First Look: Fulham Football Club opens the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage

Fulham Football Club has opened the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage, a major leisure destination featuring a rooftop terrace and fine dining restaurant.

The Riverside Stand aims to elevate the club’s matchday hospitality for the 2025/26 season and beyond, while also attracting locals and visitors to the area.

Ahead of its launch, Fulham FC said the Riverside would allow the club to quadruple the number of premium members and offer additional facilities such as the Thames Bar, the Dugout sports bar and the Brasserie.

Its flagship features include the Sky Deck rooftop, which is spread across the top three floors of the riverside development, offering panoramic views of the River Thames, as well as fine dining restaurant, the Gourmet, which showcases dishes from chefs Alex Dilling and Oli Marlow.

The structure adds 2,303 premium seats to the stadium across layered terraces, open-air balconies and glass-fronted lounges. All seating is angled at 33 degrees, while the front row is located just 3.5m from the pitch.

Visitors also have uninterrupted public access between Hammersmith and Putney Bridge. 

Alistair Mackintosh, chief executive officer of Fulham FC, said: “Our vision for Fulham has always been about honouring tradition while building a future our supporters can be proud of. The Riverside Stand is a symbol of that ambition – a space where community, elegance and world-class sport come together on the banks of the Thames. By blending modern amenities with the charm that defines our club, we’re immensely proud to have created a destination that resonates with both lifelong fans and new visitors alike.”

Philip Johnson, senior principal and lead architect at the project’s architecture firm Populous, added: “Our aim with the Riverside Stand was to design a structure that feels both timeless and rooted in its riverside context. This isn’t just about creating more seating – it’s about opening up this part of London, enhancing the heritage of Craven Cottage and giving something back to the community.

“From the ‘floating’ roofline to the glazed façade offering incredible views from every level of the building, every element was designed to celebrate the connection between football, the river and the city.”

In August 2022, Sodexo Live! secured an eleven-year contract with Fulham Football Club to oversee the launch of the Fulham Pier leisure development.