10 Pop-Ups To Book This February
On the hunt for things to do? Fill your diary with our edit of the best upcoming events in London, from the Mean Girls immersive dining experience to Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama pop-up that’s taking over TikTok.
Mean Girls Galentine’s Dining Experience
Get in losers, we’re going dining… Grab your girls for the hottest ticket in town and book in for The Refinery’s Galentine’s Day festivities.
Created in partnership with Taste Film, the restaurant will celebrate with an immersive ‘eat what you see’ experience of the cult-classic Mean Girls. Look forward to six courses packed with dishes and drinks inspired by references in the show. Think pineapple whisky cocktail with a Sahara sugar rim referencing “So it was goodbye Africa and hello high school”; baked goats cheese with Queen Bee honey and burnt chilli ‘can’t spell’ orange referencing “She’s the Queen Bee, the star, the other two are just her little workers”; and chicken Kyiv with potato dauphinoise and thyme butter broccoli referencing “Is butter a carb?”.
Screenings will take place on the 11th, 12th, 18th and 19th of February.
When: Various dates between 11.02.2023 – 19.02.2023
Where: The Refinery, City Point, EC27 9HT
BOOK AHEAD: The Other Art Fair London
This one’s for next month but it’s too good not to include in this round-up… Book your tickets early for the return of The Other Art Fair London, an event that offers an unexpected take on the traditional art fair experience.
Returning to The Truman Brewery this March, The Other Art Fair presented by Saatchi Art will offer you the chance to buy artwork from over 150 emerging talents. Look forward to an exciting programme of events, from guest artists and immersive installations to tattooing to live DJs. It’s a brilliant chance for budding artists and creatives to meet like-minded people, make connections and meet some of the next big names of our generation.
Coinciding with International Women’s Day, the fair has an exciting 61% female line-up. Artist highlights include London-based oil painter Sarah Lim-Murray; Peruvian artist and muralist Gisella Stapleton; Ukrainian artist and illustrator Katalin Macevics; multimedia artist Carrie Jean Goldsmith; British photographer Samuel Ryde; Los Angeles mixed media artist Ragni Argawal; Belgian painter Catherine Vermaut; photographer Lena Konstantakou; figurative painter Karen Turner; French screen printer and artist Nathalie Kingdon; and fine art photographer and digital mixed media artist Deborah Pendell.
We’ve teamed up with The Other Art Fair to offer one lucky reader the chance to win two tickets to the opening night of the London fair, a £250 art voucher and welcome drinks – find out how to enter the competition.
When: 09.03.2023 – 12.03.2023
Where: The Truman Brewery, 85 Brick Lane, E1 6QR
Website: www.theotherartfair.com
Poon’s Wontoneria
This month sees renowned Chinese restaurant family Poon’s team up with No.23 Charlotte Street to launch a three-month residency dedicated to their signature handmade wontons.
Taking over Carousel’s restaurant incubator space, Amy Poon has created a bespoke menu for Wontoneria. There’ll be a few options to choose from: pork and bamboo shoots; chicken thigh with woodear mushroom, water chestnut and ginger; prawn with bamboo shoots; and jackfruit and tofu with carrot, woodear mushroom and water chestnut.
These will all feature alongside a daily lunch special – the wonton noodle bowl, featuring a smaller portion of wontons with egg noodles and greens.
When: Three-month residency from 07.02.2023
Where: No.23 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RL
Website: www.carousel-london.com
Cocotte Rotisserie x Treats Club
If you’re still in winter hibernation mode, we’ve found you the ultimate indulgent comfort food to tuck into this month. London’s leading female-led dessert bar, Treats Club, has teamed up with neighbourhood rotisserie, Cocotte, to create a limited-edition molten doughnut-croquette hybrid.
Aptly named the Do-quette, it’s filled with gooey Gruyère, truffle and fresh chives, served with a pot of onion and tomato relish for dipping.
