What To Do This Weekend: 15th-17th July
Welcome to the weekend people! It’s almost here: 48 hours of fun (or if you count the start of the weekend from Thursday night until Monday morning, like we do, 88 hours give or take) so we have your plans sorted so you can pack in as much as possible. Gorge on unlimited ribs and Prosecco, watch a sheep dog display, quaff wine whilst sitting in a deck chair, try out a new afternoon tea and head to a summer market. Get going!
Royal Academy of Dance Pop-Up Taster Classes
Free Dance Lesson With Darcey Bussell
If summer has you wanting to take your workout outside, you’ll want to head to Finsbury Avenue Square on Friday for a lunchtime with a difference. The Royal Academy of Dance is hosting a series of free 30 minute taster classes – everything from barre to beginners’ ballet to a Flashdance-inspired class – but our pick of the best is DDMIX (Diverse Dance Mix) with the one and only Darcey Bussell. Some of the classes are booked up but check online to nab a space – you could always head down with your Pret to sit and watch Darcey in action.
Where: Finsbury Avenue Square, Broadgate, EC2
Website: www.rad.org.uk/events
Embankment Summer Market
Croquet, giant jenga and street food
For a complete day of food, drink, shopping and live music, Embankment Summer Market is your weekend destination. From Friday till Sunday, you’ll find hot dogs, churros, artisan coffee, pizza and pad Thai… and that’s just for starters. A full line-up on stage consists of 37 performers, with shopping and lawn games; croquet and giant jenga on the lawn. The market runs from 12-7pm on Friday and 11am-6pm on Saturday and Sunday and entry is free.
Where: Victoria Embankment Gardens, Villiers Street, Embankment, WC2N 6NG
Website: www.cityshowcasemarkets.com
The Chap Olympiad
Old-Fashioned Fun
It took place on Saturday 16th June and, one month on, it is back. If you missed out on the event of “sporting ineptitude” first time round, here’s another chance to don your finest tea dress or tweed cap for a day of old fashioned fun and frolics in the ‘Chap’ and ‘Chapette’ competitions. We’re talking ‘Tea Pursuit’ (fill a teacup whilst riding a bicycle) and ‘The Corby Trouser Press Challenge’ not to mention picnic baskets and drinks from Bourne & Hollingsworth. Tickets online – with or without a picnic basket.
Where: Bedford Square Gardens, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3HH
Website: www.thechap.co.uk
Odeon Leicester Square
BFG Premiere
Everyone’s favourite friendly giant is being given a new lease of life in the new Disney production of The BFG, directed by Stephen Spielberg. Catch a glimpse of the stars (Oscar-winner Mark Rylance plays The BFG) out on the red carpet this Sunday before you can actually see the film, which comes out in cinemas on 22nd July. A great summer holiday rainy day activity.
Where: Leicester Square, WC2H 7LQ
Website: www.odeon.co.uk
Nola Rola
A Bottomless Brunch for Winners
Sure there are lots of bottomless brunches and don’t get us wrong, we’re never one to say no to unlimited Prosecco or Mimosas but sometimes you want a bottomless brunch like no other. Sometimes you want something that is going to separate the strong from the weak, the wheat from the chaff and that brunch is Nola Rola. Launching this Saturday in Vauxhall and running every Saturday until the end of October it’s two hours of bottomless Prosecco, whisky punch and BBQ pork ribs. That’s right. Unlimited ribs. Other bottomless dishes include baked crispy kale, chargrilled sweet potato, slaw and Jambalaya and smoked cheese arancini rice balls – all set to a soundtrack of New Orleans funk and soul DJ Lil’ Koko. As we said the strong from the weak (or the greedy from the not so).
Where: The Yard, 4 Durham Street, Vauxhall, SE11 5JA
Website: www.nolarolalondon.com
Urban Food Fest
Uruguayan Wine Themed Fiesta
If you head to Urban Food Fest this Saturday then get ready for award-winning wine from the South American Bodega Garzón wine estate and lots of it. Pull up a pew in a deckchair, tuck into some street food including shrimp wraps, Chivito -that’s a Uruguayan grilled steak sandwich and their Miley Citrus cupcakes! If wine isn’t your thing or you’re up for a bit of mixing (drink responsibly obviously) then try the Viva La Fiesta! Cocktail which is made from coconut water, vodka and blackberry.
Where: Euro Car Parks, 162-167 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6HU
Website: www.urbanfoodfest.com
The Lancaster
ARTea
Know your Monet from your Picasso? Know your Devon clotted cream method from your Cornish? The two are coming together with the launch of The Lancaster’s new ARTea which launches today. Running with Pommery Champagne, the afternoon tea is about all things arty and edible. Pastries will be adorned with images from their current exhibition by Norman Teeling, menus and canvasses will both be edible, waiters will serve in painted aprons and sandwiches and cakes will come in paint boxes. What we’re most looking forward to though is the fact that the jam and clotted cream comes in cute little 30ml paint tubes. Adorable!
Where: The Lancaster, Lancaster Terrace, Paddington, W2 2TY
Website: www.lancasterlondon.com
Lambeth Country Show
Country Meets City
Summer is all about fetes, fairs and country shows, but sometimes we can’t just drop everything and get to a country show, too much planning, but you’re in luck because EventsLambeth are bringing the classic country show to Brockwell Park for the 42nd year. There’ll be sheep dog and owl display, flower show, arts and crafts, a horticultural show, on-site farm, but this is south London after all so you can also find the likes of Roots Reggae Day and YolanDa Brown on the main stage. It’s running across the weekend and it’s free to get in, if you’ve over-spent this month.
Where: Brockwell Park, Brixton, SE24 9BJ
Website: www.lambethcountryshow.co.uk
