The Den Stadium

The Den, previously called The New Den, was one of the first stadiums to be built following the Taylor Report and complying with the report’s recommendations. It replaced The Old Den, which was located in the same area. The Den opened on the 4th of August 1993 with a friendly match between Millwall and Portuguese side Sporting Portugal. The new stadium had come at a cost of £16 million.

General information

Official website: https://www.millwallfc.co.uk

Arena capacity: 20,146 spectators

Address: Zampa Rd, London SE16 3LN, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 51°29′9.43″N 0°3′3.42″W

Year of construction: 4 August 1993

Construction cost: 16 million pounds

Field: fibresand grass lawn with dimensions of 106 x 68 m (344 × 223 ft)

Seating plan of the The Den Stadium

The Club moved the relatively short distance to then was called the New Den after leaving their original Den ground which was their home for 83 years. This was first new major football ground to be constructed in London since before the Second World War. The stadium is made up of four separate two-tiered stands that are of the same height and look fairly similar.

Most grounds built from the late ‘80s onwards tend to follow the ‘Bowl Style’ design, but this was eschewed at Millwall in favour of the more traditional ‘English Style’ of having four distinct stands on each edge of the pitch. Each stand has its own unique personality, so here’s a little bit of information about each:

• The North Stand – This is a two-tiered stand with a capacity of 4,000. Ordinarily it is used solely for away supporters, though in league games they rarely fill more than one section of it.
• The Dockers Stand – This two-tiered stand is named in honour of the club’s working-class docker fanbase. The tiers are separated by a row of executive boxes, ironically.
• The Cold Blow Lane Stand – This is the home of Millwall’s noisiest supporters and is notable by the yellow seat that spell out ‘The Den’. It also has two tiers.
• The Barry Kitchener Stand – Named in honour of the club’s record appearance holder, this is the main stand in the ground and houses the press box, executive areas and the dugouts. This simple looking stand has the same characteristics as both ends with windshields to either side in the upper tier and with the upper tier slightly overhanging the lower tier.

Between the East and North Stands in one corner is a large video screen.

Away fans

Away fans are located at one end of the ground in the North Stand (usually in the upper tier only). Around 4,000 away fans can be accommodated in this end. Like the general improvement in football, a trip to Millwall is not as threatening as it once was. The Den is quite intimidating. The large police presence at the match does nothing to dampen this feeling.

It’s advised that you exercise caution around the ground and not to wear club colours. Food on offer inside includes a range of pies from the ‘Pie Factory’ including Steak & Ale and Chicken Balti (£3.50). There are also Cheese & Onion Pasties (£3.50), Sausage Rolls (£3.10), Burgers (£4) and Chips (£2.10).

The most popular method of travel for away fans to the Den is by official club coach, or by train from London Bridge. The Police are well drilled in dealing with the coaches and supporters arriving by train. Once inside the ground, you will generally find the stewards helpful and friendly.

It’s better choose to drive down to Millwall and park away from the stadium. It is somewhat intimidating walking to and from the ground and the Leicester fans are kept back inside the stadium for quite a long time after the final whistle. Inside the ground, the concourse is mostly concreted and looks very dull. It is also very cramped with little space available for fans to get around those queuing for food and drinks. However, the view from our seats is excellent and the stewards are very tolerant and friendly.

Where to buy tickets?

Ticket prices for Millwall games are blessedly easy to understand. They categorise their matches into either Category A or Category B, with a price difference of about £3 between each. They then charge a different amount of money depending on where in the ground you’d like to sit, with seats in the Upper section of The Barry Kitchener Stand costing the most and a place in the Zampa’s Family Club section costing the least. Finally the amount you’ll pay once you know the match category and the area you’re going to sit is dictated by your age.

The club also offers cheaper tickets for those who are Members of the official supporters group, so do bear that in mind if you’re likely to attend matches regularly. Here are the cheapest and most expensive tickets for adults and concessions in each category, presuming you are not a Member.

Home Fans*

1. Barry Kitchener Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £32 (B £29) (C £27), Over 61’s £22 (B £19) (C £17), Under 18’s £18 (B £16) (C £14), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.
2. Barry Kitchener Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £31 (B £28) (C £26), Over 61’s £21 (B £18) (C £16), Under 18’s £17 (B £15) (C £13), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.
3. Dockers East Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £31 (B £28) (C £26), Over 61’s £21 (B £18) (C £16), Under 18’s £17 (B £15) (C £13), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.
4. Dockers East Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £30 (B £27) (C £25), Over 61’s £20 (B £17) (C £15), Under 18’s £16 (B £14) (C £12), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.
5. Cold Blow Lane (Upper Tier): Adults £29 (B £26) (C £24), Over 61’s £20 (B £17) (C £15), Under 18’s £16 (B £14) (C £12), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.
6. Cold Blow Lane (Lower Tier): Adults £28 (B £25) (C £23), Over 61’s £19 (B £16) (C £14), Under 18’s £15 (B £14) (C £12), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.
7. West Stand (Zampa Lower Family Area): Adults £25 (B £22) (C £20), Over 61’s £19 (B £16) (C £14), Under 18’s £14 (B £13) (C £11), Under 16’s £10 (B £10) (C £10), Under 12’s £5 (B £5) (C £5)**.

