14 Enriching Ways To Spend The August Bank Holiday Weekend
The August bank holiday weekend is fast-approaching, and it marks one of the last opportunities to tick as many things off your summer bucket list as possible. From Notting Hill Carnival celebrations and matcha-fuelled foodie collabs to caviar weeks and open-air picnic concerts, there is no shortage of ways to fill the next four days. Here’s exactly how to make the most of it.
What to do
Round off Carnival weekend at Chet’s after-party
If you’re looking for the perfect way to round off carnival weekend, Chet’s at The Hoxton Shepherd’s Bush is throwing an after-party this Sunday that doesn’t sound like one to miss.
Greensleaves Records, the legendary Shepherd’s Bush-founded dancehall and reggae label, will be on the decks from 7pm to 11pm, soundtracking an evening of BBQ terrace feasting and signature cocktails. The food offerings extend to sharing platters of lemongrass and garlic Gai Yang chicken, river prawns in smoked chilli oil and twice-cooked crispy pork belly.
Where: Chet’s, The Hoxton, 65 Shepherd’s Bush Green, W12 8TX
Book here
Experience Battersea Park in Concert
Battersea Park in Concert is back from 28th to 31st August with four nights of open-air picnic concerts, and it’s the perfect excuse to dust off the hamper. Highlights include Pop Symphonic with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra on Saturday (think ABBA, Spice Girls and Bruno Mars reimagined with a full orchestra), Movies and Musicals on Sunday with a spectacular fireworks finale, and a Monday afternoon of jazz headlined by the Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Orchestra and The Amy Winehouse Band.
Bring your picnic and settle in for one of the best long weekends London has to offer.
Where: Battersea Park, London SW11 4NJ
Website: www.batterseaparkinconcert.com
Discover your new favourite summer terrace
If you’re on the hunt for the perfect spot to spend a summer afternoon in Mayfair, The Stafford London is offering two of the most charming options in the city right now.
Up on the roof, The Champagne Rooftop is open Wednesday to Saturday from 4pm to 8pm, serving Champagne, sparkling wines and seasonal cocktails with panoramic views across the London skyline. Down in the hotel’s historic courtyard, Le Picnic by Veuve Clicquot transforms the space into a French Riviera-inspired terrace daily until 31st August, with Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label and Rosé, Lobster and Prawn Rolls and Truffle Fries with Parmesan all on offer from midday.
Where: 16-18 St James’s Place, Mayfair, London, SW1A 1NJ
Website: www.thestaffordlondon.com
Check out this coffee pop-up
If you take your coffee seriously, clear your Saturday and Sunday morning plans because this one is not to be missed.
Copenhagen’s Coffee Collective, consistently ranked one of the best coffee roasters in the world, is coming to Rosslyn for one weekend only, with co-founder and 2006 World Barista Champion Klaus Thomsen serving behind the counter in person. It’s a rare UK outing for Coffee Collective and a major moment for the London coffee scene, made even better by the addition of the BMO, Denmark’s cult viral bakery obsession of a sourdough bun with whipped butter and Gammel Knas cheese, made by Hackney’s acclaimed Forno bakery.
Where: Rosslyn London Wall, 118 London Wall, London EC2Y 5JA
Website: www.rosslyncoffee.com
Enjoy al fresco drinks in the heart of Chelsea
If you’re after a no-booking, no-fuss spot to eat and drink outdoors, Summer in Sloane Square has you covered.
In partnership with The Royal Court Theatre, the garden square has been transformed into a beautiful open-air terrace running right through the bank holiday and on until 20th September, with Mexican small plates and seasonal drinks served from the theatre’s kitchen. It’s one of the only free alfresco dining spots in the middle of Chelsea, with live music on Thursdays and Fridays to sweeten the deal. Walk up, find a spot and settle in.
Where: Sloane Square, Chelsea
Website: www.kingsroad.com
What to eat
Celebrate Caviar Week at this Kensington trattoria
If you’re looking for a reason to push the boat out this bank holiday week, Jacuzzi in Kensington has just given you a very good one.
Big Mamma’s decadent Kensington trattoria is running its first-ever Caviar Week from 26th August to 2nd September, with a four-course menu putting Maison Kaviari caviar front and centre throughout. The evening begins with a glass of Franciacorta and a bump of caviar on arrival, before moving through Potato Millefoglie with Sea Bass Tartare, homemade Lemon Tagliolini con Granchio and Cod with beurre blanc, each elevated with generous spoonfuls of caviar, finishing with a summery strawberry pavlova.
Where: 94 Kensington High St, London W8 4SG
Website: www.bigmammagroup.com
Try the Matcha Burger Box at Supernova’s JENKI takeover
Two of Soho’s most exciting neighbours have joined forces for a bank holiday collab that’s well worth seeking out before it sells out.
Cult smash burger spot Supernova is getting a full JENKI takeover, with the matcha brand bringing matcha mayo, lemonade and soft serve to the menu for two days only. The limited-edition box includes a Supernova burger of your choice, fries with matcha mayo, matcha lemonade and matcha soft serve, with only 200 boxes available each day. Each box also comes with a Scratch and Win card for prizes at both spots, making it one of the more fun ways to spend a bank holiday Friday in Soho.
