What To Book In London This October
SUPPORT THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY HERE: London Restaurant Festival
London Restaurant Festival will return for its 12th year in October with a line-up of 60 culinary events where guests can choose between ‘In-Restaurant’ or ‘At-Home’ experiences. This year, there will be the customary chef-hosted events alongside several new series including ‘reunion dinners’ in private dining rooms and a comprehensive programme of ‘At-Home’ dining experiences where leading chefs join guests ‘live’. Many of the capitals leading chefs and restaurants are taking part including Michel Roux Jr at Le Gavroche, Ollie Dabbous at Hide, Jackson Boxer at Orasay, Adam Handling at Adam Handling Chelsea, Mark Dobbie at Som Saa, James Knappett at Kitchen Table, Claude Bosi at Bibendum, Vivek Singh at The Cinnamon Club, Anna Haugh at Myrtle, Carlo Scotto at Xier, Jun Tanaka at The Ninth and Atul Kochhar at Kanishka. Live events will never host more than six guests, there will be no communal mixing elements, and all experiences will finish by 10pm.
Various venues; 1st-31st October
Visit LondonRestaurantFestival.com
TRY TOP DRINKS HERE: London Cocktail Week
London Cocktail Week is being extended for a month this year in celebration and support of the hospitality industry. London Cocktail Week is an annual celebration of the capital's cocktail scene, offering £6 signature cocktails and immersive experiences in hundreds of the best bars in the city. Self-guided cocktail tours can be taken at your own pace and so are fully compliant with the new government guidelines. All participating venues are strictly sticking to policy and so wearing a London Cocktail Week wristband gives you a full month of 'something to do' safely, while exploring London's cocktail scene – albeit with a slightly earlier finish. Bars taking part this year include Bar Americain at Brasserie Zedel, Behind This Wall in Hackney, The Blind Pig at Jason Atherton’s Social Eating House and Disrepute.
Various venues; 1st-31st October
Visit LondonCocktailWeek.com
SEE A FILM HERE: Backyard Cinema
Backyard Cinema has redesigning its seating plan and reduced capacity, so ticket holders can be transported to new worlds while rediscovering their favourite films. The recently converted TV studios is now offering drinking and dining spaces both indoors and outdoors, with food provided by Honest Burgers and Mother Clucker. From 2nd October, the venue will launch The Snow Kingdom. Guests will venture through this mysterious passage to an ice kingdom filled with ‘wondrous marvels to behold’ and, well, giant beanbags. Attendees of last year's set-up will remember the ‘magical ball pit river’ which, for safety reasons, has now been replaced with actual water. Films being shown during October include Matilda, 10 Things I Hate About You, Rocketman, Grease and Cruel Intentions.
13 Wandsworth Plain, Wandsworth, SW18 1ET; from 2nd October
Visit BackyardCinema.co.uk
SEE A NEW EXHIBITION HERE: Bruce Nauman at Tate Modern
This forthcoming exhibition is a journey through the works of contemporary artist Bruce Nauman. Since the late 1960s he has continually tested what an artwork can be, by reshaping old forms and creating new ones. His ground-breaking works using sound, film, video and neon have influenced generations of artists. This is the first major exhibition of his work in London in more than 20 years. It allows visitors to engage with the artist’s universe through immersive installations with a strong emphasis on sound and moving image, as well as poetic sculptures and neon pieces. Major works like ‘Double Steel Cage Piece 1974’, ‘Anthro/Socio (Rinde Spinning)’ and ‘Clown Torture 1987’ highlights Nauman’s distinctive preoccupations and how he incessantly revisits them, yet never repeats himself.
Bankside, SE1 9TG; from 7th October
STOCK UP ON HOUSEPLANTS HERE: Chelsea Physic Garden
Chelsea Physic Garden is launching its first ‘Houseplant Market’ this October. The garden will host a wide range of stalls specialising in succulents to cacti – providing an ideal opportunity for botanical novices or green-fingered enthusiasts to purchase an array of houseplants to start or add to their growing collection. The outdoor fair will offer street-food and drinks throughout the day to add to the market-like atmosphere. Staff will be on hand to hold informative talks and masterclasses on houseplant care during the event. For those in need of some inspiration, visitors can also head to the garden’s collection of indoor plants housed in the historic Victorian glasshouses. Erected in 1902, these buildings house some of the world’s rarest sub-tropical species together with ferns, succulents and carnivorous plants. The market will take place on 10th October between 10:30am-5:30pm and tickets must be bought in advance.
