At Old Street’s The Volley, the roar of televised fixtures now shares top billing with something altogether more unexpected: carefully crafted sandwiches. Dom’s Subs, the cult sandwich outfit that has helped redefine London’s sub game, has taken over the bar’s kitchen, bringing its stacked, New York-influenced creations to the heart of Shoreditch’s sports scene. The collaboration marks a notable shift for the venue, as matchday pints meet meticulous deli-style fillings, and a once-standard bar menu is replaced with one of the capital’s most talked‑about food imports.
Dom’s Subs takeover at The Volley Old Street how a cult sandwich shop is reshaping a sports bar kitchen
In a move that says everything about where London eating and drinking is heading,the Old Street sports hub has handed the pass to one of the city’s most talked‑about sandwich outfits. Instead of the usual game-day fare, the bar’s menu now leans into long-fermented hoagie rolls, deli‑stacked meats and sharply dressed veg, all prepped to the same exacting standards as Dom’s standalone shops. The result is a mash‑up of big-screen atmosphere and cultish sandwich devotion, where a cold pint meets a meticulously layered Italian sub, and the smell of toasted sesame bread cuts through the roar of live commentary.
This collaboration isn’t just a residency; it’s a quiet rewiring of what a sports venue kitchen can be. Fryers and frozen wings have made way for cold cuts,house pickles and oil‑splashed salads,with service streamlined so that high-volume match nights don’t compromise quality. Expect:
- Signature subs trimmed for one‑handed eating between replays
- Limited-edition specials tied to major fixtures and tournaments
- Shared plates built from sub-shop ingredients – think cured meats, sharp cheeses, hot peppers
- Upgraded sides that swap beige carbs for bright, briny crunch
| Matchday Pick | What It Delivers |
|---|---|
| Classic Italian | Big flavor, easy to share, perfect with lager |
| Veggie Hero | Charred veg, tangy dressings, not an afterthought |
| Spicy Special | Chilli kick for tense extra-time moments |
Inside the new menu from stacked subs to game day specials what to order first
The first thing that grabs you is the line-up of stacked subs – unapologetically overfilled, built for one-handed eating with a pint in the other. Expect pillowy, just-chewy-enough rolls loaded with slow-braised meats, sharp pickles and sauces that drip down your wrist in the best possible way. Think pepperoncini-laced Italian cold cuts,a crispy chicken cutlet number that eats like a cult classic,and a vegetarian option where roasted peppers,smoked scamorza and basil mayo do all the heavy lifting. Sides aren’t afterthoughts either: there’s a rotation of fried game-day snacks engineered for sharing (or not), each designed to land on the table just as the match hits a crucial play.
If you’re torn between options, the blackboard specials are where the kitchen flexes its creativity, especially around big fixtures and late kick-offs. On match nights you’ll see limited-run subs, snack platters and sharers pitched squarely at big groups and extra time. Highlights to look out for include:
- Half-time hero subs – shorter, punchier versions of the signatures, ideal for ordering in waves.
- Wings & skins combo – sticky, smoky and designed to vanish before the whistle.
- “Overtime” loaded fries – piled with shredded brisket or marinated mushrooms, pickled chillies and a liberal drizzle of house sauce.
| Order First | Why It Wins |
|---|---|
| Signature Italian Sub | Benchmark sandwich; sets the standard for everything else. |
| Game Day Wings | Easy to share and built for beer and big screens. |
| Loaded Fries Special | Perfect for the table, soaks up pints and extra time. |
From counter service to kick off crowds how service and atmosphere are changing at The Volley
Once a straight-up bar with brisk counter orders and a background murmur of sport, the Old Street hangout is shifting gears with Dom’s Subs behind the pass. Service now leans into street-food theater: staff call out orders over the rumble of supporters, subs are sliced in full view at the bar, and the queue becomes part of the pre-match build-up. Regulars are encouraged to order in rounds – pints and subs in one hit – cutting down on wait times when the whistle blows. The side effect is a more choreographed flow through the room, with fewer bar logjams and more time actually spent watching the game.
- Order style: walk-up bar orders with fast-food speed
- Match days: simplified menu, higher volume, quicker turnover
- Off-peak: slower pace, chance to linger over a sub and a session IPA
- Social vibe: shared tables encourage mingling between fan groups
| Time | Energy Level | Service Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-match | Loud, buzzy | High-speed subs & pints |
| Half-time | Frantic | Grab-and-go favourites |
| Post-match | Loose, social | Refills, shareable bites |
Atmosphere has followed suit, pivoting from generic sports-bar territory to something closer to a neighbourhood terrace, just with multiple screens and a serious sub game. The soundtrack is a mix of crowd noise and clinking glassware,but corners of the room now feel more curated,with pockets where groups can camp out over trays of sandwiches and late kick-offs. Design tweaks – brighter lighting by the pass, clearer signage, and food runners weaving through standing guests – underline the new priority: keeping the ball on the screen while the action around the bar feels as fluid and organised as a well-drilled midfield.
Price points portions and pairing tips how to get the best value from Dom’s Subs during match nights
With Dom’s now running the kitchen, it’s suddenly very easy to turn a match night into a smart-value feast. The subs naturally fall into three spend tiers – ideal if you’re corralling a mixed group of big eaters and casual snackers. Think of it like this:
- Core classics – wallet-kind, no-fuss heroes that cover you for 90 minutes plus extra time.
- Loaded specials – bigger builds with premium fillings; great for sharing and split bills.
- Sidekicks & sharers – fries, pickles and small bites that plug the hunger gap without blowing the budget.
| Budget | What to Order | Best Beer Match |
|---|---|---|
| £10-£15 pp | Classic sub + shared fries | House lager |
| £15-£20 pp | Signature sub + side | Pale ale or IPA |
| £20+ pp | Premium sub, wings & dips | Craft special or stout |
To really squeeze value from the menu, build the table like a starting XI rather than eleven solo orders. Aim for a spread that covers heat, crunch and comfort, then plug those into the bar’s taps. Spicier subs work best with clean, crisp lagers that reset the palate; anything heavy on cured meats and cheese can handle a punchier IPA; while smoky or slow-cooked fillings pair well with richer dark beers or a bold red by the glass.For groups, try this playbook:
- One big meat-packed sub for every two people – cut into halves or thirds for easy passing around.
- Neutral sides (fries, slaw, pickles) to stretch the mains and keep everyone snacking through half-time.
- Pitcher-first ordering – choose your beer style, then pick subs to complement it, not the other way round.
- Late-game top-up – a single shared sub in the final minutes costs less than a second full round and still feels like a win.
The Conclusion
As London’s dining landscape continues to blur the lines between bar snacks and destination cooking, The Volley’s collaboration with Dom’s Subs feels less like a quirky pop-up and more like a sign of where the capital’s food culture is heading.
What began as a cult sandwich operation is now anchoring a sports bar in one of the city’s busiest neighbourhoods, bringing with it a new standard for what you can expect alongside your pint and match-day pintxos. If the queues, social media buzz and sold-out specials are anything to go by, Dom’s takeover of The Volley’s kitchen is not just a passing play-but a long game that could change how we eat at the bar, far beyond Old Street.
