The Drayton Arms was originally built in 1860 and then rebuilt to its current design in 1891. Originally a function room, the first theatrical use of the space was just after the war as a rehearsal room for many of the actors from the newly formed BBC TV who lived locally.

In 1985, the upstairs room at the Drayton Arms was then being used as a rehearsal studio for Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. In the autumn of that year the studio was converted into a theatre with the space being designed by Hilary Wood and Newton Jones, the technical director of the Academy.

The Drayton Studio - as it was then - continued in use for the next twenty years, with twelve public performances running each year, before the Academy was absorbed into the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2006. Many of the students of Webber Douglas have gone on to real achievement in Theatre, Film and Television.

In late 2010 it was decided to get the theatre back up and running on a more permanent basis. Work was undertaken to upgrade the space and then in April 2011 the theatre licence was granted and the Drayton Arms Theatre was reopened as a professional fringe venue.

Today, the Drayton Arms Theatre presents work from companies and creatives of all different levels of experience, backgrounds and nationalities. Specialising in new work, as well as classics, adaptions, contemporary plays, musicals, operas, comedy, improv, spoken word and more, you are always sure to see something exciting here. So book your table downstairs in the Drayton Arms pub, and eat a delicious meal before heading upstairs, drink in hand, to experience the best fringe theatre London has to offer