What To Book In London This July

From a mindful drinking event and a pop-up chihuahua café to music festivals galore, there’s plenty to see and do if you’re staying in London this month…

BE A VIP HERE: Arros QD

Three-Michelin-starred Valencian chef Quique Dacosta has opened the doors of his first restaurant outside of Spain. Located in Fitzrovia, the project showcases Dacosta’s passion for rice as well as premium local ingredients.The restaurant has been designed by lauded Barcelonian studio Lázaro Rosa-Violán and showcases an open kitchen and an immersive paella counter which gives diners views of the six-metre woodfire stove upon which rice is cooked. This month, SheerLuxe VIPs are invited to be one of the first to experience the restaurant. Book a table for lunch or dinner at the restaurant on 4th-5th July and SL VIPs will enjoy 50% off food. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so make sure to get in there quick.

64 Eastcastle Street, Fitzrovia, W1W 8NQ; 3rd-6th June

Visit SheerLuxeVIP.com

BOOK THIS: Barber Shop Chronicles

Inua Ellams’ Barber Shop Chronicles returns to London for a six-week run at the Roundhouse from 18th July-24th August. Directed by Bijan Sheibani, Barber Shop Chronicles is a heart-warming, hilarious and insightful new play which leaps from a barber shop in Peckham to Johannesburg, Harare, Kampala, Lagos and Accra over the course of a single day. The production transports audiences from newsrooms to political platforms, confession boxes to preacher’s pulpits – gathering with African men in barber shops to discuss the world as they have for generations. Fades, Braids & Identity will run at the venue at the same time. This series of theatre, photography, film and spoken word will showcase a diverse range of voices and explore race, gender, identity and the importance and politics of black hair culture. Naturally, there’ll also be a pop-up barber shop.

Chalk Farm Road, Camden, NW1 8EH; 15th July-25th August

Visit Roundhouse.org

TRY THE ULTIMATE PARTNERSHIP HERE: Gridiron

Tom Brown, chef patron of award-winning seafood restaurant Cornerstone, is heading to Mayfair to cook with Gridiron’s executive chef Richard H Turner. Together, the pair have combined their passions to create the ultimate surf ‘n’ turf menu. Both chefs will take charge of Gridiron’s namesake, the bespoke gridiron commissioned especially by Turner, to cook an exclusive four-course menu which includes dishes such as grilled bone marrow with scrambled egg and caviar; crab crumpet rarebit with Worcester sauce; whole john dory with roast chicken butter sauce; and chargrilled prime rib of beef with HP & madeira gravy. In honour of the event, Gridiron has created a decadent caviar truffle martini to compliment the menu. Tickets for this one-off event are priced at £75pp. A wine pairing will also be available for £45.

19 Old Park Lane, Mayfair, W1K 1LB; 1st July

Visit GridironLondon.com

SEE CELINE HERE: BST Hyde Park 

This series of one-day concerts in Hyde Park continues in style for 2019. This year sees three of the best divas take to the stage: Barbara Streisand, Celine Dion and Florence & The Machine. Held in such a vast park, in our experience it’s worth shelling out a bit extra to upgrade your ticket to VIP – that way you’ll have access to the Premium Viewing standing area in front of the stage, plus the summer garden, complete with premium bars and street food vendors. We’re most excited about seeing The National, Blood Orange, Lykke Li and Nadine Shah offer support for Florence on 13th July. 

Hyde Park, W2 2UH; 12th-14th July 

Visit BST-HydePark.com 

TRY SOMETHING NEW HERE: National Geographic Traveller Food Festival

This month, the all-new National Geographic Traveller Food Festival is being held at the Business Design Centre. The inaugural event will offer a range of eating, drinking and learning experiences from across the globe. Visitors can broaden their palates stall by stall, get the lowdown on some of the world’s most exciting dishes via culinary masterclasses and visit the theatre for a curated programme of events, from expert panel discussions and interviews with big-name food personalities to demonstrations from top chefs. The event features an international line-up that includes multi-Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc (Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons), MasterChef presenter John Torode, top London chefs Tim Anderson (Nanban), Josh Katz (Berber & Q), Romy Gill (Romy’s Kitchen) and Adam Handling (Frog by Adam Handling) and expert food writers and broadcasters such as Andi Oliver, Felicity Cloake and Shivi Ramoutar.

Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, Angel, N1 0QH; 20th-21st July

Visit FoodFestival.NatGeoTraveller.co.uk

FIND A NEW WORKSPACE HERE: The Workroom

Combining the best aspects of a private members club, co-working space and restaurant, The Workroom is an easy and enjoyable freelance office solution for modern professionals. The newly launched Workroom app allows you to select your location and book a table at one of five top London restaurants with ease. This will then serve as your office for the day, available as individual day passes or multiple bundles of passes to be used as and when required. Current restaurant partners include five of D&D London’s locations: 100 Wardour St, Bluebird Chelsea, Bluebird White City, Fiume and Radici. Each Workroom location has super-fast wi-fi and an abundance of plug sockets as standard, complimentary tea, coffee and water and a beautifully decorated and comfortable work space. Whether it’s smashed avocado, poached eggs and chilli on sourdough at Bluebird Chelsea or the Scottish crab and Amalfi lemon tagliolini at Fiume, once thing’s certain: you’re guaranteed a decent lunch.

Various locations across London

Visit TheWorkroom.io

ATTEND A MUSIC & ART WEEKENDER HERE: Turning Tides

This July, Greenwich Peninsula will unveil the first phase of The Tide, a five-kilometre cultural linear park designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, the co-designers of Manhattan’s High Line. To celebrate, the area is hosting two weekends of art, music and wellbeing. Taking place over 5th-7th and 12th-14th July, Turning Tides festival will feature a varied programme of cultural happenings, live music, art, film, holistic wellness activities and riverside dinners, all overlooking the River Thames. Leading the line-up are former Supergrass singer Gaz Coombes, Laura Mvula, Oumou Sangare, iconic drag show performances by Sink the Pink and the participatory Wish Trees art installation from Yoko Ono. We like the sound of the Riverside Feasts: a series of banquets and BBQs on London’s longest picnic table. Guest chefs will include Berber & Q, Matt Williamson, Disappearing Dinning Club and Stevie Parle.

Various locations across Greenwich Peninsular; 5th-7th and 12th-14th July

Visit TurningTides.London

EXPERIENCE JAPAN HERE: Hyper Japan

If, like us, you’re dying to visit Japan, this three-day annual festival could well be the next best thing. Across two days, visitors can indulge in classic culinary treats such as ramen, mochi and sushi at the Eat Japan Food Court and HARRO Food Show (returning for a second year), sample Japanese wine at the Sake Experience, browse stalls for the latest Kawaii fashion and Cosplay accessories, take part in karaoke, and play retro Nintendo games. Don’t forget to dress up.

Olympia London, Hammersmith Road, Kensington, W14 8UX; 13th-15th July

Visit HyperJapan.co.uk

BE SOBER CURIOUS HERE: Club Soda

Mindful drinking movement Club Soda returns to hold the UK’s only festival for the sober curious later this month. Since the first festival launched in the summer of 2017, the mindful drinking scene has grown substantially and the demand for low- and no-alcohol drinks is ever increasing. With that in mind, Club Soda will be showcasing 40 of the best tasting adult-orientated drinks brands in the industry. The event is expected to attract over 5,000 fans, from the sober curious and mums-to-be, to foodies and fitness fanatics. Visitors will get the chance to taste a new wave of alcohol-free drinks including beers, spirits, wines, kombuchas, shrubs, elixirs and a whole host of delicious cocktails invented by radical alchemists, before soaking up the sunshine in a deck chair to enjoy live DJ sets. 

Old Spitalfields Market, 16 Commercial Street, Spitalfields, E1 6EW; 20th July

Visit MindfulDrinkingFestival.com

CELEBRATE 4th JULY HERE: Red Rooster

Barack Obama’s favourite Stateside restaurant, Red Rooster, is offering a large serving of Americana this Independence Day. In honour of the occasion, the team will be plating up a special menu: think block party ribs, cow peas, corn bread and BBQ sauce; and chicken wings with blue cheese dressing. On the side, guests can add a cocktail with a US twist such as a ‘S’mores Manhattan’ or ‘Salted Peanut Old Fashioned’, both made with bourbon. The restaurant will be decked out with plenty of stars and stripes, and all of this will be sound tracked by house band the Heavy Beat Brass Band, who will be whipping out all-American classics.