66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HS; 10th October
Visit ChelseaPhysicGarden.co.uk
HOST A PRIVATE BRUNCH FOR SIX HERE: EL&N at Selfridges
Diners can now book a private area of EL&N’s floral café for a special brunch experience in Selfridges. Ideal for baby showers, birthdays and special occasions, customers can book a group of up to six guests to enjoy Instagrammable coffees and dishes from its new brunch menu, hosted in a private space in the café. The new menu includes mascarpone and fig on sourdough; ‘Dutch-Baby Pancakes’ served in a cast iron skillet, topped with mascarpone, fresh berries and drizzled with maple syrup; poached eggs on avocado; shashuka; pulled salt beef hash and eggs; and a breakfast mezze.
400 Oxford Street, Marylebone, W1A 1AB
Visit ELNLondon.co.uk
TRY A BOOZY BREAKOUT ROOM HERE: Cahoots
Cahoots has launched a new escape room and cocktail-making adventure, Bootlegger Breakout, which combines time-pressured problem-solving and expert mixology into one experience. The adventure will take place in the depths of the Cahoots’ Control Room. After a welcome cocktail to get the blood pumping, the escape room element of the experience will begin with the discovery of a solo ‘Scoundrel’, who’s been left tied up and gagged in the Control Room’s iron locker. The race is on for the recruits to find the key, unlock the Scoundrel and help him recreate a number of cocktails before the Old Bill returns. Working against the clock, the group will be tasked with solving puzzles, uncovering recipes and unlocking the ingredients needed to get the production line going.
13 Kingly Court, Soho, W1B 5PW; from 17th October
Visit Cahoots-London.com
JOIN A VIRTUAL FESTIVAL HERE: Toast Creative Weekender
Last year, Toast gathered together a group of its most inspiring friends and collaborators to host a series of talks, workshops and live demonstrations in London. This year, it’s going virtual with a three-day residency, inspired by its Autumn/Winter collection ‘Flux & Flow’. Offering a programme of virtual events with friends such as Spring’s Skye Gyngell and writer/art historian Katy Hessel, the weekend will include creative workshops, panel talks, studio tours with makers and more. Virtual workshops include: an Kantha embroidery demonstration with award-winning textile artist Ekta Kaul; an experimental drawing class with practising artists and tutors from The Royal Drawing School; and workshops on ceramic coiling and pinching with Toast new maker Polly Yates.
Visit Toa.st
GET IMMERSIVE HERE: The Murdér Express
Train travel may be trickier than usual this year, but hopping aboard The Murdér Express from Funicular’s shadowy Pedley Street Station promises to be a joy. This immersive theatre and dining experience is set aboard a train decked out with grand period furnishings, transporting ticket holders back to the 19th century as they journey from London to the fictional town of Murdér in France. A delicious menu designed by Masterchef finalist Louisa Ellis is served throughout. Along the way, diners meet a host of vivid, odd-ball characters, from music hall star Tilley Vera to local antique dealer Cliff. Temperature checks, Perspex screens and distanced seating are in place for safety, Tickets start from £65.
63 Pedley Street, Bethnal Green, E1 5FB; from 2nd October
Visit FunicularProductions.com
GET HANDS-ON HERE: London Craft Week
London Craft Week will return to the capital for its sixth edition from 30th September. Celebrating outstanding British and international creativity, this year the festival brings together over 250 established and emerging makers, designers, brands and galleries from around the world. Authenticity is at the heart of London Craft Week and the programme aims to attract a broad audience united in their appreciation of imagination, individuality, passion and skill. A curated programme of events across London will allow visitors to create their own itinerary, meet the makers and gain access to exclusive exhibitions, demonstrations and workshops. Check out its website for the full programme of events.
Various venues; from 30th September-10th October
Visit LondonCraftWeek.com
HEAD TO A LIVE SHOW HERE: Proud Cabaret
Proud Cabaret has launched ‘Cabaret All Stars’, a series of live shows featuring Denise Van Outen, Kerry Ellis and other international talent such as stars from Cirque du Soleil and the Moulin Rouge. Van Outen will be performing every Saturday night and Ellis will be performing each Friday night in October and November. With a rich history in the West End and Broadway – from being the first Elphaba in London's Wicked and the first Meat in We Will Rock You – Ellis has also enjoyed success in Les Miserables and other iconic productions. The events will take place at the group’s two-floor Embankment venue, and offer guests the chance to see a one-of-a-kind cabaret spectacle, complete with a welcome cocktail and a three-course meal.
8 Victoria Embankment, Embankment, WC2R 2AB: every Friday and Saturday in October
Visit ProudCabaret.com
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