Six Oyster Happy Hours in London Shucking Bivalves for £2 or Less

Oysters were once so abundant on the banks of the Thames that they were considered a peasant food – are far cry from today, when they’re typically priced between £2.50 and £5 a pop. But, there is a way to get your oyster fill in London without breaking the budget: there’s a growing number of oyster happy hours cropping up across the capital, offering the briny bivalves for a fraction of the cost.

We’ve rounded up six London spots doing oyster happy hour so you can enjoy an oyster (or dozen) without taking a financial hit.

Family-owned seafood institution Wright Brothers is the place to go for top-tier seafood. As well as its own Borough, Battersea and South Kensington restaurants, it supplies more than 500 venues around the UK. Its “pound-a-pop” happy hours happen at different times at each of their locations, meaning you can sling back an oyster with sauce mignonette or Tabasco for just £1 somewhere around town at 6pm any day of the week.

Battersea:
Mon to Wed 3pm–6pm
Sun 6pm–9pm

South Kensington:
Restaurant: Mon to Fri midday–6pm, Sun 4pm–6pm
The Mermaid Bar: Thu to Sat 6pm–7pm

Borough Market:
Mon to Wed 3pm–6pm

thewrightbrothers.co.uk
@wrightbrosltd

Celebrated chef, Guinness enthusiast and proud Dubliner Robin Gill knows exactly how to have a good time – which is why the lively happy hours at his NYC-inspired brasserie Darby’s don’t solely revolve around shellfish. His team shucks oysters from Carlingford in northwest Ireland for £2 each (there’s a minimum order of six) between 5pm and 7pm from Tuesday to Friday, as well as from 3pm to 6pm and 9pm to 10pm on Saturdays. Along with the bargain bivalves, Martinis and Campari sodas are also cheaper during happy hour. For Gill, the Louise Feiser variety of Carlingford oysters paired with a squeeze of Amalfi lemon can’t be beaten. “They’re the best in their category. Each one is unique, plump, sweet and packed with pristine oyster meat. They offer a pure taste of the ocean, with a hint of sweetness and a clean, mineral finish.”
darbys-london.com
@darbyslondon

An understated sanctuary serving wholesome British seafood moments from the chaos of the Covent Garden piazza, The Oystermen is led by seasonality and sustainability. Stop by between 3pm and 5pm from Monday to Friday for a sharpener of six mixed oysters served with a classic mignonette sauce and a glass of fizz for £15.
oystermen.co.uk
@theoystermen

Founded by a family of seasoned fishmongers who’ve been supplying Londoners with fruits de mer for more than a quarter of a century, Applebee’s has all the allure of a cosy, contemporary seaside restaurant set away from the buzz of Borough Market. It offers £1 oysters from 4pm to 6pm every Monday to Friday. “We serve a rotating selection of British oysters because we're' always sourcing and buying what is available and in abundance,” executive chef Frankie van Loo tells Broadsheet. If he were to choose a front runner? “Our favourites are the Porthilly, from Cornwall. They’re plump and creamy with a delicate sweetness and a hint of nuttiness.” And don’t even think about piling on extra ingredients. “A squeeze of fresh lemon and a dash of our homemade shallot mignonette is all you need to let oysters shine – and perhaps a drop or two of Tabasco if you like a kick.”
applebeesfish.com
@applebeesfishlondon

This Highgate diner is a sleek neighbourhood favourite, fusing a fishmonger with a wine bar. And from 4pm to 6pm, Tuesday to Friday, it shucks oysters for £2 each – plus takes £2 off all glasses of wine and cocktails for good measure. It sources its bivalves from some of the best: Ireland’s Connemara and Killough Bay oysters, fine de claire from France and Maldon rock oysters from Essex.
londonshellco.com
@londonshellco

Origin City might be dedicated to meaty, nose-to-tail dining – but it also does a roaring trade in seafood, and even has a sister aquafarm in Scotland: Loch Fyne Oysters. These shellfish show up on across menu, including during happy hours that run from 3pm to 6pm on weekdays, and on Saturdays from 4pm to 7pm. They cost £2 an oyster (minimum three per person), or £21 for a dozen, and dressings including lemon, apple balsamic and sriracha ketchup.
origincity.co.uk
@origin_city

Additional reporting by Che-Marie Trigg.