45 Curtain Road, Hackney, EC2A 3PT; 4th July

Visit RedRoosterLDN.com

WATCH THE WOLRD CUP FINAL HERE: Skylight London

Skylight London at Tobacco Dock is back for the summer season. Skylight’s raised platform bar on level 12 has undergone an upgrade for 2019, welcoming all-new day beds and private garden booths as well as added greenery. Green croquet lawns have returned to the rooftop, as well as pétanque lanes and table tennis. Elsewhere, three bars serve a variety of seasonal cocktails such as ‘Raspberry Rum Margheritas’ and Pimm’s pitchers – perfect for groups. This month, Skylight will be showing the Women's World Cup Final across a number of screens throughout the venue, including under the pergola and on level nine, which is equipped to handle all types of weather. Table bookings and packages are available. 

Tobacco Dock, Pennington Street, St Katharine's & Wapping, E1W 2SF; 7th July

Visit Skylight.DesignMyNight.com

GET CULTURED HERE: Somerset House Summer Series 

Across eleven nights of open-air gigs, Somerset House Summer Series brings a vibrant festival atmosphere to the very heart of London. With a programme of pioneering musicians across a range of genres, Summer Series gives music fans a live experience unlike any other, with the rare chance to see critically acclaimed artists (such as Doves, Nao and The Internet) plus some of the best up and coming performers in an intimate setting. Courtyard bars will offer a selection of drinks all evening, and this year there will also be a pop-up food stall in the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court. Line-up highlights include The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Cut Copy and Gossip. 

Somerset House, Strand, Covent Garden, WC2R 1LA; 11th-21st July 

Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk

BRING YOUR DOG HERE: Chihuahua Café

A popular city brunch spot is transforming into a Chihuahua Café for one day in July. The pop-up comes from the team behind the popular Pug Cafe and is being held in association with dog grooming brand Pet Teezer. Taking place at The Happenstance in St Paul’s, chihuahua owners and lovers alike are encouraged to come along and share their love of the sassiest breed over cake and cocktails. Whether you want to spoil your own chihuahua or just surround yourself with dogs for the day, the event will make sure you have an ‘Aperol Sniff’ in hand. There’ll be a whole menu dedicated to dogs including ‘pupcakes’, ‘dognuts’, ‘barkscotti’ and ‘pawsecco’, plus every chihuahua will also receive a free ‘pupuccino’. For owners, there’ll be a delicious range of food and drinks on offer.

The Happenstance, 10 Paternoster Square, St Paul’s, EC4M 7DX; 21st July

Visit PugCafe.com

LEARN HOW TO BBQ LIKE A PRO HERE: The Stafford London

On 13th July, BBQ and live-fire cooking expert Genevieve Taylor will be visiting the newly refurbished outdoor courtyard of The Stafford London. Alongside the hotel’s culinary director Ben Tish, she’ll be grilling up a Mediterranean menu showcasing summery dishes from their latest book releases. Charred from Genevieve steps away from the classic British BBQ of burgers and sausages by offering veg-centric alternatives, while Moorish by Ben is a celebration of the vibrant flavours from the Mediterranean and North Africa. The afternoon’s grilling starts with a trio of snacks including mini jerk-spiced plantain, shallot and halloumi kebabs and baba ganoush with flatbread chips from Genevieve, alongside Ben’s chorizo and piquillo pepper skewers. For veggies there will also be a vibrant butternut squash and feta dish with smoked beetroot cubes and fennel chilli croutons. All dishes will be cooked over open fire, including a sweet dish of grilled white peaches with thyme and mascarpone ice-cream to round-off the afternoon.

16-18 St James’s Place, SW1A 1NJ; 13th July

Visit TheStaffordLondon.com

MAKE SUNDAY FUN HERE: Citadel Festival 

Citadel Festival takes off where Lovebox leaves, occupying the same site just 14 hours after Solange closes proceedings on 13th July. A guitar-led line-up replaces Lovebox’s dance-heavy artists, this year with headline sets from Bastille, Friendly Fires and Catfish & The Bottlemen. Away from the bands (there are so many we want to see, we’re already panicking about stage clashes) live experiences include Sunday Papers Live, mass yoga workshops, a science camp and a pub quiz. Line-up highlights include Fontaines D.C., Dream Wife and Squid.  

Gunnersbury Park, W3 8LQ; 14th July 

Visit CitadelFestival.com

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