The sister bar to Skylight @ Tobacco Dock has opened in south London, boasting fine views, cocktails, food and a new remote working destination.

Skylight Peckham offers views over the capital’s skyline and south London
© Skylight Peckham

With its position directly south of Tower Bridge and the City of London, Peckham is a great location for a rooftop bar. Having steadily become one of south London’s best nightlife destinations in recent years, Peckham has acquired a new drinking and dining spot with a view. The team behind the popular Skylight at Tobacco Dock have opened a second branch on top of the Mountview Academy of Arts. While the original Skylight is known for its outdoor games and multi-level spaces, the Peckham branch offers a more sophisticated lounge setting across one floor, open to Londoners looking to socialise with pals or work remotely.

Clarified Bees Knees cocktail

As a born and bred south Londoner living just a few miles away, I didn’t hesitate when I was invited to the recent launch of Skylight Peckham. Located a short walk from Peckham Rye station, it doesn’t take long before you are whizzed up from Peckham Square to the top floor. Having visited the original in Wapping many times, I was struck by how different the new branch was. Exiting the lift, you are greeted by an expansive, zinc bar overlooking a varied selection of tables, with a mix of comfortable benches, armchairs and chairs. The wide indoor space means Skylight Peckham will be an all-year round destination when alfresco terrace sessions aren’t so tempting in the winter weather. With the room flooded with natural light, the interior looks like it would be a great daytime spot for remote working, which has become so common in the past 18 months thanks to a pandemic I shall not name!

On the night of my visit, my friend and I grabbed a table on the corner of the L-shaped terrace, providing us the opportunity to enjoy views both north and east of the roof. The north-facing view of the capital’s skyline was fabulous, with The Shard, London Eye and the skyscrapers of the Square Mile all clearly visible. I recommend getting there in time to watch the sunset and the lights start to twinkle on as the sky goes dark. The mix of benches, booths and individual seats mean all parties, from large groups to couples are easily catered for. I could definitely imagine returning with a group of girl friends for a boozy weekend brunch on a sunny summer day.

Spiced fishcake

One of the main focuses of Skylight Peckham is the food, with an all-day menu offering a mix of small plates and large platters, all locally sourced and designed for sharing. We tried a selection of dishes, from the Carlingford oysters to fishcakes to lamb skewers, which were well-presented and tasted fresh and delicious. At weekends, Skylight has a special brunch menu, with the chef’s own twist on French toast and quinoa breakfast bowls, along with some traditional favourites.

One of Skylight Peckham’s big selling points is its cocktail menu, designed by its in-house mixologist Sebastian Hollingsworth. Many of the creations have been inspired by the local area, with the Clarified Bee’s Knees cocktail (which we tried), made with Vodka and local Peckham honey. Other neighbourhood-themed concoctions include the South London Iced Tea and Peckham Passion. There’s also plenty of wine, beers and non-alcoholic ‘mocktails’, for those abstaining.

Aside from drinking, dining, Skylight Peckham also offers a range of entertainment, including themed brunches, live music, DJs and BBQs.

Overall, I really liked the space and thought it was a great addition to Peckham’s social scene. The interior and exterior were both visually appealing, comfortable and chic. What I sampled from the food and drinks menu was lovely and I would be eager to return for a sunshine-filled Sunday brunch to try even more.

• Skylight Peckham, 120 Peckham Hill Street Theatre Walk (in between Peckham Library and Mountview College), Peckham, SE15 5JT. Nearest station: Peckham Rye. Open: Sun-Thurs 10am-12:30am, Fri-Sat 10am-1am. For more information, visit the Skylight London website.

There’s plenty of space to drink and dine inside when the weather isn’t so good
© Skylight Peckham

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