2025, The Old Vic’s longstanding civic and cultural commitment is reflected in a welcoming, inclusive public space that reimagines the role of a theatre - not just as a place for performance, but as a shared environment for creativity, learning and for the community to come together.