An event space in a bar with exposed brick walls, uplighting, and a visible bar counter at SAMA Bankside.

An event space in a bar with wooden ceilings, exposed brick walls, and a bar counter at SAMA Bankside.

An event space in a bar with exposed brick walls, a shuffleboard table, and people playing games at SAMA Bankside.

Upper Arch at SAMA Bankside

Event Space in a Bar

Semi-private area

About this space

A light airy space with natural daylight, our Upper Arch is perfect for Birthdays, Engagement parties, standing receptions or after-work drinks.

Our Upper Arch is a semi-private area on our upper floor that opens out to our main bar area shown in the background.

It has a raised area at the opposite end leading to outside with our comfy curved pink booth adding a pop of colour in the space.

To make your evening more exciting we can offer beer pong too for some added interactive fun which is £35 per game.

We also have a DJ on from 9:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays playing a mix of Club Classics, R&B, House and Disco until 1am when we close.

Seats 25 for dinner or 50 for a standing reception.

Dimensions: 4m x 7.5m

Additional FAQ's.
Can I play my own music - Unfortunately not as it's not a completely enclosed room.
Is this a pub - No, we're not a pub, we're a late night bar also serving food until 9pm.
Are children allowed - Only until 9pm, after which they have to leave.
Do we allow external catering - Only birthday/engagement cakes.
Are we dog friendly - Yes.
Do we allow BYOB - No.

Usually booked for

30th Birthday Party

Typically for 30-50 guests and costs about £500.

"I had my 30th Birthday Party at SAMA and everyone had such a great time!"

- Ericka May 2026

Party

Typically for 30-50 guests and costs between £450 - £650.

"Lovely clean and layout to the venue. Perfect for 30th birthday celebrations. Cannot recommend enough..."

- Hannah W. Sep 2026

Summer Party

Typically for 35-50 guests and costs about £600.

"The venue is amazing and the staff incredible!"

- Serena V. Jun 2026

Offers and packages

Menus

Prices

Monday

9:00 – 23:00

from £500–£1000 min. spend

Per evening

17:00 – 23:00

from £500

Per day

9:00 – 17:00

from £1000

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Tuesday

9:00 – 23:00

from £500–£1000 min. spend

Per evening

17:00 – 23:00

from £500

Per day

9:00 – 17:00

from £1000

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Wednesday

9:00 – 23:00

from £500–£1000 min. spend

Per evening

17:00 – 23:00

from £500

Per day

9:00 – 17:00

from £1000

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Thursday

9:00 – 23:00

from £500–£1000 min. spend

Per evening

17:00 – 23:00

from £500

Per day

9:00 – 17:00

from £1000

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Friday

9:00 – 0:30

from £600–£1000 min. spend

Per evening

17:00 – 0:30

from £600

Per day

9:00 – 17:00

from £1000

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Saturday

12:00 – 1:00

from £500–£750 min. spend

Per evening

18:00 – 1:00

from £750

Per day

12:00 – 18:00

from £500

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Sunday

11:00 – 21:00

from £2000 min. spend

Per day

11:00 – 21:00

from £2000

Alcohol licence until 1:00. All prices include VAT.

Best price guarantee

Capacity

Standing

up to 50

Dining

up to 30

Catering and drinks

Venue can organise food and drink

Halal menu

Extensive vegan menu

Extensive vegetarian menu

Extensive gluten-free menu

Complimentary refreshments (such as water, tea, or coffee) for guests at no extra cost

Venue can supply alcoholic beverages

Facilities

Air conditioner

Room has windows or a skylight, so daylight comes in

Beer Pong

Unavailable: Accommodation is available on-site

Unavailable: Parking available

Music & sound equipment

Accessibility

Step-free access throughout the venue for wheelchair users

Toilet(s) adapted for guests with disabilities

Guests can enter without using stairs

Rules of the space

Allowed events

Age policy

Guests under 18 are not allowed after 20:00

Host rules

Close to Blackfriars & Southwark stations. SAMA Bankside is on Robinson Road at the junction of Southwark Street and Blackfriars Road.
Dog Friendly
Dogs allowed

Cancellation policy: Standard 30 day

Show cancellation details

Reviews and ratings

(338 reviews and ratings - )

Verified reviews come from Tagvenue users. All reviews are checked by our team to uphold our trust and safety standards.

FAQ

Can clients bring their own DJ?

No, clients cannot have their own DJ in the Upper Arch space because it is an open-plan venue, so it is not possible to separate the music between the different areas. For their own DJ or music, they’ll need the downstairs space, which has its own bar and is self-contained.

Does the bar play background music before the DJ starts?

Yes, background music is played before the DJ starts.

Can tables and chairs be moved to create more standing space?

Yes, tables and chairs can be moved to create a more standing-oriented layout, and a beer pong table can be set up.

Is the upstairs event space wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the Upper Arch is wheelchair accessible, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet is on the same floor.

Is the Upper Arch space available?

Yes, the Upper Arch space is available and is ideal for groups requiring a mix of standing and seating with buffet catering.

SAMA Bankside is a #Supervenue

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Customers rated communication with this venue and their event experience as Superb

Response time: within a couple of hours

Response rate: 93%