11 Things To Do This Weekend
You’ve made it through a miniature week and your reward is yet another weekend. Whether you’re still recovering from partying too hard at Notting Hill Carnival or you’re hunting for a new pop-up, we’ve rounded up the best things to do.
From the return of the Totally Thames festival to Carousel’s latest kitchen takeover, here’s what to do.
Things To Do This Weekend, From Totally Thames Festival To Foodie Pop-Ups
Head to this new colourful pop-up
The latest colourful pop-up we’re obsessed with this month is the playful collaboration between luxury cognac house, Maison Courvoisier and British Nigerian artist, Yinka Ilori.
Running until Sunday 10th September, the multi-award-winning cognac house will be showcasing its new limited-edition Courvoisier VSOP bottle cleverly designed by Ilori through an eye-catching installation. Taking over Selfridges London’s Wonder Room, the space has been transformed to bring the bottle’s design to life.
Inspired by the joy of a summer’s day in Jarnac, France, the home of Courvoisier, you can expect ombre colours and a central bar serving up contemporary cocktails. Each cocktail is paired with a creation from gourmet confectionist The Marshmallowist.
Cocktails include The Gala, blending Courvoisier VSOP with Sicilian lemonade; Roasted Peach Daisy, mixing cognac with apricot liqueur, roasted peach syrup and lemon juice; and French 125, a mix of cognac, lemon juice, sparkling wine and spiced vanilla syrup.
When: Until 10.09.2023
Where: The Wonder Room at Selfridges London, 400 Oxford Street, W1A 1AB
Website: www.courvoisier.com
Head to a food festival
Acclaimed Michelin-starred chef Tom Kerridge and his popular Pub in the Park foodie festival have been travelling around the UK this summer. A celebration of British pubs and their place in our culture, the festival lands back in London this weekend for another installment.
Expect brilliant live demonstrations from Kerridge, Andi Oliver and Si King from the Hairy Bikers, BBQ classics cooked up at the Firepit and plenty of foodie options to chow your way through.
When: 01.09.2023 – 03.09.2023
Where: Chiswick House & Gardens, Chiswick, W4 2RP
Website: www.pubintheparkuk.com
Try this Mexican-Jewish crossover pop-up
Having taken the LA food scene by storm, Malli has landed in London for a short five-day kitchen takeover at pop-up heroes, Carousel.
Bridging the gap between Mexican and Jewish classic dishes, Malli is the brainchild of Elizabeth Heitner and Nestor Silva and has become somewhat famous for the pastrami stacked tacos with melted Swiss cheese, two vibrant salsas and hibiscus pickled onions.
Running until Saturday 2nd September, the Carousel x Malli menu is filled with dishes such as beets and cherries with ‘borscht mole’, pink chicory and puffed wild rice; crab and courgettes with masa fried blossom, ha sikil pak and hoja santa zhug; and pastrami beef cheek with sauerkraut soubise, corn and charred Jimmy Nardello chillies.
When: Until 02.09.2023
Where: Carousel, 19-23 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RL
Website: www.carousel-london.com
Buckle in for a wild cabaret night
West End shows don’t come quite as flamboyant and extravagant as a night at CABARET by Kit Kat Club.
Hidden inside the Playhouse Theatre, you can expect an evening filled to bursting with lyrical hits, brilliant performances and lively energy. The club’s new production is currently performing with huge names including HBO’s Euphoria star Maude Apatow and Netflix’s The Sandman star Mason Alexander Park.
Our top tip? Head down early to take advantage of the full theatrics, including the club’s ‘Prologue’ which sees nine professional dancers and musicians performing throughout the building and bar areas before the main event begins.
Where: Kit Kat Club, Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5DE
Website: www.kitkat.club
Take part in the month-long Totally Thames festival
Celebrating London’s greatest landmark, Totally Thames Festival is an annual event showcasing the River Thames through arts events, active adventures and educational programmes.
The month-long initiative runs throughout September and across the 42-mile stretch of the river. Expect everything from performances and boating events to river clean-ups, talks and workshops.
