Weekends are for fun. Weekends are for friends. Weekends are for fitting in as many activities as you can possibly cram in over such a brief – but enjoyable – period of time. Our favourite way to spend our days off is, of course, by eating great food and drinking great drinks. Living in a city like London, you'll never be lacking for a range of ace and tasty events running over the weekend. But choosing which ones are worth your precious presence (and, moreover, worth the Google Calendar invite) is a bit more difficult.
After all, there's nothing worse than spending your Saturday and Sunday at an event with limp burgers and weak cocktails. To help you make the most of your time off work and away from your glass office, we've created this handy little weekend round-up of the best food and drink events going on across the city. Anything you think we missed out? Well, feel free to be in touch with the events that you think we should be covering next week!
From bottomless brunch at Temper to free pizza from the folks over at Yard Sale Pizza, here are the events that you should be pencilling into your calendar and putting on your radar this weekend.
19 things to do in London this weekend
1. Devour some native lobster at Wright Brothers
2 August; various locations
Wright Brothers is offering a whole lobster, grilled with garlic butter and served with a crisp green salad and fries for only £20 per person
We bloody love lobster. We'd eat in a box, we'd eat with a fox. So, rest assured that we're fairly that chuffed that the Wright Brothers will be feed London with some prime lobster with an incredible native lobster special this August. Sourced direct from the restaurant group's own wholesale team based in Brixham and caught fresh every day from the waters around the Cornish and Devon coast – lobster doesn't get fresher than that. Wright Brothers is offering a whole lobster, grilled with garlic butter and served with a crisp green salad and fries for only £20 per person Monday-Friday from 12-5pm throughout the entire month. The offer is available across all Wright Brothers restaurants (Borough, South Kensington, Battersea, Soho, Spitalfields) and on a first come first served basis.
2. Nab some free pizza at Yard Sale x MOTH Club
2 August; Old Trades Hall, Valette St, London E9 6NU
Slice master Yard Sale Pizza is coming to MOTH Club to combine the worlds of taste and sound in a way you never knew you needed or wanted till… right about now. Starting in August you will be able to order Yard Sale Pizza straight to your table in the MOTH Club bar for the perfect pre-gig/film/stand-up dinner. Head down on Friday 2 August from 7pm where the MOTH Club will have 50 free pizza slices courtesy of YSP and a happy hour, followed by a free screening of Tommy Wiseau's latest masterpiece 'Best F(r)iends Vol 1'. After that? Britpop Karaoke. Because everyone knows Bloc Party + pepperoni is a recipe for success.
3. Try out Kricket's summer menu
2-4 August; various locations
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we’re told otherwise, there’s a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery’s summer menu
Available now at all Kricket restaurants until, well, we're told otherwise, there's a heap of new dishes for you to enjoy and discover on the modern Indian eatery's summer menu. At the Television Centre venue, the new menu features a cheeky ox cheek paratha, served with English mustard and gherkin as well as a whole wheat roti with wild garlic butter and pickled chilli. British vegetables are given their time to shine in the small plates section through a tomato, sesame raita with a spring onion and coriander salad and a Cornish mackerel crudo with peas, almonds and panch poran. There's big plates to behold as well, including an Iberico pork chop with a spicy kachumber salad on the side and seafood dishes such as pollock with curry sauce available at the Brixton site. If you've got room after that they've also got some quality summer puds.
4. Get with the glouglou at the Weino Bib Summer Party
3 August; 39 Balls Pond Road, N1 4BW
The natural wine fiends over at Weino Bib are having a summer party. And it sounds incredible. Taking over the mews behind the shop, Weino Bib will be setting up a BBQ, a sound system and sharing the glu glu love with everyone. Not sure what we're on about?
Glu Glu (or glouglou) is a wine that's super easy to drink, super natural and perfect for glugging down (hence the name) while you're hanging out with your friends. Throw some great tunes and some BBQ goodness like smoked pork shoulder and miso roasted aubergine on top of that and you're in for a good time. Expect kegs of Glu Glu, some sexy bottles at great prices, 40ft brewery kegs, 10 litres boxes St John rose, and Boxer gin with Weino's house-made water kefir. Basically, expect a riot.
5. Have a Vegan Days session
3-4 August; 150 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
Day-time vegans rejoice! Vegan Days' vegan street food stall is back for a weekend full of vegan eating and drinking at Brick Lane. Get yourself down to East London to make the most of the ethical market place, special wellness activities, various bars and, of course, the opportunity to hang out and socialise with some like-minded individuals.
6. Have a Vegan Nights session
3 August; 150 Brick Lane, E1 6QL
Night-time vegans rejoice! The next instalment of the infamous Vegan Nights is back on 3 August 2019. Yep, taking place after Vegan Days (duh), Vegan Nights is returning in a big way with a Saturday Night Special session taking place from 6pm - 2am. Yep, this is the one for the plant-based night owls out there. Expect more of the warm Vegan Nights vibes, fabulous food and a fair smattering of partying across four separate sound stages.
