Camden Beach

I’ve been meaning to come here for the last two years, but only managed to get there a few days ago.
The beach is part of the Roundhouse complex at Chalk Farm. It’s on the roof above the Made in Camden bar restaurant. Everyone seemed to be having a good time when I went. It did look strange though, looking out at a large area of sand in Central London, with people bathing in deckchairs, enjoying a bit of sun. There is even a row of beach huts to the far end of the roof. There is a Tki bar selling drinks and cocktails, as well as coffee. There is also a container which is housing a Pork outlet, and an icecream van, that actually dishes up vodka (soli vodka are the sponsers of this beach. They have a covered area where you can sit out of the sun with what looked like a fish outlet.
All in all, it’s a really imaginative way of using space for the enjoyment of the public, with no pressure on making a purchase. They even provide a couple of table tennis tables for free use.
I’m not a fan of bottled beer, preferring draught. The outdoor Tiki bar does not do draught. There is a bar just inside which does, and you can take your drink out to enjoy on the beach (it works out cheaper too).
If your paying a visit to Camden Market or in the area, I would certainly pay it a visit. I would go out of my way to come here specifically though.

Really fun atmosphere — went on a Sunday afternoon and was great for kids and grown ups alike! Drinks weren’t too overpriced and the deck chairs and buckets and spades were provided!

Now I do like to be beside the seaside, but without water you can still have a beach, or can you? Our party was divided, not me though– I love the beach and so can accept sand without water! I really appreciate the effort that they go too, with the sand, deckchairs (no booking or putting down towels so I have never actually had a chance to sit on these but they look nice), buckets and spades, giant jengas and plenty of food and drink outlets. While there recently they were giving out free alcoholic ice cream and shots. It does get very busy if sunny, and can fill up with children and people in bikinis– but it is free to get in and somehow the crowds make it feel more authentic. Although I am glad that I was not the person giving out free icecream– I imagine it was not easy to explain to the kids why they couldn’t have any! I have never been here and not had fun — and any excuse to sing Nicki Minaj is welcomed by me.

Seeing it’s down the road from where I live, and I hadn’t ever been, we made a plan to head there one day after brunch. It was a fine sunny day and we got there about half 1. It wasn’t too busy so we got some drinks and had a short wander around. There were 4 sheds that doubled as beach huts, a couple of food vendors, one with posh fish and chips, the other doing hot dogs of various varieties and three bars, one of which was closed. The area itself was nice, deckchairs dotted around and lots of lovely sand. Although unable to find a deckchair initially, after a while a couple left and we quickly nabbed them. A good thing too as it only got busier as the afternoon wore on. About half 3, you could really move around for the people sitting on the sand, my feet were stepped on a couple of times as people tried to make their way through the crowds. We called it quits shortly after, the weather was turning and we were a little hungry. We’ll go again, maybe a little better prepared next time but it was a fun afternoon!

This is a fabulous concept, and executed well.
I arrived around 4pm and there was no issues getting into the Beach, and getting drinks from the bar. Prices are a little steep, but I had expected as much.
There wasn’t a lot of room to sit in the actual sand. Though as the time moved on, and people left, we were able to spread out a bit more.
If I was went back, I’d definitely arrive earlier to secure a nice decent sized patch of sand, or maybe even a deck chair.
As we were leaving around 6:30pm there was a line of around 20 – 30 people waiting to get in. So its definitely an idea to get here early.
TIP: bring a towel!

It as a bit cold when I came. So I was much in a beachy mood. But I do like how the roof of the Camden Roundhouse has been transformed into a beach. The cocktails that they serve can be very strong. We ended up getting a Sex on the Beach as their rum cocktail wasn’t very nice.
I’m a bit confused about the pitcher situation there. I saw a sign saying that you could order pitchers of cocktails. So we did and were given a pitcher but then told by the bartender that they really shouldn’t be making them. Well if that’s the case, perhaps they need to change their signage. Many other people asked about our pitcher as they wanted one but were denied. So perhaps that Camden Beach is missing out on a money making opportunity.

There’s a beach in London. Yeah, you heard me, a mother flipping beach. And I’m not talking about paddling in the Thames either (NB avoid). Ok, so there are no azure waves lapping against a tropical shoreline, nor is David Hasselhoff striding around in a pair of scarlet Speedos, but there is a massive great expanse of actual sand — proper fine white Caribbean-​style sand! — and a tiki hut, deckchairs, buckets, spades, icepops and frozen margaritas. Let’s be honest, the sea itself is overrated anyway; it’s full of jellyfish and used nappies and man-​eating sharks, so the Roundhouse did us all a favour by jettisoning the crap and just presenting us with the good bits, without the grumpy car journey and endless echoes of «are we there yet?» from the back seat.
Unfortunately when we arrived there were still a few anklebiters polluting the place and they’d stolen all the buckets and spades, the ungrateful little pint-​sized gits. But it turns out that the humble plastic cup is a workable alternative. I’d dug half-​way to Australia and created an impenetrable fort before the threat of an ocean storm sent us back to shore and we headed into ye olde Camden port for vittles. Those sea breezes don’t half work you up an appetite.

«You’ve got 99 problems but a beach ain’t one»
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I am definitely a fan of Camden Beach. A great idea, executed with such pluck in the face of some of the worst (intermittent) days of summer in London in recent memory. Plenty of sand, several deckchairs, funky music and a tiki bar doling out an apparently inexhaustible supply of reasonable cocktails (the ground nutmeg on the rum punches was a nice touch), the appreciation was there to see on the faces of all. Yes, it got a little chilly towards the end, but I say that just made the recreation of a British beach all the more authentic.
Liking it.

Is it a beach or is it a sandpit? Do you need water to qualify as a beach? Think about it.
Whatever, there’s certainly sand and beach umbrellas on top of Camden Roundhouse. A beach, they call it. Sure.
I’m sure it would be fabulous if we actually got sun in London. Otherwise you are standing ankle deep in cold sand, drinking a terrible cocktail, in the middle of the grungiest place in the city. With people playing badminton nearby and everyone wearing a faintly confused — ‘how DID I get here?’ expression.

Got to love a creative idea.
When it was raining and cold for days on end, Roundhouse decided to take action and bring the beach to them. They took a normal event space patio, filled it with sand, put down deck chairs, built tiki bars and created a really awesome beach.
Of course, as soon as they opened, the sun started shining and it’s been hot as hell in London. But I say that without the effort, it would have been rainy and cold forever. Murphy’s law in action!
Still, this is such a fun place. It really does feel like the beach. The sand is deep and gets in your shoes, you drink terrible fruity cocktails and sit there relaxing with friends or a book. Solid ideas all around.