What To Do This Weekend 29.08.20

CELEBRATE THE BANK HOLIDAY WEEKEND HERE: The Mitre

For a bit of al freso dining look no further than Hampton Court, where two new riverside restaurants are set to launch this weekend – from the same interior designer and former business brain behind country retreat Beaverbrook. The Mitre, Hampton Court will debut its two riverside restaurants Signet 1665 and Coppernose this weekend, under the direction of chef Ronnie Kimbugwe — formerly of Gordon Ramsay at Claridges. On bank holiday Monday, Coppernose and 1665 will be offering 50% off all food as part of the Eat out to Help Out scheme, plus live acoustic jazz all day outside the world’s first Whispering Angel Boat House Bar. Open from 11:30am - 11pm, guests are welcome to have a tour of the main hotel which will open for bookings next month, with five rooms available for “sneak peeks”. For any men in tow, The Mitre will also be launching its new draft beer 'The Six Wives’, a delicious light, floral and hoppy ale made in Hampshire named after King Henry VIII’s many spouses.

Hampton Ct Rd, Molesey, KT8 9BN

Visit MitreHamptonCourt.com

HEAD BACK TO THE THEATRE HERE: Beat The Devil

With so many theatres up and down the country left devasted by the impact of Covid-19, it wasn’t going to be long before the industry’s top writers and directors turned crisis into creativity. On the same day the British government finally made the first of two decisive interventions that led to the March lockdown, playwright David Hare contracted coronavirus. Suffering a pageant of apparently random symptoms, Hare has called on the delirium of his illness, mixed with fear, dreams, honest medicine and dishonest politics to create a monologue of furious urgency and power – Beat The Devil. With Ralph Fiennes in the single, starring role and directed by Bridge Theatre co-founder Nicholas Hytner, the 50-minute play opens on 27th August 2020 – and is due to be performed in the newly socially-distanced venue until 31 October 2020. 

3 Potters Fields Park, London Bridge, SE1 2SG

Visit BridgeTheatre.co.uk 

BROWSE THIS COOL ART EXHIBITION HERE: FAME, 45 Park Lane

45 Park Lane has revealed its official art programme for the remainder of the year, including its upcoming exhibition – FAME – which will run from August 27th to October 12th 2020. Showcasing 30 unseen celebrity portraits by three world renowned photographers – the late Terry O’Neill, Doug Kirkland, and Andy Gotts – visitors will be granted a rare insight into pop culture over the last 40 years. The exhibition displays the photographers’ shared passion for capturing rare, off-screen moments in the lives of some of fashion and Hollywood’s biggest stars, and features rare images of some iconic faces, including Kate Moss, Marilyn Monroe, Harrison Ford and more. Later in the year, keep an eye out for a new exhibition from Venezuelan artist Raul Castillo and classically trained painter Clarissa James. 

45 Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1PN

Visit DorchesterCollection.com 

ENJOY CLASSIC FILMS IN AN OUTDOOR SETTING HERE: Luna Cinema

Even though indoor cinemas are gradually opening up, outdoor cinemas have been the event of summer 2020. Before we head into autumn, be sure to catch one of these showings from Luna Cinema, either at Bolton Abbey for Northerners or Royal Hospital Chelsea. This weekend, catch classic musical Grease or the iconic Jurassic Park at the London venue, or The Greatest Showman and Back To The Future at Bolton Abbey. For those looking to make plans on Bank Holiday Monday, the Chelsea venue will be screening the Oscar-nominated Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix. Showings start at 8:15pm, with doors open from 6:45pm. All groups will be assigned a pitch that will have chairs pre-laid out to allow for social distancing. The Luna experience this summer is a fully seated one, so there’s no need to bring your own. 

Visit TheLunaCinema.com

DEVELOP A NEW SKILL HERE: Bush Theatre Masterclasses

If you’ve ever wanted to get more involved in the theatre – whether it be learning more about playwriting, directing or just forging a creative career – these new masterclasses from the Bush Theatre in London’s Shepherd Bush could be the answer. Each masterclass offers an insight into theatre by leading practitioners including writer Jonathan Harvey, writer, and director Rikki Beadle-Blair, director Anna Himali Howard and actor and senior artistic associate of the Bush Theatre, Adjoa Andoh. Participants will be able to attend the masterclasses in person in the Holloway Theatre at the Bush or join from the comfort of their home via Zoom, where there will be a dedicated co-ordinator to field questions and responses. Tickets are on sale online, with auditorium places priced at £30 and online places priced at £20. 

