12 Things You Need To Book This Weekend

Party it up at Cocktails in the City

Taking over Bedford Square Gardens once again will be Cocktails in the City, the annual cocktail festival that brings together London’s top bars, live music and outdoor games.

The event takes place over three weekends throughout the summer, with the first taking place Friday 7th to Sunday 9th. And this year, each weekender will have a different theme and style. 

July’s theme will focus on innovation and discovery found within London’s bar and cocktail scene. Expect big names including Coupette, Disrepute, Homeboy Bars and Bourne & Hollingworth to be crafting drinks worth tasting. 

There’ll be plenty of activities to get involved with including London Shuffle Club’s pop-up shuffle lanes where you can put your competitive nature to the test with a game. Other pop-ups include the ice carving workshops, cocktail making classes and silent disco.

Grab a slice at this epic pizza party

Is there any better party than one dedicated to pizza? This week sees East London dough specialists ACE Pizza celebrate their return to serving seven days a week with a giant pizza party weekender. 

Taking place all week until Monday 11th, they will be flying out everyone’s favourite type of carb-loaded dish, including new ACE Pizza specials and a refreshing Limoncello Spritz that’s 2 for £12 all weekend. Expect DJs pumping out the good tunes all weekend long. 

If you’re really eager to get your hands on the best pizza this side of the city, the first 100 slices will be complimentary on Saturday and Sunday from 5pm. Make sure you race down to try and grab a freebie. Plus, kids eat free on Sunday too!

Check out this international film festival

Taking over the city for its 16th edition will be the I Will Tell International Film festival London. Running until the 16th of July, the festival will screen UK and world premieres, along with Q&As so you can get into the minds of those creating. 

Expect screenings of the likes of King Richard; Akeelah and the Bee; Clock; and Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story.

Catch this month’s must-see exhibition

Reworking what it means to be female, Angela Santana’s latest exhibition is being presented at Saatchi Yates. On display until the end of August, the collection brings together over 14 paintings that explore – and ultimately reject – the male gaze. 

Santana’s work offers the female body a voice, moving away from the typical ‘object’ and allowing it to become the centre focus and subject. Nodding to contemporary ways of creating art, the collection rejects conservative practices and creates art through deconstructing hundreds of layers of digital art and reimaging them through oil canvases. The result is striking, innovative and challenges the male-dominated industry by the hands.

Enjoy seafood with a view

Oysters by the river. Go on then… This summer sees seafood restaurant Wright Brothers launch a pop-up on The Coaling Jetty at Battersea Power Station. They’ll be serving up their much loved favourites and seafood specials including tacos, burgers and of course oysters. 

Helping to wash it all down will be the array of summer cocktails, from classic Pimm’s packed with fresh fruits to minty mojitos. 

Paired with views of the Thames in the background, this is the alfresco pop-up to be seen at this summer.

Add some colour to your weekend with this beauty pop-up

A burst of colour is coming to Covent Garden this summer in the form of Lisa Eldridge’s new immersive pop-up ‘Carnival of Colour’. You’ll be able to dive into the colourful escapism, immersing yourself in the textures and exploring Lisa Eldridge’s new beauty products. 

The make-up artist-turned-brand will be denoting ten new shades additional to the Luxuriously Lucent and Insanely Saturated Lip Colour collections, as well as six sparkling new shades of Liquid Lurex Eyeshadow. You’ll be able to try and buy the new range at the pop-up, as well as have the opportunity to be matched with the right Seamless Skin Foundation shade thanks to help from Lisa’s team of beauty experts.

Make the most of this delicious lunch time deal

Mid week lunches often get reserved for soggy squashed sandwiches, supermarket meal deals or skipped completely. But it doesn’t have to be that way because it’s also when restaurants offer some seriously great deals on their dishes, including Noci’s new menu. 

The neighbourhood restaurant specialising in fresh pasta has recently launched a lunch deal too good not to snap up. Available Monday to Friday, 12-5pm, you can head down and look forward to a drink, fresh focaccia and pasta for £12. 

Choose from wine, beer or a soft drink, before tucking into house baked datterini tomato focaccia. Followed by your choice of stozzapretti with raw datterini, black olives, capers, almonds and mint; trofie with pesto, new potato and string beans; or brown butter cacio e pepe ziti. 

After all, who doesn’t love a good lunch time deal?

Watch the Wimbledon final

Eager to see who will be making it to the final of Wimbledon this weekend? Get into the spirit, cheer on your favourite tennis player and see who knocks it out of the park at one of London’s giant screens showing the finals. Here are some of our favourite spots…

Sip wine in style at this pop-up

Serving up London’s pinkest pop-up this summer is Yauatcha, the Chinese dim sum teahouse located in City and Soho. They’ve partnered with rosé brand Whispering Angel to create a whimsical terrace complete with flower clouds made with silk florals. 

You’ll be able to sip their rosé served by the magnum, bottle or glass, all while delighting on pairing dishes. Menu highlights include drunken chicken and prawn wontons in a rich nutty sauce; and the wagyu beef puffs.

Attend a picnic concert at Kew

The music experience that might just be the greatest play on words we’ve seen in a long time returns to Kew Garden this week, arriving with a great line-up of big names. Big live performances include James Blunt, Gipsy Kings, Van Morrison, Will Young, James Morrison, DJ Spoony and Bananarama.

Throw down the blanket, sip on your favourite serves and listen to great music in the sun.

Discover London’s best secret garden

We’ve been keeping a secret from you… But if you really want to find London’s best secret garden, it’s hidden away at Home House. This season it’s dressed to impress complete with a floral display filled with naranga orange roses, cerise peonies and rose pink Elizabeth double headed roses. 

Once you step outside into the garden, expect to be impressed as it’s home to a festival-style tent that takes centre stage, perfect for when the rain hits and cooler evenings. 

At the weekend you can look forward to summer dishes, sourdough pizzas and a gourmet barbecue cooking up lamb cutlet, chicken thighs and king chilli and garlic prawns.

Get your sweat on at this Pride workout event

Pride Month might officially be over, but that won’t stop us heading to as many Pride events as we can this summer. F45, the world famous workout community, have put together their most colourful session yet- all in celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Sweat it out to amazing music from live DJs; chat and dance with drag stars; and tuck into some complimentary food and drink; all in aid of their Pride Sports charity. There will also be talks around opportunities for the queer community in sport – and you’ll even leave with a limited edition Out & Proud t-shirt.