Away Fans

North Stand: Adults £29 (B £26) (C £24), Over 61’s £20 (B £17) (C £15), Under 18’s £16 (B £14) (C £12), Under 16’s £14 (B £12) (C £10), Under 12’s £9 (B £7) (C £5)**.

* Fans can gain a £3 discount on these adult ticket prices if they become club members.Under 22’s can gain admittance for the same price as Under 61’s providing that they become club members.

** Under 12 tickets available only when purchased with an adult or senior ticket.

Most club’s nowadays have excellent websites from which you can buy tickets and Millwall is no exception. If you’d rather speak to a real person then you can always call the ticket office or even drop in in person, with the office being open form 9.30am until 5pm Monday to Friday or from 10am on Saturdays when there’s a home game on.

How to get there?

The Den is located in South-East London, so you have all of the travel options available to you that heading to the nation’s capital offers everyone. Here are some of the more typical routes you’ll probably want to look at.

Travelling by train

It is probably best to go by rail, as South Bermondsey Railway Station is only a few minutes walk from the ground. There is a direct walkway specifically built for away fans which takes you directly to the away end and back to the station afterwards. This has made the Police’s job of keeping rival supporters apart so much more manageable.

As you exit the station turn right for the visiting supporters walkway. If your team brings a sizeable following, then an ‘away fan’ football special may be laid on from London Bridge. In these instances, the Police are well drilled in getting away fans into the ground from the special train and safely away afterwards.

Although don’t be surprised if you are held in the stadium for sometime after the final whistle, before being allowed back up the walkway to the station. You may also then be held for a while at the station itself, so please bear this in mind when booking the time of your return journey home.

You can also reach near the ground via New Cross or New Cross Gate Stations, however they are around a twenty minute walk away from the Den and is not really recommended for away fans to use.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the Trainline website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets.

Travelling by bus

A range of different bus services can get you close to the ground.

The 21, 53 and 172 will get you to Old Kent Road, the P12 to Ilderton Road, the 1 and 1381 to Rotherhithe New Road and the 47, 188 and 225 to Surrey Quays.

Visit www.tfl.gov.uk to plan your journey.

Travelling by car

Unfortunately the club has no car parking facilities for supporters so getting to The Den by public transport is advisable. It is recommended that away fans get to the ground either by official supporter coach or by rail to South Bermondsey station. A walkway link is available to the stadium on matchdays for away supporters only.

Directions to the area if travelling by road, however, are as follows.

From the North

Follow City signs from the A1/M1, then signs for Shoreditch and Whitechapel. Follow Ring Road signs for Dover, cross over Tower Bridge and after one mile take the first exit at the roundabout onto the A2. From Elephant & Castle take the A2 (New Kent Road) into Old Kent Road and turn left after four miles at The Gem Bar into Ilderton Road to Zampa Road, SE16 3LN.

From the South

Take the A20 and A21 following signs to London. At New Cross follow signs for Surrey Quays into Kender Street, turn left into Old Kent Road then right at the turning signposted “car pound” into Ilderton Road. Zampa Road (SE16 3LN) is the seventh turning on the right.

From the East

Take the A2 to New Cross (then as south).

From the West

From the M4 and M3 follow the South Circular (A205) and then follow signs for Clapham, City (A3), then Camberwell to New Cross and then as from the South.

Taxi

As the main train station in London for internal arrivals is probably Euston, we’ll give you taxi information from there. A journey to The Den will take about half an hour and cost in the region of £30. Traffic in London can be…tricky, though, so expect to pay a lot more if you get caught up in it.

Rent a The Den Stadium Parking Space

The Den Stadium has been the home of Millwall FC since 1993. It located in South Bermondsey and replaced The Old Den, where Millwall had played since 1910. The club, otherwise known as The Lions, was founded in 1885. Their greatest success probably came in 2004 when they reached the final of the FA Cup and qualified for the UEFA Cup.

Millwall are also known for their rivalries with other teams, particularly Leeds United and local team West Ham. Over the years they have played in the Carabao Cup and against teams including Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Queens Park Rangers and Rotherham United.

Tickets for most matches are available on general sale. Afternoon matches will usually have a kick off time of 3.00pm, with evenings being kick off at 7.45pm. Some tickets are more sought after than others, especially those for more important games such as the Sky Bet Championship or finals. With this in mind, pre booking tickets is recommended.

The Den Stadium lacks any official parking, meaning that the on street parking is the only real option for drivers. However, these spaces can fill up quickly, and it is best to book your parking space in advance of any match day. The nearest station to the ground is South Bermondsey Railway Station, which is just a 5-minute walk from the ground. The nearby Calmont Road is the home of the under 18s team who do their training here.

Millwall fans are well known for their fervent support of the team, and the vast majority of the pubs near the ground are strictly for the home fans. If you are looking for a place to eat or drink before the match, it is generally advisable to journey into central London, where you will find a great variety of pubs, bars, and restaurants, as well as plenty of tourist attractions to enjoy.

