From Oktoberfest festivities to the return of London Cocktail Week, this weekend is looking to be a little boozy. Read on to find out the best 13 events, pop-ups and activations taking place this weekend.
The BFI will also be launching a Japanese film series throughout autumn too.
Soak up the best offers during Japan Week Festival
If your dream destination holiday to Japan is off the cards for yet another year, fear not as you can get your culinary fix a little closer to home this year thanks to the arrival of the Japan Week Festival.
The home of the UK’s largest celebration of Japanese food, drink and culture, the Japan Week Festival will be running until Sunday and will play host to one-off events, limited-edition menus, exclusive discounts across some of London’s leading restaurants and bars.
There’s a permanent hub throughout the week in Seven Dials, as well as restaurants including Bone Daddies, Kan Pai, M Restaurants, YO! Sushi and Nobu, all joining in. The BFI will also be launching a Japanese film series throughout autumn too.
When: Monday 27th September – Sunday 3rd October
Where: Japan Week Festival hub at The Lexus Takumi Townhouse, 40 Earlham Street, Seven Dials, WC2H 9LH
Website: www.japanweekfestival.co.uk
Head to Allpress Espresso’s final ‘summer of lates’ evening
See out the end of the warmer evenings with Allpress Espresso’s final ‘summer of lates’ evening, the last in the series for 2021. This series finale will be led by Rameal Scully, the foodie head behind Scully St James’s.
Having been born in Malaysia and raised in Sydney, with a mother of Chinese/Indian descent and an Irish Balinese father, Scully’s menu draws on his family heritage. The set menu will start with oyster mushroom, yeast flake sauce and aleppo pepper. Mains will be cod shio butter sauce with kimchi caramel and cauliflower, followed by beef short-rib served with coconut sticky rice, salted cabbage slaw and urap sayur. The meal will finish with a light ceremonial green matcha swiss roll with black tahini ganache and yoghurt clusters.
When: Friday 1st October
Where: Allpress Espresso Roastery & Cafe, 55 Dalston Lane, E8 2NG
Book your tickets here
Sip a few cocktails at London Cocktail Week
The best time of year for cocktail lovers is returning for another year and we couldn’t be more excited to sip on cocktails from award-winning bars all over the capital.
London Cocktail Week is now extended for the whole month returns this weekend, bringing with it an unmissable timetable of parties, pop-ups, masterclasses, immersive experiences and, of course, cocktails. Grab your wristband and enjoy cocktails at the likes of Blue Bar at The Berkeley, Lyaness, Sketch and Three Sheets.
When: Friday 1st – Sunday 31st October
Where: Bars across London
Website: www.londoncocktailweek.com
Shop your new autumn wardrobe at this Belgravia pop-up
Just because the cooler weather is settling in, it doesn’t mean you have to wave goodbye to the dresses. Here to help you shop your autumn wardrobe is the Daily Dress Edit pop-up that’s arrived in Belgravia just in time for the weekend.
Running for three weeks, bookings are now available for private appointments at the pop-up boutique. Visitors will have the chance to shop the look, all carefully curated by founder of the Daily Dress Edit platform, Isabel Spearman, and have a 1-1 shopping experience with her. Expect to see looks from Rosie Caldwell, Anna Mason, Clary & Peg, O Pioneers and ME+EM.
When: Open for 3 weeks from 29th September
Where: 14-15 Eccleston Yards, Belgravia, SW1W 9AZ
Website: www.belgravialdn.com
Fall back in love with old British menu classics
With the weather turning and autumn well and truly settling in, we can finally be gone with the summer salads and welcome a warm, comforting meal with open arms. To help us out this season is Aqua Shard and their new ‘Forgotten British Menu’, created with journalist and broadcaster Matthew Fort.
Following the success of last year’s autumn menu change, Fort has teamed up with executive chef at Aqua Shard, Anthony Garlando, to create an all-new selection of dishes to make the change in season. The menu centres around the idea of championing seasonal ingredients and draws inspiration from the techniques and traditions which our ancestors used.
Expect dishes such as potted venison and chestnut, pickled chanterelles, sherry jelly and brioche; Whitby crab cake, mustard hollandaise, cauliflower salad and oscietra caviar; and roasted red-legged partridge with cocoa nib glazed salsify, braised partridge leg, liver mousse and cherry tart.
Where: Level 31 The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY
Website: www.aquashard.co.uk
Live out your Queen dream’s at Carnaby’s pop-up shop
Opening its doors this Tuesday 28th September, the store, Queen the Greatest, will celebrate the five rich decades of music from the world’s most iconic bands. Queen fans can look forward to limited edition music releases, fashion collaborations and products dropping weekly.