7. Join in a Pastrami Party at Pressure Drop Brewery
3 August; Unit 6, Lockwood Industrial Park, Mill Mead Road, N17 9QP
Pastrami? Delicious. Beer? Delicious. This collaboration between Monty's Deli and Pressure Drop Brewery shows what happens when the best of the pastrami world teams up with the best of the beer world for an entire day of quality feasting on great beef. As well as PDB's roster of juicy brews, guest beers from Deya, LHG, The Kernel, and Verdant Brewing Co. will also be available. Bring an appetite.
8. Make the most of the Camden Street Party
3 August; 32 Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AL
No plans this weekend but got a desire to dance your weekend away? Well then, my Michael Flatley-loving friend, this Saturday 3 August you need to head to Camden for a day of frolicking in the sunshine, sipping on drinks and lounging the day away. Taking over Solomon's Yard in Camden market (a rather idyllic spot right on Regent's canal), this day and night street party is one you won't want to miss.. Once the sun goes down, the party over the road to the iconic nightspot The Jazz Cafe so you can continue the boogie on into the early hours.
9. Have a bottomless brunch at Temper Covent Garden
3 August; 5 Mercer Walk, Mercers Yard, WC2H 9FA
Temper's bottomless barbecue brunch will run every Saturday from 12-3.30pm at its Covent Garden site
Temper's bottomless barbecue brunch will run every Saturday from 12-3.30pm at its Covent Garden site
Temper's bottomless barbecue brunch will run every Saturday from 12-3.30pm at its Covent Garden site
We're always up for a brunch that doesn't rest on its laurels. This brand-new brunch from Temper seems to be one that isn't afraid to push the boat out. Especially when it comes to grilled meat. Starting this August, Temper's bottomless barbecue brunch will run every Saturday from 12-3.30pm at its Covent Garden site before also picking up at its City premises later in the month. For £35 per person, the brunch feast includes sharing platters of barbecued meats and sides like Adobo marinated free-range chicken, aged rare-breed beef burger, old spot Cumberland sausages, kimchi slaw, burnt corn and fries. Eating all that obviously sounds like fairly thirsty work. Thankfully diners will also be able to enjoy an hour and a half of unlimited summer drinks including Temper's signature mojitos, cosmopolitans, margaritas and bloody marys as well as wine and beer.
10. Eat some ace street food at London Halal Food Fest
3-4 August; Tobacco Dock, Tobacco Quay, E1W 2SF
From Halal burgers, hot dogs and other irresistible street food from the likes of Burger UK and Gimme Samosa to exotic international cuisines from Nur Malaysia, Little Kolkata and many more, you can find over 100 food and drinks stalls to excite everyone. There's also set to be a Halal Cooking Theatre where you can watch industry-leading chefs doing live cooking demos and sharing their culinary expertise. If you're feeling ultra competitive then the Halal Eat Offs are your chance to show the world just how much you can eat. It's set to be the perfect event for the whole family.
11. Dance your worries away at the East London Summer Terrace Party
3-4 August; 19 Great Eastern Street, EC2A 3EJ
Celebrate summer with Dinerama for an afternoon of dancing under the sun with your good friends and even better food. With the choice of cracking street food, refreshing cocktails, and beery beers, this party promises to be a fantastic way to spend a Saturday. The party starts at Dinerama at 2pm before house and disco legends, Late Nite Tuff Guy & Dimitri From Paris get the celebrations going over at XOYO from 10pm till 4am. Tickets get you into both. Bang.
12. Get Thai’d up at Pok Pok x Som Saa
4 August; 43A Commercial Street, E1 6BD
Som Saa is hosting legendary Thai restaurant Pok Pok on this Sunday to offer an unmissable tasting menu created in partnership with the Portland restaurant's founder and James Beard award-winning chef, Andy Ricker. Dishes on the menu will include five-spice stewed rabbit hindquarter with wide rice noodles and lobster baked in a clay pot with pork belly, Chinese celery and glass noodles, and a welcome cocktail made with Andy's cane vinegar cordial, 'Pok Pok Som'. The dinner will start with a platter of appetizers for the table to share, including tomato and chilli naam phrik with "hom choo" and peanuts, before moving onto noodle sharing dishes, featuring some of the recipes from Andy's new book. As if that didn't sound good enough, Phil Bracey of P. Franco, Bright and Peg will be pouring low intervention wines on the night and Singha are also supporting the event with their premium Thai lager.
13. Nab some free St-Germain Spritzes
Until 4 August; various locations
The inaugural LDN Spritz Week is taking over London’s top bars until Sunday 4 August
The inaugural LDN Spritz Week is taking over London’s top bars until Sunday 4 August. Kicking off the celebrations in style, LDN Spritz Week partner St-Germain French elderflower liqueur is working exclusively with nightlife app DUSK to offer thousands of complimentary St-Germain Spritzes at locations such as Bourne & Hollingsworth, Social 24 at City Social, Exmouth Market Grind and Dalston Roof Park. Over 75 London venues will also offer a menu of spritzes for just £6 each throughout the week, giving visitors the perfect opportunity to make the most of the sun while sipping on a delicious spritz or two.