When: Throughout September
Where: Across the River Thames
Website: www.thamesfestivaltrust.org
Head to London’s flagship disability arts festival
Taking over This Is Croydon, the London Borough of Culture 2023, is the Mayor of London’s annual free festival. Titled Liberty, the festival celebrates the groundbreaking work of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists and this year’s celebration is packed full of events to get involved with.
Taking place in and around Fairfield Halls and the Queen’s Gardens, this year’s event includes stand-up comedy from the likes of Francesca Martinez, Aaron Simmonds, Steve Day and Variety D. As well as workout classes, artist performances, poetry nights and a giant free family-friendly garden party.
When: Until 03.09.2023
Where: Fairfields Halls & The Queen’s Gardens, Croydon
Website: www.culturecroydon.com
Explore the coastal cuisine of Turkey
Notting Hill’s contemporary ocakbasi restaurant, The Counter, will be taking guests on a sensory journey through the coastal cuisine of Turkey in its new series, Aegean Sundays.
Celebrating the food of the Aegean region, the feasting menu has been curated by chef-founder Kemal Demirasal. Expect a modern twist on traditional seafood dishes native to his home region.
Comprising 12 dishes, the series is designed to be shared family-style with courses including pickle tzatziki; samphire salad; fried squid; and sauteed prawns with garlic butter.
When: Every Sunday from 03.09.2023
Where: The Counter, 108 Golborne Road, W10 5PS
Website: www.thecounterlondon.com
One to book: Jamón Carving Masterclass & Sherry Tasting with José Pizarro
Whether you’re planning ahead for Christmas gifts or you’re on the hunt for a new date night with a difference, we’ve found the ultimate masterclass that meat lovers won’t be able to resist.
Renowned for his tapas restaurants and culinary mastery, Spanish chef José Pizarro has launched a new jamón carving masterclass and sherry-tasting experience. Taking over his Bermondsey Street restaurant, José and his team will teach you how to work with the Spanish delicacy, from slicing to teaching you how to get the best ‘loncha’ of ham. During the session, you’ll have a blind tasting of ham and sherry, followed by lunch at the restaurant.
Where: 194 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ
Website: www.josepizarro.giftpro.co.uk
3 Events Worth Travelling For
Head to Corona Sunsets Festival
Returning to the UK this Saturday is the Corona Sunsets Festival, the global series of one-day festivals from internationally renowned beer brand, Corona. Located just 30 minutes outside of London, it’s too good to miss.
Devoted to connecting people with nature by celebrating sunsets, the UK edition is set to feature huge name acts. Expect to be dancing into the night to Easy Life, Mahalia, Franc Moody, Newton Faulkner and the London Gospel House Choir, as well as big-name DJs like Jaguar, Oh Annie Oh, Joe Goddard and Gemma Bradley.
Alongside the music, there’ll be live art installations and culinary experiences, including a workshop from Michelin-starred chef Brad Carter.
And the best part? We’ve teamed up with Corona Sunsets Festival to offer three lucky Handbook readers the chance to win 2 tickets each to the festival. The competition closes this evening (Thursday 31st August) so enter here now for your chance to win.
When: 02.09.2023
Where: Hatfield Park, Hatfield, AL9 5HX
Website: www.corona.com
Visit this must-see exhibition
Over at The Whitworth in Manchester, Traces of Displacement is an incredibly powerful and moving exhibition exploring the major humanitarian issue – forced displacement.
Bringing together artists who have experienced the issue first-hand, the retrospective delves into stories of “persecution, creative and resilience” and the “experiences of artists and makers who were displaced in their homelands, forced to flee, survived and even thrived in exile”.
When: Until 07.01.2024
Where: The Whitworth, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER
Website: www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk
Catch an outdoor performance
From circus extravaganzas to hippo-themed dance shows, walking theatre shows to brass band bonanzas, there’s something for everyone at Hull’s Freedom Festival.
The five-day festival has already kicked off with the finale weekend landing this Saturday and Sunday. There are a host of indoor and outdoor shows, exhibitions and installations taking place across Hull’s city centre.
When: Until 03.09.2023
Where: Across Hull’s City Centre
Website: www.freedomfestival.co.uk