What To Do This Weekend 21.11.24

Looking to escape the pre-Christmas melee in the capital? Head to the sprawling Beaverbrook estate just 20 minutes outside London, where its much-awaited ice rink – overlooking the Surrey Hills – returns for the season this Saturday. Go for the ice-skating experience, complete with a glass of bubbles for the adults and a sweet treat for the children, or make a day of it and dine at one of the hotel’s three restaurants. If you want to go all out, there is a ‘Stay, Skate & Dine’ package, with unlimited time on the ice rink throughout your visit and a £55 dining credit per person. We’d love a cosy room in The Garden House – £610 a night for two guests, including breakfast.

Beaverbrook Hotel, Reigate Road, Leatherhead, KT22 8QX; until 30th January

Visit BEAVERBROOK.CO.UK

As the chill sets in and we start hunkering down, Yotam Ottolenghi’s new recipe book Comfort arrives right on cue. To celebrate, Ottolenghi has launched a YouTube series, Comfort and Conversation, where he hosts celebrity guests to cook and chat about recipes, food memories and the meaning of comfort. Last week, Gillian Anderson joined Ottolenghi in the kitchen to whip up a cosy turmeric and white peppercorn curry while talking about her latest book and the magic of home-cooked meals. Upcoming guests include DJ Peggy Gou, Nigella Lawson, producer Benny Blanco and food blogger Carolina Gelen, tackling everything from roast chicken to rigatoni al ragù.

Visit YOUTUBE.COM

Adapted from a bestselling memoir, The Happiest Man on Earth is a powerful new one-man play at the Southwark Playhouse. The story follows Eddie Jaku, a young German man torn from his home and sent to a concentration camp as a teenager. Though heartbreaking, it’s ultimately a tale of hope and resilience, as Eddie reflects on his survival, his gratitude for life, and his enduring vow to greet each day with a smile. When his memoir was published in 2020, Eddie was 100 years old and considered himself to be the ‘happiest man on earth’, before passing away a year later. The play is a stirring tribute to the unbreakable power of positivity and the resilience of the human spirit.

77-85 Newington Causeway, Elephant & Castle, SE1 6BD; until 14th December

Visit SOUTHWARKPLAYHOUSE.CO.UK

Race riots, miner strikes, Section 28 and the AIDS pandemic marked the turbulent landscape of 1980s Britain. The Tate’s new exhibition highlights the work of photographers, collectives and publications that fought against Thatcherism and the societal norms of the era. Through powerful art and photography, this exhibition showcases striking images that narrate the stories of underrepresented communities, including the Black arts movement, women in photography, queer narratives and the South Asian diaspora.

Tate Britain, Millbank, Pimlico, SW1P 4RG; until 5th May 

Visit TATE.ORG.UK

Stylist and brand consultant Anna Singleton – known on Instagram as @The_Table_Edit – is returning with a Christmas pop-up. Expect a curated mix of winter treasures ideal for gifting and hosting – think womenswear, nightwear, vintage gems, menswear, jewellery, beauty, homeware, books, flowers, decorations and hampers. By day, the shop is an open studio, with Anna inviting friends and artisans to craft installations, floral arrangements and Christmas-inspired creations. By night, it comes alive with workshops and events, including wreath-making sessions and an exclusive dinner with acclaimed London chef @PosieHallFood. 

16-18 Brockley Cross, Brockley, SE4 2AA; until 1st December 

Visit THETABLEEDIT.COM & @THE_TABLE_EDIT

Is your diary outpacing your wardrobe? By Rotation has you covered with its biggest-ever fashion rental pop-up, The House of ByRo, opening in Mayfair to mark its fifth anniversary. Taking over five storeys, the store features the brand’s most-loved rentals – from accessories to suiting and dresses – in an immersive showcase. Expect to see favourites from top names and boutique labels, from Self-Portrait to Bottega and Aje.

31 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HF; until 31st December

Visit BYROTATION.COM

Encourage books to top your child’s wish list this year with a festive afternoon at the Haymarket Hotel. Join author Lauren Child (Clarice Bean: Think Like an Elf) and comedian Cariad Lloyd (The Christmas Wish-tastrophe) as they explore their new Christmas stories and chat all things festive. Kids can enjoy hot chocolate and cookies, while adults relax with mulled wine and mince pies. Tickets are £15 per child, with adults going free.

