The Bat and Ball

Wiff waff, ping pong, table tennis– no matter what you call it, it’s the perfect social game. Even with no previous experience and dismal hand/​eye coordination, nothing curtails the pleasure of whacking a ball back and forth. You can play against an opponent solo, or with a partner, and you might even keep score (if drinks are on the line, naturally). Choose either a relaxed or a competitive approach to your method, it’s up to how quickly your confidence swells.
Bat and Ball is a new addition to the London ping pong bar scene (yes, there are enough of these now that it’s officially ‘a scene’) with the advantage of being located in Stratford, an area with easy transport links. It’s also adjacent to the monolithic Westfield shopping centre. During the day, Bat and Ball offers refuge for the weary souls dragged along to an afternoon of retail activity. At night, it hosts a more raucous crowd, as it’s located next to pubs, restaurants and is on the doorstep of the former Olympics Athletes’ Village (now converted into flats).
On Friday and Saturday nights, a DJ provides a rousing soundtrack and there’s a large bar with a wide selection of beer, including Truman’s and other craft beers in bottles, alongside some tempting cocktails. The downstairs area is dedicated to food and drink, offering tables and booths for those who aren’t swayed by the call of the tables, or those who are itching for their timeslot. The décor is contemporary– a hybrid of industrial bar and kitschy pub (there’s a gallery wall dedicated to ping pong). The second floor hosts 12 full-​sized tables and a separate bar area. You can have food delivered to you while you play thanks to the placement of ledges and tables.
I visited on a Sunday afternoon and the atmosphere was casual, chilled out and staff were gregarious about table slots, letting us on our table early and not pressuring us to leave. We booked a 30 minute slot, which is an affordable £8 off-​peak, and managed a few good rallies between us. The tables around us hosted players of all levels; some were in families, some in groups of friends and some in pairs.
The menu offers easy grazing food and some good sharing options for groups– pizzas, wings, sharing platters and deli-​style food are represented, allowing players to graze as they play (or pause play for refuelling, as the meaty sharing platter looked like a sporting challenge unto itself). The staff were helpful and the music was catchy. All in all, this was a congenial vibe on a Sunday afternoon.
Whether you’re local or taking a break from shopping, Bat and Ball is worth checking out. They offer some good rates, especially if you’re in a group and can divide the cost. Their peak hours are limited to after 6:00pm, but Sundays are off-​peak all day. We were advised that things get a bit manic on a Friday night, so we might just have to get a group together for further investigation– I’m convinced that the addition of alcohol might change the game completely. And for the better.

First day and I have to say I’m impressed! Everyone knows what how much I like bounce, and I think this place will bring the same vibe to Stratford! It’s cool, simple, but nice looking menu and super friendly staff.
I’m not a massive fan of pineapple and so I got my cocktail modified and damn how this guy got it so right. Chambord, Russian standard and cranberry mixer! Mmm hmm mmm!
I ordered pizza and the pizza was a little bit burnt, but really tasty. I got a white pizza with vegetarian toppings and they certainly didn’t skimp — lots of salad leaves and squash and goats cheese. Yummy!
I’m tip this place to be big next year! You heard it here first guys ;)