Where To Celebrate Halloween In London
Get Into The Spirit Of Things Here…
Balthazar
From 29th October until 4th November, Balthazar will mark the spookiest night of the year with the return of its all-American Halloween celebration, ‘Balthoween’. The outside of the boulangerie will be transformed with a beautiful Halloween-themed installation, where there’ll be a special Halloween dessert on the menu and a selection of Maker’s Mark cocktails available to order. Guests dining at Balthazar on Halloween itself will be able to flip a ‘trick or treat’ coin, winning a cocktail on the house if it lands on ‘treat’.
4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5HZ; 29th October-4th November
Visit BalthazarLondon.com
Sexy Fish
‘Scary Fish’ returns, with what the team promises will be its biggest and sexiest party yet. On 31st October, expect tricks, treats and thrills aplenty, including live performances from seductive she-devils, hotter-than-hell fire breathers and sexy snake charmers. Feed on scary canapés and sip on a toxic selection of Elyx vodka cocktails throughout the night. In-house DJs will have you up on your feet dancing long past the witching hour. Ticket price includes a cocktail on arrival, live performance acts and ‘Scary Fish’ canapés.
Berkeley Square, Mayfair, W1J 6BR; 31st October
Visit SexyFish.com
Ella Canta
From 1st–3rd November, the ever-stylish Ella Canta team will be fully embracing Day of the Dead by dressing Día de los Muertos style. A festival epitomised by its floral headdresses, vibrant skull-like face paint and traditional Mexican dress, guests are encouraged to do the same by dressing to impress. As is practised in Mexico, a Day of the Dead altar will be constructed to honour the dead, and a colourful collection of fresh flowers, candles, photographs, catrinas and trinkets will adorn the restaurant. Expect a modern eight-course menu to take centre stage.
1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, W1J 7QY; 1st-3rd November
Visit EllaCanta.com
Duck & Dry
Freixenet has teamed up with blow-dry bar Duck & Dry, offering complimentary Halloween-inspired hair and make-up looks for those heading to parties. Those in need of pre-Halloween pampering can book in with Duck & Dry to redeem a complimentary makeover and enjoy two glasses of Freixenet’s Cordon Negro while their Halloween looks take shape. Party-goers will be able to choose from a selection of hairstyles and complete their look with an express make-up session with beauty guru The Skulltress, the prestigious make-up artist famous for her intricate and artistic face paint designs.
28 Market Place, Oxford Circus, W1W 8AW; 26th-27th October and 31st October
Visit DuckAndDry.com
Sketch
On the 31st, Sketch will be hosting an evening of lunar life drawing in a Halloween edition of its monthly 'Creative Nights’ series. Guests are invited to join a cast of uniquely styled models as the restaurant host a one-off drawing experience inspired by the moon, cosmos and lunar deities. A range of special materials will be used to create beautiful book drawings for guests to take home, alongside a cosmic music DJ backdrop and cocktails. A decorative pumpkin patch will transform the famous pod loos.
9 Conduit Street, Mayfair, W1S 2XG; 31st October
Visit Sketch.london
Honi Poke
If you feel too old for fancy dress, it’s all treats and no tricks at Honi Poké, where the team will be putting on a ‘chilling’ dessert at both its London sites. The ‘KakiGORY’ is a twist on the restaurant’s Japanese iced dessert; smothered in strawberry syrup and condensed milk, the pud is priced at £4.95 per bowl and available only on Halloween itself.
82 Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3SP and 4-6 New London Street, Tower Hill, EC3R 7NA; 31st October
Visit HoniPoke.com
Fortnum & Mason
This October, Fortnum & Mason’s popular ice-cream Parlour will transform into ‘The Parlaghhh’, complete with a Halloween-themed menu. Menu highlights include toffee apple sundae with hot toffee sauce poured at the table; and ‘Witches Brew’ – a mix of white chocolate and spirulina served with whipped cream, popping candy, and chocolate and raspberry sauce. The department store will also be running pumpkin carving classes on 28th October.
181 Piccadilly, St. James's, W1A 1ER; 26th-31st October
Visit FortnumAndMason.com
Mount Street Deli
Anyone after something a little less adventurous should head to The Mount Street Deli, where a selection of Halloween treats will be available, including skeleton cookies and gingerbread-bat lattes (prices start at £2). Meanwhile, the deli’s terrace will be given an All Hallows’ Eve makeover with bats, pumpkins and skeletons, creating the perfect Halloween Instagram opp.