14. Try out an adult Mr Whippy at Bunga Bunga
Until 31 August; 37 Battersea Bridge Road, SW11 3BA
Bunga Bunga Battersea is serving up deliciozo, alcoholic Mr Whippy cones packed with Grey Goose La Vanille vodka
Summer when you're young is all about enjoying Mr Whippies under the unbearable heat of the sun. Summer when you're an adult is all about doing the exact same thing but adding alcohol into the equation. Bunga Bunga Battersea is serving up deliciozo, alcoholic Mr Whippy cones packed with Grey Goose La Vanille vodka for the ultimate summer treat. The soft serve classic has been given a bit of an edge thanks to an infusion of Grey Goose. You can even personalise your one with a variety of toppings, including limoncello syrup, sprinkles and much more to create your very own fantastico Signor Whippy invention.
15. Get arty with the FOOD: Bigger Than the Plate Exhibition at the V&A
Until 20 October; Cromwell Road, Knightsbridge, SW7 2RL
They say you shouldn't eat with your eyes but we'll make an exception when it comes to the V&A. From gastronomic experiments to urban farming, this exhibition brings together the politics and pleasure of food to ask how the collective choices we make can lead to a more sustainable, just and delicious food future.
16. Get Lost in Brixton
From 1 August; Brixton Village, Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PS
Lost in Brixton – a brand-new drinking den – is opening up in Brixton Village this August
A brand-new drinking den is opening up in Brixton Village this August. Known as Lost in Brixton, the new venue promises to be a location where you can find music, local draft beer, cocktails, a retractable roof should the weather turn south and an app that'll let you order food from the market straight into the venue. Tucked behind Brixton Village, you can only access the concrete jungle by making your way through Brixton Village to a hidden corner of the market and a secret staircase which will take you up to the airy space above. Open five days of the week, the Latin American inspired cocktail menu will feature a selection of 16 summer spritzers, botanicals, and curated cocktails that will showcase emerging spirit brands. Brixton Brewery, located only 250 metres away, will be pumping local beer into tanks at Lost in Brixton every week - providing the freshest beer to its neighbours.To celebrate the launch on 1 August, Lost in Brixton will be offering the first 1,000 bookings a FREE frozen Pina Colada.
17. Explore Ocho Tequila at the Subterranean Summer Series
All of August; various locations
This August will see five of East London's leading underground cocktail bars collaborate on a Subterranean Summer Series to serve a range of bespoke Ocho tequila-based cocktails, all priced at just £5. That's a bargain if we've ever seen one. Serves can be found at Spitalfields' Discount Suit Company, Bar Three and Hawksmoor Spitalfields, Ruby's Bar & Lounge in Dalston, and Nine Lives just south of the Thames. Each bar will feature its own twist on the classic spirit; as well as offering a free drink for those who stamp off all five cocktails during the month. Cocktails include: Discount Suit Company's 'El Pajaro', Bar Three's 'Raspberry & Tequila', Hawksmoor Spitalfield's 'Cherry Blossom Margarita', Ruby's Bar & Lounge's 'Corn 'n' Toil', and Nine Live's '#1 Jimador's Remedy'.
18. Chill at the Rooftop at the Ace Hotel
100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
the Ace Hotel has one of the best views going in Shoreditch
Fancy sipping a cocktail with a stonking view of the city? Yeah, us too. And it's hard to argue against the fact that the Ace Hotel has one of the best views going in Shoreditch. We'd recommend visiting this weekend to enjoy yourself rooftop some panoramic views of the London skyline, a range of cocktails and local beers as well as a menu of BBQ snacks. If you're feeling up for a proper party you can always hire the space out yourself.
19. Feast on Dominique Ansel's new tarts at their Summer marche
View on Instagram
Dominique Ansel Bakery, 17-21 Elizabeth St, Belgravia, SW1W 9RP
Because what's a weekend without a delicious treat, hey? For this weekend only - quick, before they run out - the team at Dominique Ansel bakery in Belgravia will be selling their new range of summer tarts, made with the most seasonal fruits from around the world. There are ten to choose from, so be warned, you may be there a while... Drool over the Kentish cherry tart, with sweet Rainier cherries grown in Kent, fresh red cherries, toasted hazelnut cream, and sour cherry jam, the golden and red raspberry tart, a fresh mango, kalamansi & coconut tart, a honey-poached apricot tart - with ripe honey-poached apricots from the south of France, fragrant tonka bean, Valrhona Almond chocolate ganache, and fresh apricot compote. None take your fancy? Don't worry - there are five more to choose from. Including a Wye Valley blueberry tart. Go, go, go.
