The Time Out London blog team

Tech is coming for your favourite pub games. First there was augmented-reality darts, now we’re getting AI-powered pool tables. That’s right – next year, a high-tech poolhall will open in London.  Poolhouse is the newest venture from the creators of Topgolf and Puttshack. Located at 100 Liverpool Street, there’ll be dozens of digital pool tables spread across two floors, which have been designed to pay homage to Las Vegas casinos. The AI tech will allow players to ‘adapt’ their games to suit their skill level so that everyone gets their ‘fair shot at glory’.  At first, each table will have five different game modes, including ‘Killer’ and ‘Pot Shots’, but Poolhouse said that ‘new releases constantly in development, there’s always something fresh to keep the rivalry alive’.  There’ll also be a 20-metre statement bar selling drinks created in collaboration with cocktail connoisseurs Three Sheets and (bold claim) ‘one of London’s best pints of Guinness’ thanks to customised coolers, lines, taps and a specialised gas mix. For food, players can expect a menu of ‘New American’ dishes made to share.  Co-founder Andrew O’Brien said: ‘We’ve taken the timeless game of pool and reimagined it as an immersive, interactive experience that’s designed for everyone from first-timers to seasoned players. ‘By blending state-of-the-art technology with vibrant social spaces, curated food and drink, and a dynamic atmosphere, Poolhouse offers a new kind of night out where fun, food, and friendly...

Some London’s buses have become painstakingly slow. A recent study by the Londoner found that the city’s slowest bus, the number 14, averaged just 5.7mph in 2025, and the average speed of buses in the City of London between was a mere 6.2mph. Some days, you’re often much better off walking. But for three lucky boroughs, things could soon start speeding up again.  TfL has revealed that Haringey, Lewisham and Southwark will be getting up to £10 million over a four-year period to help them improves their buses. Each area hopes that the funding will help them improve reliability and slash their bus journey times by up to 30 percent. The three boroughs were chosen following a competitive bidding process that was open to all of London’s boroughs. They’ll now work closely with TfL to plan their schemes and are expected to start putting them into practice in 2027. Their proposals include better management of roadworks to reduce delays, bus stop improvements to make them safer, more pleasant places to wait and street improvements to make it easier and safer to walk to stops.  Lewisham Council called the funding a ‘gamechanger’ and revealed that it’ll focus on two ‘vital corridors’ – north to south through Grove Park to Greenwich and east to west through Sydenham towards Bromley and Southwark, upgrading bus stops, improving connections to stations and improving walking and cycling routes. Buses in the area currently travel at an average of 8.9mph.  Over in Haringey, where the...

An extension of the DLR has been talked about for yonks. Now, it’s finally set to become a reality. Five years after it was formally proposed (and more than a decade since it was first mooted), the huge expansion is expected to be granted approval in the government’s Budget next week.  Besides the HS2 station at Old Oak Common, the DLR’s transformation is likely to the biggest upgrade to the London transport network in the next decade. Officials say that it’ll bring a massive boost to the southeast of the city, unlocking up to 25,000 homes and 10,000 jobs. The downside is that it may put other major projects, namely the Bakerloo line extension and West London Orbital rail link, on the back-burner.  In response to the announcement Sadiq Khan said: ‘I’m really pleased that the government is backing the DLR extension to Thamesmead - something I’ve long called for alongside London’s businesses and communities. The project is a win-win and a massive vote of confidence in London.’ Here are all the latest updates on the long-awaited DLR extension.  Has the DLR extension been officially approved? Not quite yet. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce her Budget on November 26 and is expected to commit a small amount of government funding to the project.  A spokesperson from the Treasury said: ‘This Budget will choose growth over austerity by supporting renewal in every part of the country. Extending the DLR to Thamesmead will deliver much-needed new homes, new jobs, and quicker...