Hands up if you’re excited for the weekend? Yep, everyone! Here’s some wonderful ways to spend it; from jumping on your broomstick and visiting Gringott’s Bank to losing your veganity at some epic vegan hangouts. Have a good’un…
Duke of York Square
If you’ve given up chocolate for Lent then you really need to avoid Duke of York Square this weekend, or just give up, because the weekly fine food market will see be taken over by London’s finest chocolatiers. Those attending including Susie Keane, Peacoc, Bad Brownies, London Chocolate and Sir Hans Sloane Chocolate. Not wanting to be outdone, the market regulars will also be offering chocolate treats including chocolate sushi from Aki Maki, chocolate flavoured Vietnamese spring rolls from Rao Deli, 10 different flavours of chocolate fudge from Cookies and Creams, as well as chocolate Guiness cake from Nick Fu!
Saturday 13th April
Where: Duke of York Square, Chelsea, SW3 4LY
Website: www.dukeofyorksquare.com
Soho Hotel
Running out of ideas of how to keep your little ones entertained this Easter? On Sunday 14th, children party extraordinaires, Sharky & George, will be over at Soho Hotel. As well as a children’s screening of The Lego Movie 2 in the hotel’s cinema, the duo will have a whole host of games, activities and crafts for your children to get involved with. You, meanwhile, can head to Refuel Restaurant for brunch.
Available 14th April
Where: 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D 3DH, United Kingdom
Nearest station: Tottenham Court Road (0.4 miles)
Website: www.firmdalehotels.com
Kew Gardens Gets Some Incredible Glass Sculptures
Spring’s a’springin’ and with it a range of glass exhibitions, courtesy of American glass sculptor extraordinaire Dale Chihuly. Kew Gardens will see its flora and fauna take on a blooming marvellous glass form, scattered across flower beds, lakes and glasshouses. Find out more here…
Where: Kew Gardens, Richmond TW9 3AB
Website: www.kew.org
IG News: Harry Potter Studios Opens Gringotts Bank
Harry Potter is the gift that just keeps on giving and this time around we’ve got Gringotts Bank to explore, courtesy of Harry Potter Studios – eek! Who remembers that spine tingling scene in Deathly Hallows Part Two? The seat-edge-gripper was filmed in the bank and now, after a teaser campaign (we’ve been following #UnlockTheMagic eagerly) it’s yours to take a tour of. The super swanky replica is available for the public to see; fingers crossed there isn’t a huge snake hanging about… get your parseltongue at the ready! The bank is the largest expansion to-date for HP Studios and will involve a walk through the wizarding bank of Gringotts, the Lestrange vault, a gallery of goblins and so much more.
Find more information here
Where: Warner Bros. Studios, Studio Tour Drive, Leavesden, WD25 7LR
Website: www.wbstudiotour.co.uk
Losing Your Veganity: The Definitive Guide To London Vegan Hangouts
London’s culinary scene is positively bulging with vegan restaurants at present, illuminating just how popular the plant-based way of life has become in recent years. Restaurants galore are popping vegan goodness on plates, from jackfruit tacos to plant-based fried “chicken” – and who knew vegan Mac ‘n’ cheese tasted so darn good? Farmacy, we’re talking to you! Look, there must surely be a reason Michelle Pfeiffer hasn’t aged a day over 30 and, well, then there’s Zac Efron and Queen B. Without further ado, here are some of the best vegan restaurants London has to offer.
Website: Find Them Here
Did Someone SayCarbonara Pizza?
On Wednesday the adored dough giants that are Pizza Pilgrims launched their one-month-only gem, the Pizza Carbonara. The delicacy will be available at all ten Pizza Pilgrim sites featuring a doughy delight topped with pasta bucatini, roasted smoked pancetta, mozzarella and finished off with classic creamy egg yolk sauce and topped with parmesan.
Where: All Pizza Pilgrims' Locations
Website: www.pizzapilgrims.co.uk
Voltaire's Closing Down Party
Goodbyes are never easy. Especially when it’s saying goodbye to somewhere like the incredible Voltaire. Alas, as they themselves say, every end has a new beginning (a statement we imagine would be followed by a wink face, were emojis availabl!). To celebrate, or rather commiserate this end, Voltaire, the bar beneath Crowne Plaza – The City, will be throwing a closing down party this weekend, where two nights will see you enjoying 50% off your entire bill, an offer that can be enjoyed alongside a DJ. Tickets include a glass of Champers and the rest is history (or will be)!