7 Uxbridge Rd, Shepherd's Bush, W12 8LJ

Visit BushTheatre.co.uk

BINGE A NEW TV SHOW HERE: Million Dollar Beach House

Finished the third season of Selling Sunset? Million Dollar Beach House has launched on streaming service Netflix just in time for the weekend, following a group of real estate agents selling mega mansions in and around one of New York’s most exclusive areas – The Hamptons. Made up of just six episodes, watch as five realtors hustle from Memorial Day to Labor Day to buy and sell properties for their clients – including appeasing unhappy sellers with lavish home stagings and hosting cutthroat open houses where agents are known to steal each other’s clients. The higher the price, the bigger the drama – we can’t wait.

Available on Netflix from 26th August 2020. 

KEEP THE KIDS ENTERTAINED HERE: The Science Museum

Although you’ll have to pre-book a free ticket in advance, if you’re looking for something to entertain the kids this weekend before the big return to school, the Science Museum has now reopened. Having closed its doors for 155 days during the national lockdown, the museum is now welcoming back visitors at all five of its sites across the UK. Open seven days a week from 10am to 6pm (until 6th September), new measures have been put in place to help maintain social distancing and ensure visitors can enjoy themselves safely – including a mandatory requirement for all visitors to wear face coverings when inside the building. Where possible, interactive exhibits have been kept open (including the impressive Wonderlab exhibit) with an enhanced cleaning regime, while some highly interactive spaces that are not heavily staffed remain closed until further notice. 

Exhibition Rd, South Kensington, SW7 2DD

Visit ScienceMuseum.org.uk

CATCH THE LATEST FILM RELEASES HERE: The Cinema at Selfridges

The Cinema at Selfridges has now reopened with enhanced health and wellbeing measures in place in line with current government guidance. The film programme, which includes Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated Tenet (tickets are available to book now) as well as some all-time classics, award winners and big screen re-releases can all be found here. Due to popular demand, the cinema is also extending its private hire packages until the end of September, allowing customers the chance to book a plush members’ screening room to enjoy a private screening of an all-time classic or a brand-new release, with a delicious food and drinks menu available from the foyer bar. New health and safety measures include one-way exit and entrance systems, staggered screening times, hand sanitiser stations, enhanced cleaning, and protective screens. 

40 Duke Street, London, W1U 1AT

Visit TheCinemaAtSelfridges.com

TUCK INTO AN AL FRESCO DINING EXPERIENCE HERE: The Hawk’s Nest

One of London’s newest outdoor dining spaces, the menu at Bird House London (which is run by Wil Fuller of Soho House fame) focuses on Italian street food including arancini, calamari and serious sauces from Italian Street Food specialists, SUGO. A Gozney pizza oven takes centre stage in a converted shipping container, serving a menu of stone-baked sourdough pizzas. Stand out menu heroes include the aubergine & kale pizza with sundried tomato pesto or a delicious Parma ham and asparagus pizza – both of which pair perfectly with a chilled glass of rosé. The fully stocked cocktail bar will also be serving fresh fruit margaritas – including a blood orange variety – alongside a range of summer spritzers, frozen cocktails and a seasonal wine list full of pale, dry rosés and crisp fresh whites. There’ll also be a weekly programme of live music and seasonal art exhibitions throughout the year. 

Goldhawk Rd, Shepherd's Bush Market, W12 8DF

Visit The-Hawks-Nest.co.uk

WATCH A MUSICAL THEATRE CONCERT HERE: Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre

Audiences are gradually being welcomed back to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre with a special performance of Jesus Christ Superstar: The Concert, where seating capacity has been reduced to 390 seats (down from 1,256). This special concert staging of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar, has been created by the team behind the theatre’s own Olivier and Evening Standard Award-winning production, which played two sell-out runs between 2016 and 2017, a season at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2018 and 60 dates at the Barbican Theatre last year, before embarking on an ongoing three-year tour of North America. With just nine performances a week, the roles of Jesus, Judas and Mary are double cast, giving audiences the opportunity to see multiple combinations of actors as they alternate performances. A performance schedule will not be confirmed in advance, allowing for maximum flexibility.

Visit OpenAirTheatre.com