100 Mount Street, Mayfair, W1K 2TG; until 31st October
Visit TheMountStreetDeli.co.uk
STK London
This year, modern steakhouse STK London will conjure up a trio of cocktails. With a blood-sugar rim, ‘The Secret Potion’ is a concoction of Grey Goose Le Citron, Cointreau, Blue Curacao, with a cranberry juice and lemonade topper. Guests will want to take caution with ‘Biohazard’, a toxic mix of Patron Blanco, crème de peche, orange juice, passion fruit puree and a drop of Tabasco. ‘Black Magic’ is brewed over a witch’s cauldron and includes Havana 7, Heering cherry liquor and Orgeat, finished off with cranberry juice and activated charcoal.
ME London Hotel, 336-337 Strand, Covent Garden, WC2R 1HA; 31st October
Visit TOGrp.com
Notting Hill Arts Club
On Halloween night Notting Hill Arts Club will be showing a one-off screening of SL’s favourite Halloween flick, Hocus Pocus. Over 300 years have passed since the Sanderson sisters were executed for practising dark witchcraft. Returning to life thanks to a combination of a spell spoken before their demise and the accidental actions of Max, the new-kid-in-town, the sisters have but one night to secure their continuing existence... Can this virgin boy, a young girl and an immortal cat to put an end to their reign of terror once and for all?
21 Notting Hill Gate, Kensington, W11 3JQ; 31st October
Visit NottingHillArtsClub.com
Go All Out Here...
Dark Circus Party
The Dark Circus Party returns for a one-off Halloween ‘fright night’ on 27th October. On entering the haunted big top, guests will be submerged in a dark and thrilling world where they become part of the entertainment, which will let them run away with the circus for a night. Produced by Bourne & Hollingsworth, expect beautiful and haunting set designs, theatrical and diverse acts, and innovative and original cocktails.
Evolutionary Arts Hackney, 13 Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BH; 27th October
Visit DarkCircusParty.com
The London EDITION
On 31st October, The London EDITION hosts an immersive night of dinner, dancing, music and theatrical entertainment in Berners Tavern. Over the course of the evening, guests will unravel the mystery of The Curse of The Red Kiss, an urban legend that claims in 1835 a beautiful young singer, with skin as pale as the moon and lips as red as blood, came to London to attend the city’s most glamorous Hallows’ Eve Ball. Tickets include a cocktail reception followed by a decadent four-course feast devised especially for the event by Executive Head Chef, Phil Carmichael. The festivities will continue after dinner with music and DJs in Berners Tavern, as well as in the depths of the hotel’s BASEMENT bar.
10 Berners Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 3NP; 31st October
Visit EditionHotels.com
Barts
For All Hallows Eve, Barts the speakeasy is turning into a ‘spookeasy’. ‘Uncle Bart’ has quite the colourful past, and it’s safe to say he’s haunted by a few ‘demons’. Guests can enter the haunted apartment if they dare, but must beware of the creepy ghouls that lurk behind the secret black door. Londoners eager to dress up in their most gruesome garb can sip on a selection of Grey Goose and Chambord cocktails, while a live band performs terrifying tunes. Those who haven’t had time to sort a costume mustn’t fret, as they can dive into the well-stocked fancy-dress box.
Chelsea Cloisters, Sloane Avenue, Chelsea, SW3 3DW; 31st October-1st November
Visit Barts-London.com
The Mansion Halloween Ball
This Halloween, prepare to be enraptured in the world of voodoo as The Mansion London returns to cast a spell and enchant guests with an evening of live performances and hypnosis, as guests are taken on a trip to the streets of New Orleans. Decorated by artist Froso and complete with three unique dancefloors, cage dancers and captivating shows, guests can expect spellbinding musicians, some of the finest DJs in London, acclaimed hypnotist David Bolton and a team of make-up artists to transform guests into scary ghouls.
Location will be revealed to ticket holders 48 hours before the event; 27th October
Visit TheMansionLondon.com
Cahoots
Cahoots is putting on some knees-up fun this Halloween with an evening of spooky swing dancing. On 28th October, guests can dress up as their favourite 1940s icon, get their victory rolls done and take part in some dance lessons hosted by Swing Dance UK. Later, Auntie Maureen will take the stage, showing off his moves while Hotsie Totsies will perform wartime classics. Belvedere ‘Espresso yourself on the dance floor’ martinis will be on offer throughout the evening to keep energy levels up.
13 Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW; 28th October
Visit Cahoots-London.com
The Ivy Soho Brasserie
The Ivy Soho Brasserie is set to come alive for one night only with a Thriller-themed evening of food, cocktails, entertainment and more. Complete with a spooktacular installation, flowing ‘Zombie’ cocktails (Brugal 1888, apricot brandy, lime juice, pineapple juice and Grenadine) and á la carte menu offerings, diners will be able to immerse themselves in the ultimate Halloween bash with DJs, live ghoulish acts and performances from skeleton contortionists and walk-about acts.
26-28 Broadwick Street, Soho, W1F 8JB; 31st October
Visit ThrIvySohoBrasserie.com
London Cabaret Club
The London Cabaret Club is to host a ‘Twisted Halloween Special’ across three nights. Thrill-seeking guests will be greeted by a host of spirits and transported through a tunnel of fear into the 1920s-haunted ballroom, where guests will be blown away with a weird and wonderful showcase, featuring extravagant live performances from spine-chilling contortionists to spooky dance spectacles. While enjoying the show, diners can expect a three- or five-course themed menu, plus a selection of limited-edition Trick or Treat cocktails in the Rose Bar.
Bloomsbury Square, Holborn, WC1B 4DA; 25th-27th October
Visit TheLondonCabaretClub.com
London Dungeon
This October the ‘Home of Halloween’ invites those brave enough to scamper past skeletons and venture into rat-infested cells as they journey through London’s perilous past. With 20 haunting tales and two rides, guests will come face to face with London’s most notorious characters including Jack the Ripper, Sweeney Todd, The Plague Doctor and The Torturer. Exclusively for Screamfest, a new Jack the Ripper show will see guests plunged into complete darkness on the streets of Whitechapel, and the spine-tingling Séance returns, inviting guests to sit around an Ouija board and summon the spirits.
County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, Waterloo, SE1 7PB; until 31st October
Visit TheDungeons.com
Rumpus Room
The rooftop bar at the Mondrian London is set to be unrecognizable once transformed for ‘Malice in Wonderland’. Jump down the rabbit hole to explore the more macabre side of Alice’s adventure into the unknown. Guests will be treated to a selection of immersive experiences, including themed performances – ranging from gruesome, to scandalous and titillating. For those wanting to party until the dead of night, the costume-mandatory extravaganza will continue into the early hours.
20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD; 27th October
Visit RumpusRoomLondon.com
Savage Garden
London’s wildest rooftop bar welcomes you to the dark side of the circus. Savage serves take centre stage with freakishly fabulous cocktails made for your Instagram feed. Ghoulish concoctions include the ‘Devil’s Advocate’, complete with two red chilli horns, and the ‘Wild Poison’ made with Wild Turkey bourbon, apricot brandy, apple juice, smoked pine syrup, Campari and ‘poison apple’ – not for the faint-hearted, we hear. Fancy dress is a must.
12th Floor, 7 Pepys Street, Tower Hill, EC3N 4AF; 26th October
Visit SavageGarden.co.uk
Skylight London
Skylight, London’s most imaginative rooftop destination, is holding a frightfully fun two-day Halloween party this October. During its all-new HarvestFest season, Skylight will be calling ghouls and ghosts along to a weekend of Halloween fun, with Friday's focus on 90s club classics and Saturday's on deep house disco. These two parties will feature special guest DJs including JakJax, Joaz, Because of Art, Freddie Ried and Alex Glover, and include spooky surprises including costume parades, prizes, tricks, treats and more. All SheerLuxe VIPs will get 40% off and a free drink on arrival – check out details below.
Wapping Lane, Wapping, E1W 2SF; 26th-27th October; an email will be sent to all SL VIPs with a unique code. Please use this code when ordering online.
Visit SheerLuxeVIP.com
Tropicana Beach Club
This tropical haven will be transformed into a twisted den of mayhem with a selection of differently themed parties. Our pick is Camp Tropicana on 26th October: guests will be greeted by Tropicana Beach Club’s camp counsellors, as partygoers are invited in to sip on Halloween cocktails and dance the night away to tunes from the 80s and 90s, with live performers every hour, dancers, fire-twirlers and a face painter. No party goer will go thirsty with free-flowing drinks, not least a limited-edition Don Julio ‘Devil’s Margarita’.
Parker Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5PW; 26-27 October and 31st October
Visit TropicanaBeachClub.co.uk
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