Postcode for sat nav: SE16 3LN

Facilities

The Den is starting to show its age a little bit nowadays, but then it was built over twenty years ago so it seems a little churlish to complain about that. It’s reasonably clean and pleasant throughout and the views are pretty good from virtually everywhere. There are plenty of kiosks to buy food and drinks as well as places to purchase a match programme or place a bet before the action gets underway.

Hospitality

There are a host of excellent hospitality options at The Den, from individual match day experiences through to season-long executive memberships. Here’s some details on some of the choices available to you:

• The Executive Lounge. Here you’ll get access to The Executive Lounge, executive seating and half-time refreshments as well as car parking facilities and access to a cash bar.
• The Billy Neil Sponsor’s Lounge. Enjoy a three-course meal with wine before the game as well as a welcome drink upon arrival. Your day will be hosted by Jimmy Carter and you’ll get half-time and full-time refreshments. On top of that you’ll have access to a cash bar and you’ll be able to watch the Man Of The Match presentation.
• The Chairman’s Club. As well as exclusive access to the Chairman’s Room you’ll also get a three-course pre-match meal with wine, a welcome drink upon arrival and complimentary drinks. There will be refreshments at half-time and full-time as well as seating in the Director’s Box and an appearance from a club legend.

Private hire

The Den is an excellent location in South-East London for all of your conferencing needs. The versatility of the club’s lounges and executive boxes means that you can host a range of events at the home of Millwall FC, such as training sessions, conferences with breakout rooms, team-building sessions and breakfast meetings. The suites are also available for private events and can hold anywhere from 2 to 500 guests. You can even get married at The Den if you so wish!

Pubs & Bars Near The Den

There are not many pubs located near to the stadium and those should be avoided by away supporters.  If travelling by train then it is probably best to grab a beer around London Bridge before moving onto the ground. It’s advised keeping any colours covered, even when drinking in the London Bridge area. Inside the ground alcohol is available in the form of; cans of Tetley’s Smooth (£4.10), plus plastic bottles of Carlsberg (£4.10) or Somersby Cider (£4.60).

The Shipwrights Arms on Tooley Street, near London Bridge. Come out of London Bridge tube station, turn right and its only 200yds down the road on your right hand side. A lovely little pub which also serves food. Also close to London Bridge Station on St Thomas Street is the Bunch of Grapes pub. Also not far from these pubs on Tower Bridge Road is the ‘Pommelers Rest’ a Wetherspoons outlet.

On the Borough High Street by London Bridge is the Barrow Boy & Banker, which is a Fullers pub and has the benefit of a large screen showing Sky Sports. Further down the High Street is the Borough Market, which on nearby Stoney Street is situated the legendary Market Porter pub.

This pub is also a regular listing in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and always has 9 real ales on tap. Also on Borough High Street is the George Inn, which is owned and leased by the National Trust. It is an outstandingly beautiful building, and the pub itself retains its wooden flooring and wall panelling. It serves its own ‘George Ale’ which went down nicely.

The Den Hotels

London has a huge amount of hotels throughout the city, so your options are numerous. Here are some of our favourites.

1. Peckham Lodge – £55+. Address: 110 Peckham Road, London, SE15 5EU. About one and a half miles from The Den is this Victorian hotel with 218 rooms. They offer self-parking, free Wi-Fi and the hotel has a garden, too.
2. The New Dome Hotel – £75+. Address: 51-53 Camberwell Church Street, London, SE5 8TR. Just under two miles from the ground is this hotel that offers en-suite bathrooms, televisions in the rooms and access to an Indian restaurant that is in the building.
3. DoubleTree by Hilton London – Docklands Riverside – £105+. Address: 265 Rotherhithe Street, London, SE16 5HW. Hilton hotels have long been synonymous with quality and the Docklands Riverside branch of the famous chain is no exception. There’s a restaurant, a free shuttle to the ferry terminal and a 24-hour fitness centre. There’s also a terrace with amazing views over the city.

Catering

Catering facilities are located on the ground floor and on the Upper Tier in the West Stand. It’s recommended using of the ground floor facilities that can be accessed by the lift although the facilities do get extremely busy in both the West Stand and Lower North Stand at half-time. For disabled supporters without a personal assistant, designated stewards will usually be available to assist.

History

Having been the nomads of the Isle Of Dogs for 25 years, the club made the choice to settle in The Den in 1910 and lasted 83 years before moving to a new ground. Just to confuse supporters of both their own club and other clubs, Millwall decided to call their new stadium The Den, too. It was actually the first new all-seater ground to be completed in the wake of the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough disaster and was designed with crowd management at the forefront of its structuring.

When the initial plans for the new stadium were announced it was hoped that it would have a capacity of about 30,000. Millwall couldn’t afford to meet the costs necessary for that capacity, however, so they settled for just over 20,000 instead. The new ground was just a quarter of a mile away from the old one and was officially opened by John Smith MP, the leader of the Labour Party at the time.