1 Suffolk Place, West End, SW1Y 4HX; Sunday 24th November

Visit DESIGNMYNIGHT.COM

Broadwick Soho is pulling out all the stops this festive season – the hotel’s entrance alone features two Christmas-clad elephants and a giant assortment box of chocolates. Carols with a Liberace twist at rooftop bar Flute on 10th December promise to be another highlight. As for dining, there are festive martinis, small plates and indulgent Italian dining at Dear Jackie, as well as Christmas Eve feasts and traditional Christmas Day lunches. Meanwhile, Bar Jackie will serve mulled wine and mince pies, while The Nook provides cosy vibes with a roaring fire and games.

20 Broadwick Street, Soho, W1F 8TH

Visit BROADWICKSOHO.COM

Raye The Store, the roving retail concept spotlighting the best in emerging food, drink, beauty, wellness and nutrition, has landed in London. With over 80 brands and 200+ new-to-market products, it’s a treasure trove of discoveries. Highlights include holistic facials by award-winning waterless skincare brand Star Seed and nail makeovers from sustainable pros Claws By Tiger Taylor. Don’t miss the discovery boxes – an ideal gift for those who love finding new favourites. 

80 Regent Street, Soho, W1B 5RL; Until 1st December

Visit WEARERAYE.COM

Rixo’s vintage-inspired pieces are buy-once-and-wear-forever classics. With the festive season kicking into gear, don’t miss the brand’s four-day sample sale this weekend. With a wide range of sizes and stock replenished hourly, it’s the perfect opportunity to snap up exclusive samples and last-chance styles. Tickets are £10, with early bird access on Thursday and Friday.

New Timber Yard, 1 Dimes Place, Hammersmith, W6 0QW; 21st-24th November

Visit EVENTBRITE.CO.UK & RIXOLONDON.COM

Virtual beauty marketplace Beauty Pie is hosting a pop-up in Mayfair this week. The immersive space will be open to members and non-members alike, and will spotlight the brand’s seasonal gift selection, as well as its must-have make-up, skincare, fragrance and bodycare. Beyond shopping, there will be panel discussions and events to get involved with, including Marcia Kilgore in conversation with Nicola Moulton, Sam Chapman giving a make-up masterclass, a fragrance workshop with Alice du Parc and a live Spill podcast recording. Book online to secure your place.

35 Brook Street, Mayfair, W1K 4HG; 22nd November-1st December 

Visit BEAUTYPIE.COM

Hotel Chocolat has partnered with Sea Containers London for some indulgent chocolate-themed experiences to help you get into the festive mood. It all starts in the hotel’s lobby, where you’ll find a 14ft Christmas tree, adorned with velvet bows, vintage-style baubles and glistening cacao pods. Elsewhere in the hotel, you’ll find exclusive drinking chocolates – think mince pie and velvet martini flavours – to snuggle up with in the den, chocolatier-led masterclasses and a room package designed to pamper guests with chocolate-themed surprises. 

Visit HOTELCHOCOLAT.COM & SEACONTAINERSLONDON.COM

Chef/owner of Michelin-starred restaurants The Black Swan and Roots, Tommy Banks launched Made in Oldstead in the first lockdown, offering a range of premium at-home dining boxes available for nationwide delivery. Now, it’s a full-blown business that even has its own collection of canned wines, Banks Brothers. If you’re still plotting your festive food, we suggest giving its best-of-Yorkshire Christmas range a look. From a next-level Christmas pud to grazing hampers, Christmas Eve fish pie and a Christmas Day beef wellington box, there’s plenty to elevate this year’s hosting – and all with little cooking required.

Visit MADEINOLSTEAD.CO.UK

This immersive projection space – which previously housed Tom Hank’s The Moonwalkers – is hosting a new exhibition on Vogue and the history of the runway. Narrated by Cate Blanchett, attendees move from room to room – one of which is dressed up like the backstage of a fashion show – while projected films on the walls document some the biggest style moments in recent memory, from the first ever couture show to the debut of Pharell’s Louis Vuitton men's collection. Other highlights include Alexander McQueen’s spray-painted dress, Tom Ford’s 2011 show (where Beyoncé walked) and some on-the-nose Devil Wears Prada clips. Tickets start from £25.

12 Lewis Cubitt Square, King’s Cross, N1C 4DY; until 25th April 2025

Visit LIGHTROOM.UK