The pop-up store will be running until January, offering a space for lovers of the band to relish in the history and music that the band has shared over the years. Each month of its opening is set to be different, with a new theme including music, art and design, and magic. The themes will be brought to life through visual installations that will span each of Queen’s historic decades, from the 1970s through to today.
The store itself has been created in partnership with Bravado, and will have t-shirts, sweatshirts and other clothing items that visitors can purchase. As well as exclusive collaborations with fashion brands such as Wrangler, Champion and Johnny Hoxton jewellery.
When: Opens Tuesday 28th September, running until January 2022
Where: Queen the Greatest, 57 CARNABY STREET, W1
Website: www.queenonlinestore.com
Kick off your Oktoberfest festivities with Kraft Dalston
Steins at the ready, Oktoberfest festivities are kicking off in style this weekend thanks to Kraft Dalston. Running this Friday and Saturday, the east London drinks festival will be packed with all of your favourite German beers, from Helles to Landbier, Hefeweizen to Hopfenweisse.
For food, kebab kings Le Bab have created a special one off surprise dish available for the weekend only inspired by Bavarian cuisine. There’ll also be German music but not as you know it. Think 80s classics and German techno come the evening time.
When: Friday 1st – Saturday 2nd October
Where: Inside Kingsland Locke, 130a Kingsland High Street, Dalston, E8 2LQ
Website: www.kraftdalston.com
Cheer on your marathon running friends
Run, rabbit run… This Sunday will see thousands of runners take part in the London Marathon. And even if you aren’t taking part yourself, you can cheer on your friends from the sidelines, at the pub once they’ve finished or even watching at home with a homemade sign.
Run, rabbit run…
When: Sunday 3rd October
Finally see the new James Bond movie
The long awaited release of the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, is finally over! No Time to Die was one of the first movies that we saw get pushed back by the Coronavirus outbreak, although the news seems like so long ago. Either way, we’re excited to finally see Daniel Craig take on the role of James Bond once more, as rumour has it it’s his last outing as 007.
And London is going all out with the Bond-inspired events. From immersive dining experiences to afternoon teas finished with Bond’s favourite, a Martini, there’s so many events to get involved in. Read our guide to the best.
Release Date: Thursday 30th September
Other Bond-inspired events hitting London this week
Get a new do at Blue Tit
Boasting ten salons spread far and wide across the city, Blue Tit has been designed with the sustainably conscious in mind. They use natural products that work wonders on all types of hair, and that can be purchased for yourself thanks to their fun refill programme.
Each salon has its own unique interiors vibe, from industrial and exposed brick to print covered walls. For those who are always a little nervous about getting a new look, rest assured that their team is super reliable and friendly, and offer everything from colouring to cuts, styling to treatments.
Where: Various sites over London
Website: www.bluetitlondon.com
Get your musical fix at SingEasy
Calling all musical lovers, now’s your chance to really eek out the return of the West End, and you’ve got SingEasy to thank for that.
Returning this Saturday, SingEasy is a speakeasy style room hidden inside The Piano Works West End and is the ultimate place to head for a West End experience. Expect singing waiters, expert pianists playing in the background and endless cocktails and foodie delights.
Choose from their exciting activities, from weekend bottomless brunch filled with bottomless Prosecco or cocktails, to pre-theatre dinners and late nights. Right now, they are offering free bottomless Prosecco for The Handbook readers! Use the code “Handbook – Bubbles” when sending your booking enquiry.
When: Returns Saturday 2nd October
Where: The Piano Works West End, 47 Whitcomb Street, WC2H 7DH
Website: www.singeasy.bar
Level up your Thursday night plans with London Cabaret Club
Dance the night away with a little helping hand from London Cabaret Club. Due to popular demand, they have recently launched Thursday night shows for their London Never Dies performance. Bond themed, the show brings immersive dining to focus through live entertainment, talented dancers and DJs.
With the release of the new Bond movie this week too, there’s all the more reason to keep the Martinis following and Bond themes thriving.
Where: Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, WC1B 4DA
Website: www.thelondoncabaretclub.com
Get your caffeine fix at this pop-up cafe
How is your latte art? Is it competition winning worthy? If so, you might be in with the chance to win Sage Appliances’ latest coffee machine, the Bambino, at their fun pop-up cafe this weekend.
To celebrate the launch of the new machine, Sage Appliances is launching the Bambino All Day, a mini cafe that packs a punch. Coffee lovers are invited to head down and try their hand at being a barista for the day trialling out the machines.
When: Friday 1st October
Where: 74 Great Eastern Street, EC2a 3JL
More info here
