Last Updated on November 1, 2024

Get the members club vibe without the fees at this bright new Thames-side venue

Looking for a place to go in southwest London? Somewhere which is just that little bit different? A place with a members’ club vibe, where you could stay all day and go from work to play? With a great selection of food and drink? And the opportunity to sit in a private glass igloo?

Then Coppa Putney might just fit the bill.

A few steps away from the High St, Putney riverside is the latest location for a Coppa Club venue, a place which has something for everyone, a café, bar, restaurant, lounge, terrace and private dining space as well as a laptop-friendly workspace and a community hub.

On a corner location by the Thames, from its terrace and indoor seating areas, Coppa Putney enjoys lovely views of Putney Bridge and the river. The trademark ‘’igloos’’ – like a human-size terrarium – also have a great aspect and are a fun place from which to see and be seen. Inside, Coppa Putney feels smart but relaxed, upmarket but friendly and informal. Décor and furniture take inspiration from the local rowing scene with plenty of foliage and beautiful blues and greens throughout. The seasonal Christmas trees and glowing fireplaces make the place warm and homely looking – so homely you might not want to actually go home. Coppa Putney is split into different sections to suit the needs of each guest. For those keen to escape the four walls of their home office, there’s plenty of plug sockets and super-fast wifi. You can hold business meetings and work in the quiet library alcove, filled with decorative bookcases and cosy sofas. Or just read a good book with an even better Grind coffee. There’s plenty of space for a group get together as well as private indoor and outdoor areas. If you need privacy, there’s a bookable events room, with partitions to create privacy and intimacy. As a community hub, Coppa Putney is also set to host speaker events and supper clubs on a regular basis.

The dining area is set in a conservatory-style space, with sliding doors to let in the fresh river air on a sunny summer’s day. Outside, the restaurant is fringed by Coppa Putney’s terrace seating and the three very popular glass igloos. (As they’re so sought after, there’s a minimum spend of £25 per adult for all igloo reservations from 11.15am to close and a two-hour time limit).

Speaking of supper – or breakfast, lunch or tea for that matter – the well-priced Coppa Putney menu offers a range of modern British and Mediterranean classics, steaks, fish, salads, fresh pasta and sourdough pizza.

The excellent sprouting broccoli and spinach salad comes with grains, toasted hazelnuts, a generous helping of pomegranate and tasty tahini dressing. Unctuous and delightfully squidgy burrata is wrapped in prosciutto and served with roasted baby beets and candied walnuts.

The boneless corn-fed half chicken is wonderfully moist and comes with a tasty mushroom and tarragon sauce option. Another great option is the sea-reared trout with herbed freekeh, red onion, parsley, lemon and watercress salad. A proper festive Christmas menu is now available. Breakfast dishes range from basic toast through granola and yoghurt, rye pancakes, crushed avocado and eggs to a full English.

There’s a bar menu and those in an igloo can order special dishes including the truffled wagyu burger and a halibut Kiev with decadent, warm chocolate fondant, white chocolate and salted caramel ice cream to follow. Wherever you’re sitting, Coppa Club can cater for a wide range of dietary requirements, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and nut allergies. There are only a few beers but the wine list has lots of friendly, familiar names (Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Gavi di Gavi, Shiraz, Merlot, Malbec) with prices ranging from a friendly £20 for the house red and white up to over £200 for the Krug and Perrier-Jouet champagne. Cocktails include the refreshing Garden Spritz made with Tanqueray gin, Sauvignon Blanc, fennel elderflower cordial, lemon, grapefruit and soda, and the almondy Coppa Sour featuring amaretto, Tanqueray gin, berry cordial and foam. If you can’t get to Coppa Putney, there are eight other locations around southern England, Coppa Club Tower Bridge being the other London venue. Each reflects their individual location but all offer that informal and relaxed Coppa Club atmosphere. Coppa Club in Streatley-on-Thames and Sonning-On-Thames even offer riverside hotel bedrooms too – so you really don’t have to go home!