Where: 25 Peter St, London W1F 0AH
Website: www.supernova.com / www.jenki.com
Spend your Sunday in Andalusia at Luna
Luna, the wine bar and bistro from the founders of Legare, is launching Eurosummer, a new series of Sunday kitchen takeovers celebrating European culinary traditions, and the first stop is Andalusia.
Running from 12pm to 11pm on Sunday, the sharing menu moves through Gildas, Gambas al Ajillo, escalivada with anchovy, ox tongue skewers with espelette pepper and marinated octopus, finishing with churros, all paired with a curated list of low-intervention Spanish wines from celebrated producers.
Where: Luna, Shad Thames, London SE1
Website: www.luna.com
Join Quince Bakery’s annual pie party
If you’re a pie person, Bank Holiday Monday just got a lot more exciting. Quince Bakery in Islington is hosting its third annual Pie Party on 31st August, and founder Anna Higham is opening the ovens to some of the city’s most exciting independent bakers for one day only.
This year’s lineup includes Hai Lin Leung of Lucky Yu Bakery, Chloe-Rose Crabtree of Bake Street, Tom Zahir of Decatur and Sofia Vasquez of Hamblin Bread, each bringing their own take on the humble pie, spanning classic British bakes, Chinese-inspired pastries and everything in between. Doors open at 12pm and pies are sold until they run out, so early arrival is very strongly advised.
Where: 267 New N Rd, London N1 7AA
Website: www.quincebakery.com
Pick up a roti wrap from Tamila’s bank holiday pop-up
If you’re in East London and in need of lunch this weekend, Tamila’s roti wrap pop-up is back, and it’s well worth seeking out. Executive Chef Prince Durairaj’s grab-and-go creation features the curry house’s signature crisp, flaky roti piled high with barbecued meats or paneer, salad and homemade sauces, all served with a side of homemade masala crisps.
Available for collection on Sunday and Monday, you can pre-order online to skip the queue, which, given how good these sound, is strongly advisable. One of the more delicious bank holiday plans we’ve come across this week.
Where: Unit 6, 8 St Andrews Road, London E8 4QN
Preorder your place here
Visit The Most Unexpected Pop-Up Just in Shoreditch
Arguably the most exciting collab of the year, KFC and La Vieille Ferme (aka chicken wine) have joined forces for a bank holiday special.
Coq au Vin is a four-day wine bar taking over Kachette Annex in Shoreditch across the entire bank holiday weekend, pairing KFC’s legendary fried chicken with La Vieille Ferme’s iconic French wines. Think tenders with rosé, hot wings with red and popcorn chicken with fizz, with La Vieille Ferme’s legendary Chicken Wine label making a special return exclusively for the event. Tickets are £15 and include the full experience, running from 28th to 31st August, and this is very much one of those pop-ups that will sell out before the weekend arrives.
Where: 1 Kingsland Rd, London E2 8AA
Book here
Outside of London
Make the trip to Bristol for Forwards Festival
For those looking to escape London for the bank holiday weekend, Forwards Festival is returning to Clifton Downs in Bristol this weekend for its fifth anniversary, and the lineup is one of the best it has ever put together.
Saturday is headlined by Tems, Self Esteem and Wet Leg, while Sunday brings Little Simz, Amyl and The Sniffers and Dijon, with Joy Crookes and Maribou State among the supporting acts across the weekend. It’s a day festival with no camping, making it perfectly doable as a trip from London, and Bristol itself is well worth an overnight stay if you want to make the most of the long weekend.
Where: Clifton Downs
Website: www.forwards.com
Sip Mermaid cocktails in The New Forest
THE NICI New Forest in Lymington has just become one of the most appealing reasons to leave London behind this weekend. Mermaid Gin has parked its van bar on the hotel’s lawn until 1st September, serving signature cocktails and summer spritzes with views stretching across to the Isle of Wight, the home and inspiration behind the Mermaid collection.
Standout serves include a Mermaid Gin with Fino Sherry, house pickles and black pepper, a fruity Pink Gin with New Forest strawberries and lime, and a Mermaid Salt Vodka spritz with Aperol, cucumber and watermelon soda. It’s about 90 minutes from London, and one of the lovelier ways to round off a bank holiday weekend.
Where: S Baddesley Rd, Lymington SO41 5ZB
Website: www.mermaidgin.com
Escape to Hertfordshire for the most beautiful supper
If you’re looking to make your bank holiday that little bit more special, the Roots Dining Experience at Tewinbury Farm in Hertfordshire is about as good as outdoor dining gets.
Set on 700 acres of rolling countryside just 30 minutes from King’s Cross, the celebrated outdoor supper series returns this weekend in collaboration with Humble Grape, with each course designed from the outset to complement the small producer, low-intervention wine it arrives alongside. Guests dine at long communal tables within the farm’s flourishing market garden, surrounded by the seasonal vegetables grown just metres away, with the whole evening shaped by what the land has to offer that week.
Where: Tewinbury Farm, Hertfordshire, AL6 0JB
Book here
