Corner at Tate Modern: a new riverside bar and café

On 7 July 2023, Tate Modern will unveil Corner, a new all-day café and bar, opening onto an outdoor summer terrace. For the first time, Corner will offer visitors a place for an evening drink on the riverside at Tate Modern.

Hamish Anderson, CEO of Tate Enterprises, said “Corner at Tate Modern connects art with food and drink alongside a rich, diverse programme of events. Corner will welcome all – from families enjoying a day out together to friends meeting for an after-work drink, and from local Londoners to visitors from overseas. Whether it’s an art-inspired cocktail, a beer with sharing plates, or a great cup of Tate Coffee with a freshly made sandwich and a slice of cake, the food at Corner is international but rooted in British suppliers. Ingredients are thoughtfully chosen by our team, while drinks are playful and often inspired by Tate’s exhibitions. As with everything Tate Eats does, all profits go to supporting the gallery and helping care for the national collection of art.”

Nathan Coley’s illuminated sculpture We Must Cultivate Our Garden will be installed on the lawn outside Tate Modern, bringing art into the public realm and connecting the gallery to the landscape via a new entrance into Corner. Guests can sit on the terrace with its outdoor seating or spill out onto the lawn beyond.

In planning the space, the circular economy was at the heart of the discussions. Designed by Holland Harvey, the space has been stripped back and opened up, with bespoke furniture from Goldfinger and tabletops created by Spared reusing Tate Coffee grounds. Lighting design by There’s Light will help define different spaces and mark the transition from day-time cafe to night-time bar.

As Hamish Anderson explains, “The project has allowed us to deepen our sustainability agenda and learn new ways of working. We have taken on new suppliers, adopted new practices, and thought about how we can do everything with lower impact.”

For over 20 years, Tate Modern has been a leading London landmark and international destination. It is one of the UK’s most visited attractions, welcoming five million visitors each year, and is free and open to all. True to Tate Modern’s ethos, Corner will be a democratic and communal space for everyone to enjoy, whether visiting as a destination in its own right, or a place to chat and unwind after visiting the gallery.

Regular evening events and activities will take place (the space can seat 220 plus), creatively responding to the art on display at Tate Modern. Guests can explore and engage in an extensive programme of music, film, games, reading, architecture tours, life drawing and gastronomic-led events that explore food from local and artist-based communities. The year-round programme will include opportunities to meet food partners, brewers at Tap Takeovers, chefs from kitchen residencies, and experts in wine, cider and cocktails as part of masterclasses events. There will also be collaborations with Tate Collective, Tate’s network of 16–25-year-olds and artistic interventions in and around the space, from site specific commissions to works from Tate’s collection.

The Bar

Continuing Tate Eats’ commitment to championing independent UK brewers, Andrew Downs, Director of Tate Eats and beer enthusiast, will present a dynamic selection of seasonal craft beer and cider featuring three artist-inspired collaborations from Verdant Brewing Company, The Drop Project Brewing and DEYA Brewing Company. If you are in the mood for a glass of wine, there will be a biodynamic Grüner-Veltliner or Beaujolais from the fabulous Château de Grand Pré, alongside aged highlights from the cellars which Hamish Anderson has expertly managed for more than 20 years. Or explore a concise yet perfectly formed cocktail menu, focusing on British-produced spirits and artist-inspired mixology, including Kusama's "CosmopoliTEAn", Hilma af Klint's "Adulthood", and Mondrian's "Composition with Raspberry”.

The Cafe

By day, Corner will offer salads, sandwiches, treats and snacks for guests, all prepared in the kitchens at Tate Modern. The chefs and teams balance the need for good, fresh, thoughtfully-sourced, local ingredients – working with suppliers at the front line of sustainable and regenerative farming such as Cobble Lane Cured, Crate to Plate, Natoora and Hodmedod’s – with fast, efficient service in an inspiring gallery environment.

Tate Draw

Located alongside Corner, Tate Draw allows visitors of all ages to create their own works of art using digital sketch pads. Your finished drawing can be projected onto the walls of the gallery, saved to your phone, or printed onto a T-shirt. Supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the space is free and available every day throughout gallery opening hours.

Trading Hours

10.00 – 23.00 on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
10.00 – 18.00 on Sunday and Monday

For more information, visit tate.org.uk/visit/tate-modern/corner