The Gantry x Mama Chen
East London hotel The Gantry has teamed up with dumpling expert Mama Chen to launch a very tasty three-month kitchen residency.
Chef and wonders Michelle Liu and Jonathan Augustine will be serving up Chinese dishes and steamed handmade dumplings, inspired by Michelle’s grandmother’s cooking. Dishes include green panda veggie dumplings packed with veggies and tofu; OG prawn and pork wonton soup bowl with chilli; steamed Cheung fun rice noodle rolls with sweet soy sauce; and smacked cucumber salad with soy, garlic and vinegar dressing.
Go all out and order the ‘whole shebang’ dumpling feast designed for two, featuring all the dumplings, Cheung fun rice noodles, smacked cucumber and powerpuff tofu.
When: three-month residency from 02.2023
Where: The Gantry, 40 Celebration Avenue, Stratford, E20 1DB
Website: www.thegantrylondon.com
Valentine’s at Bounce
If you’re looking to score big this Valentine’s Day, book in for Bounce’s ultimate ping-pong love-fuelled event.
Their team of Games Gurus will be playing Cupid while leading ping-pong tournaments all night long. A great opportunity to find love, you’ll be in with the chance of meeting your match, scoring high (at least in ping-pong terms) and going home with prizes for the winning matches.
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Whisky Tasting at Alba, Silverleaf
Love whisky? Take yourself on an immersive journey through the sights and sounds of the spirit with Silverleaf’s whisky-tasting sessions.
Hosted every Tuesday and Thursday evening throughout February, the hidden bar, Alba, inside Silverleaf will be hosting intimate masterclasses for up to 12 guests. You’ll be guided through five different whiskies, learning more about the unique flavours and tasting notes of the Silverleaf team’s favourite tipples.
There are two tasting sessions available, priced at £50pp for five different whiskies or priced at £80pp for five different premium whiskies.
When: Every Tuesday and Thursday night in February
Where: Pan Pacific London, 80 Houndsditch, EC3A 7AB
Book here tickets priced at £50pp and here for tickets priced at £80pp
Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama, Harrods
Just when we didn’t think London could get any cooler, Louis Vuitton teamed up with artist Yayoi Kusama for a mega collaboration.
Instantly recognisable for Kusama’s polka dot prints, you’ll have probably seen one of their many location takeovers pop-up on your social feeds since launching last week. London’s very own collaboration sees Harrods transformed by Kusama’s iconic world.
You’ll find everything here, from limited edition Louis Vuitton accessories, fragrances and clothing to a pop-up exhibit taken from Kusama’s work. You may even find an AI version of Kusama popping up around the collection too…
Feeling peckish? Stop by the patisseries counter on the ground floor and sample edible artworks, from choux buns to colourful macarons.
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NO ORDINARY LOVE
To celebrate the month of love, One Hundred Shoreditch and The Old Bank Vault have teamed up once again to curate a pop-up centred all around self-love.
Running from 11th February to 8th March, NO ORDINARY LOVE will be hosting a series of talks and workshops, including a self-pleasure workshop led by intimacy expert Natalie Lee.
Other events include a Flower Crown Workshop with Sophie Powell AKA Unidentified Floral Object; and wellbeing expert Becki Douglas’ I AM LOVE workshop focusing on self-love rituals.
When: 11.02.2023 – 08.03.2023
Where: One Hundred Shoreditch Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JQ
Website: www.onehundredshoreditch.com
Battersea Power Station Light Festival
January saw Battersea Power Station’s annual free festival return, helping to brighten up Londoners’ dreary winter.
Running until the 5th of March, this year’s festival features its most extensive collection of installations to date – no ticket required. Expect bursts of colour, rainbow illuminations and masterpieces curated in partnership with the Light Art Collection on display both outdoors and inside the Grade II* lighted Power Station.
Read more about what to expect at Battersea Power Station’s Light Festival here.
For more upcoming events in London, check out our monthly Culture Fix and What’s On Section