12-13th of April, 4pm-2am
Where: 19 New Bridge Street, EC4V 6DB
Website: www.voltairebar.com
3Tribes Borough
3Tribes have just opened in Borough and they’re offering barre, hot yoga and have just introduced floating tanks. If you’re looking for utter escapism, stillness and relaxation the floating for an hour in a dark pod is how to do it. Giving you an hour to yourself, without any sensory stimulation your body can start to totally relax and release all tension. Book in after a hectic weekend, to get the week off to a good start or wind down from a weekend of partying.
Where: 3TRIBES Studios Unit 1, Brandon House, Borough High Street, SE1 1HF
Website: www.3tribes.co.uk
St Leonard's Saturday Brunch
The weekend just got a whole lot tastier as Shoreditch’s St Leonards welcome their Saturday brunch. Expect lip-smacking dishes inclusive of smoked pork cheek hash with poached egg and hollandaise, bavette steak and eggs with corno peppers and salsa macha and grilled mushroom tartine with herbed labneh and poached eggs. You can drink away the hangover and wash the food down with one of the moreish cocktails from the Hair of the Dog drinks list… we see what they did there!
Brunch is available every Saturday from 12-4pm
Where: 70 Leonard Street, EC2A 4QX
Website: www.stleonards.london
Rathfinny's Tasting Room
Fancy a jaunt out of London, then head to Rathfinny’s Tasting Room, down in Sussex this weekend for a chef takeover. Martin Carabott has headed down to the wine estate to cook up some magic. Carabott is the Senior Sous Chef at Michelin starred Hide, under Chef Ollie Dabbous, and is fresh back from a three month stint at three Michelin starred (yes three!) Eleven Madison Park in New York. He’ll be cooking up his contemporary European food this Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunches and dinners.
Website: Click here for booking details...
Hop To A Chocolate Shop
These chocolateries are known for serving up the most decadent and delicious chocolate treats in the city. We can only hope that life would be like a box of chocolates: rich and engulfed in luxury, though we would probably need to consult a specialist for our high blood sugar levels. While the only real-life Oompa Lumpa is still residing in a white house in Washington, these chocolate shops have Willy looking for his own Golden Ticket. Check them out here
Website: Find Them Here
The Mary Quant Me Package
We love a throwback, and turns out so does Jumeirah Carlton Tower as they launched the ‘Mary Quant Me’ package which launched alongside the opening of the Mary Quant exhibition at the V&A. You’ll whirlwind back to another era and indulge in a 1960s-inspired retro three-course menu in The Rib Room as well as cocktails, a blow dry at Sassoon Salon on the King’s Road and a ticket to the exhibition. If that doesn’t sound like a whoppingly wholesome package then we’re not sure what does!
Where: 1 Cadogan Place, Belgravia, SW1X 9PY
Website: Find More Information Here
This Little Piggy Went To These 11 Street Food Markets
If someone tries to sell you a handbag or a bicycle in the street, then you’ll probably call the police. But if it’s an artisanal flapjack, then we give them a restaurant. The path from street food market to posho Soho restaurant is well worn, so we’ve decided to take a look at the tastiest. Find them here
Website: Read On...
Kalifornia Kitchen Pop Up At Arboretum
Eek! One of our favourite vegan eateries will be popping up at Arboretum this weekend, London’s first environmentally-friendly members’ club. The club will be hosting ‘Green Utopia’ for a few days over April, with talks aplenty on the power of plant life and social responsibility in promoting better health, wellbeing and the environment. Kalifornia Kitchen will be serving some of their vegan specials from Rainbow bowl to banana and slaw naked tacos – you won’t want to miss it!
12-14th of April
Where: Find Arboretum at 2A Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0HF
Website: www.kaliforniakitchen.co.uk
Dulwich Picture Gallery
As if South East London couldn’t get any more bright and fun, they’ve only gone and put a crazy colourful pavilion by Dulwich Picture Gallery. Created by artist Yinka Ilori along with architects Pricegore and aims to bring together European and African design. Well worth a visit!
Where: Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, London SE21 7AD, United Kingdom
Nearest station: West Dulwich (0.4 miles)
Website: www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk
