What To Do This Weekend
TRY A NEW FITNESS CHALLENGE HERE: BLOKrun
Fitness collective BLOK believes in cross training across all disciplines, combining all aspects of fitness to deliver the most effective results. This month, it has launched BLOKrun: which takes customers out of the studio and onto the pavements of east London. BLOKrun will be led by BLOK instructors, David Edgar and Hannah Almond. The pair have combined their expertise in running and yoga to develop a technical running program that spans a 20-week training period with the optional end goal of running the Hackney Half Marathon on 19th May. Split into three running groups based on speed, experience and goal finish time, BLOKrun welcomes all abilities, from the seasoned runner to the complete newbie. The training plan consists of paced runs, hill runs, interval training and distance running to equip runners with speed, power and endurance. Membership to BLOKrun is a one-time fee, which includes: entry to the Hackney Half; a high-vis running harness; 20 running sessions over five months; and complimentary hot drinks after each run.
The Tram Depot, 38-40 Upper Clapton Road, Clapton, E5 8BQ
Visit BLOKLondon.com
GO VEGAN HERE: by CHLOE
Vegan hang-out by CHLOE has launched a number of new dishes to celebrate Veganuary. First up, there’s a new dish in the form of 'The Full Brekkie’. This plant-based alternative to the Full English has been created in partnership with vegan influencer Zanna Van Dijk – and 50p of every sale will go to the Veganuary charity. The all-day meal is made with maple carrot bacon, jack fruit sausage, scrambled tofu, smoky cowboy beans and roasted plum tomatoes, and served with a toasted buttered vegan crumpet or English muffin and house-made Beet Ketchup. Secondly, keep an eye out for the team’s Mac n’ Cheese Mondays, where customers receive a free small vegan mac n’ cheese when purchasing a burger, sandwich or salad between 12-5pm. The dish is one of by CHLOE’s best-selling items, and incorporates sweet potato cashew cream topped with crispy shiitake bacon.
34-43 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5HA and 6 Duchess Walk, Tower Bridge, SE1 2SD
Visit EatByChloe.com
LEARN SELF DEFENCE HERE: Ace Hotel London Shoreditch
Ace Hotel London has launched two new fitness workshops for 2019. First up is 'Yoga with Chris Miller' every Saturday on the hotel’s rooftop. Free your mind, body and soul by stepping onto the mat and shedding old ways of seeing things, while inviting in a renewed sense of strength and vitality which allows you to embrace new challenges, both on and off the mat.
Fancy something a little different? Up your street smarts with a lesson in Urban Krav Maga from the team at Street Smart Survival (29th January, 26th February and 26th March). Centred around scenario-based self-defence techniques, you’ll be taught a number of tactics that can be used in real life environments, drawing from various different fighting systems including karate, boxing, MMA and Jiu-Jitsu. Dependent on technique rather than punching power or brute strength, these monthly sessions ensure you’re ready for anything and always one step ahead. Bring on the challenge.
100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ: every Saturday in January
Visit AceHotel.com
BOOK A HEALTHY BRUNCH HERE: Christopher’s
Covent Garden institution Christopher’s has launched a superfood brunch to help Londoners kick-start their good intentions into the new year. Available every weekend, chef Francis Agyepong’s new menu mixes refined flavours with protein-packed and nutrient-dense ingredients. Highlights include vegan buckwheat pancakes served with camu powder, cinnamon dust, goji berry compote and maple syrup; and warm kale and butternut squash salad served with cucumber, beluga lentils, pomegranate, quinoa, flax and chia seeds. Christopher’s will also offer a menu of ‘Super Smoothies’, including a detoxing ‘Born to be Green’ (kale, apple, spinach, coconut water, lime, mint, spirulina) and an energising ‘Early Chocolate Shot’ (almond milk, raw cacao, peanut butter).
