What To Do This Weekend 06.02.25

Few theatres command the prestige of Sadler’s Wells, and now it’s expanding east. Its new venue in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park kicks off with a bold opening season featuring 20 productions spanning hip hop, bharatanatyam, ballet and vogue. First up is Our Mighty Groove, Vicki Igbokwe-Ozoagu’s electric fusion of house, waacking and African dance. The programme then shifts tempo with Infinite, a meditative movement piece from Humanhood, followed by She’s Auspicious, Mythili Prakash’s all-female bharatanatyam exploration of femininity, and Birdboy, Emma Martin’s surreal dive into the mind of a misfit. The state-of-the-art venue boasts six studios, two education centres – Academy Breakin’ Convention and the Rose Choreographic School – and The Dance Floor, a performance space championing community and guest artists.

101 Carpenters Road, Stratford Cross, East Bank, E20 2AR

Visit SADLERSWELLS.COM

One of London’s most in-demand restaurants has just expanded its offering. New York-style Italian The Dover is now open for Friday lunch. As of last week, guests can book in from noon to 2pm. Expect old-school hospitality, fine wines and classic cocktails like the Dover Martini and Americano, all served in an intimate, stylish setting. The menu features favourites like prawn cocktail; zucchini and sweet potato fritti; spaghetti meatballs; lobster ravioli; and vanilla panna cotta or chocolate brownie for dessert.

33 Dover Street, Mayfair, W1S 4NF

Visit THEDOVERRESTAURANT.COM

For a truly indulgent Valentine’s weekend, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair has you covered – above and below London. Perched high at ABar Rooftop, its Love Above London experience pairs skyline views with champagne and luxe bar bites. Prefer something more intimate? Love Below London at Akira Back offers a decadent sharing-style dinner for two, perfect for those who believe love is best served on a plate. For the ultimate romantic escape, its special stay package (£135 extra) includes a heart-shaped cake on arrival, a chilled bottle of Moët & Chandon and turndown service. 

22 Hanover Square, Mayfair, W1S 1JP

Visit MANDARINORIENTAL.COM

Looking to get away for the February half-term? Set among 35 acres of wild open space, Wildhive Callow Hall in rural Derbyshire is putting on a family bike challenge. Set along the Tissington Trail – approximately a 30-mile round trip – the challenge offers young riders the chance to compete for the fastest time and win an overnight stay. After a day of adventure, families can relax in the sauna at The Coach House, or unwind in Wildhive’s sitting rooms, complete with log fires and board games. Then, you can retire to either the main house or a tree house in the hotel grounds. Rates start from £189 per night.

Wildhive Callow Hall, Mappleton Road, Ashbourne, Derbyshire, DE6 2AA

Visit WILDHIVE.UK

Isaac McHale of two-Michelin-starred The Clove Club has opened a casual spot in Shoreditch. With a powerhouse team from Sydney’s Saint Peter and Quay, Bar Valette is a love letter to southern French and Spanish simplicity. The menu is refined yet unfussy – think venison meatballs straight out of San Sebastian’s pintxos bars, crisp Monégasque barbajuans and Clove Club favourites like buttermilk fried chicken in pine. Small plates celebrate the best of British seafood, wild game and shellfish, from raw shaved ceps salad to rabbit leg stuffed with farce and mushrooms. Larger dishes bring fire and finesse – nine-month-aged White Park beef steak, smoked grilled Wiltshire trout with cherry stone vinaigrette, and whole lobster with duck fat potatoes. Drinks are just as considered, with an extensive sherry selection, and a wine list designed for both connoisseurs and the curious.

28 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, E2 8AA

Visit BARVALETTE.COM

When life gives you lemons, Toklas Bakery throws a citrus market. Back for its third year, this one-day event celebrates peak-season fruits from Valencia’s Todolí Citrus Fundació, sourced by fifth-generation grower Vicente Todolí. Kicking off at 10am on Saturday, Toklas will serve exclusive bakes like lemon and pistachio friand, rhubarb and navel orange brioche, and a valentine pomelo danish, while guest bakeries – Lyle’s, Ottolenghi, Eric’s, Apricity and Quince – offer their own citrus-inspired creations. Expect everything from rangpur lime meringue tarts to smoked trout and toyomansi seed bagels. Citrus importers Shrub will also be on site with tastings and rare fruits like buddha’s hand and imperial lemons. It’s free entry to the market, which will run until sell-out. 

9 Surrey Street, Temple, WC2R 2ND; 8th February 

Visit TOKLASLONDON.COM

If one wedding event isn’t enough this weekend, why not scout out another special venue? Kick off your planning at The Ned’s annual Wedding Showcase this Friday. Head to the sixth floor for an afternoon of Perrier-Jouët Champagne, to sample the curated wedding menu and to discover The Ned’s breathtaking event spaces – suitable for all guest lists. Plus, take part in exclusive workshops and live talks hosted by top industry experts.

27 Poultry, Bank, EC2R 8AJ; 7th February

Visit TYPEFORM.COM

This year marks 50 years since Rick and Jill Stein opened The Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, Cornwall, and they've been dominating the area ever since. From St Petroc’s Bistro and Rick Stein’s Café to The Cornish Arms, Stein’s Fish and Chips and Stein’s Fishmonger and Seafood Bar – they’ve built an empire. To celebrate, the Steins are hosting an unforgettable Supper Club at the iconic Seafood Restaurant on 28th February from 7pm until midnight. Rick will return to his roots, DJing the evening with 70s classics – he originally bought the Seafood Restaurant as a nightclub before swapping the decks for the stove. Tickets are available exclusively through a ballot, which is open now and closes on 10th February.

Riverside, Padstow, PL28 8BY; 28th February 

Visit RICKSTEIN.COM

If you're looking to dial up the sex appeal this Valentine’s Day, East London’s One Hundred Shoreditch has just the package. In collaboration with luxe pleasure brands LELO and G Spot, it has crafted the ultimate experience for couples. The exclusive package includes a LELO Feel Good Kit (choose from three), a round of seductive G Spot cocktails (or mocktails) for two, and a copy of Gillian Anderson’s provocative book Want – a collection of anonymous fantasies. Throw in a complimentary breakfast, room upgrades and late checkouts (subject to availability) and you’ve got the perfect getaway. Available from 7th February to 2nd March.

100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ

Visit ONEHUNDREDSHOREDITCH.COM

Treehouse Hotel London and Bloomsbury Publishing are bringing literature fans together for a series of 2025 book club events, starting with a Valentine’s edition on 10th February. Hosted in The Nest, the hotel’s rooftop bar, the night will celebrate five female authors – Kate Fagan, Bal Khabra, Bianca Gillam, Alex Aster and Moira Macdonald – with themed spaces, surprise ‘blind date’ books and ‘Page Turner Punch’ cocktails. Expect a lively literary quiz, a ‘hear me out cake’ confession session for questionable fictional crushes and an interactive Valentine’s blackboard for sharing beloved bookish romances – plus, bingo, LUSH-filled goodie bags and exclusive Bloomsbury treats. Tickets are £15, including a donation to BookAid.

14-15 Langham Place, Marylebone, W1B 2QS; 10th February 

Visit TREEHOUSEHOTELS.COM