18 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, WC2E 7DD; 12th-13th January
Visit ChristophersGrill.com
BOOK AHEAD FOR THIS: All About Eve
Ivo van Hove’s stage version of Joseph L Mankiewicz’s seminal 50s film All About Eve is one of 2019’s most-anticipated plays: if you want tickets, we seriously suggest grabbing them while you can. A-listers Gillian Anderson and Lily James will play the famous feuding actresses (made famous by Bette Davis and Anne Baxter), while Monica Dolan (W1A, A Very English Scandal), Sheila Reid (Doctor Who, Benidorm) and Rhashan Stone (Black Mirror, Episodes) co-star. The play also features an original score from PJ Harvey. We can’t wait.
Noel Coward Theatre, Covent Garden, WC2N 4AU; 2nd February-11th May
Visit DelfontMacintosh.co.uk
FEEL WINTERY HERE: Harvey Nichols
Harvey Nichols has launched its much-loved winter dining menu to help customers rid themselves of winter blues. The menu offers customers three courses and a cocktail for £22pp. At Harvey Nichols Knightsbridge in the Fifth Floor Café, guests can choose from dishes such as mushroom soup with truffle ravioli and toasted sourdough; followed by slow-cooked lamb with vegetable fregola, thyme-scented broth with a mint vinaigrette; and a sticky toffee pudding with milk tuile and crème fraiche ice-cream. Visitors to OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie on the South Bank can dine on a three-course menu from £30. Highlights include hot-cured salmon with pickled golden beetroot, horseradish, celeriac and apple remoulade; chargrilled chicken breast with heritage mashed potatoes, rosemary and garlic confit tomatoes with salse verde; and chocolate and hazelnut mousse with caramelised banana.
109-125 Knightsbridge, Belgravia, SW1X 7RJ and Barge House Street, South Bank, SE1 9PH; until 28th February
Visit HarveyNichols.com
UP YOUR DRY JAN AMBITIONS HERE: Mindful Drinking Festival
The mindful drinking scene has grown substantially and the demand for low and no-alcohol drinks is ever increasing. Enter The Mindful Drinking Festival, an ongoing project organised by the mindful drinking movement Club Soda. This event is free: just turn up with your friends, taste lots of great drinks and listen to inspirational talks and drink demonstrations from a range of guests. Top talks and workshops include a conversation between BBC Radio 2's Janey Lee Grace and author Catherine Gray, writer of the Sunday Times’ bestseller The Unexpected Joy of being Sober; and Happy Hour Yoga, where Kat Farrant, founder of Movement for Modern Life has created a special yoga programme to do precisely at the point where you may have cracked open a bottle at the end of the day.
The Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Lane, Shoreditch, E1 6QR; 12th-13th January; FREE entry
WATCH THIS: RBG
At the age of 84, US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon. But without a definitive Ginsburg biography, the personal journey of this diminutive and quiet warrior's rise to the nation's highest court has been largely unknown, even to some of her biggest fans. Until now. This is an intimate portrait of an unlikely rock star. With unprecedented access, the filmmakers explore how RBG’s early legal battles changed the world for women.
In cinemas now
GET THE FINAL TICKETS FOR THIS: Summer and Smoke
Rebecca Frecknall’s beautiful production of Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke has transferred to the West End’s Duke of York’s Theatre and runs until 19th January. Trapped between desire and a life of obligation, Alma meets John and her world turns upside down. This intoxicating classic about love, loneliness and self-destruction evokes the simmering passions of a sweltering summer in small-town Mississippi – and has opened to rave reviews. Grab the final run of tickets now.
Duke of York’s Theatre, St Martin's Lane, Covent Garden, WC2N 4BG; until 19th January.
Visit SummerAndSmoke.co.uk
BE A VIP HERE: Clifford’s
City newcomer Clifford’s is a basement restaurant on the site of former 12th century Clifford’s Inn. The team serves modern classics that are simply cooked, with as much produce as possible - meat, fish and vegetables - sourced from the British Isles. We reckon this is the perfect spot for post-work dinner and drinks – be sure to try out the bar’s ‘Tequila Mockingbird’ cocktail, our favourite. This month, the team is offering SL VIPs 30% off food and a free cocktail. Sign up to become a SheerLuxe VIP using the link below.
140 Fetter Lane, City, EC4A 1BT; 11th January; offer valid until 31st January
Visit SheerLuxeVIP.com
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.