What To Do This Weekend 20.07.23

ENJOY UNLIMITED DRINKS:

Margarita Rumble at Two More Years

London’s Margarita Rumble returns for another year of bottomless cocktails and a competition to find the best margarita in the capital. It takes place at Two More Years bar in Hackney Wick on Saturday 22nd July. Pro makers will use Jose Cuervo tequila to create their signature margs – this year’s line-up includes Islington Blend, Looking Glass Cocktail Club, MXO London, Jalisco Brixton and 12:51 by James Cochran. There are three slots to choose from and tickets costs £37.50pp which includes unlimited margaritas. You’ll also be given a token on arrival to put into the ballot box to vote for your favourite cocktail. DJs will set the vibe, while tequila masterclasses and cocktail workshops will take place throughout the day. James Cochran will also be on hand with fried chicken burgers and other snacks.

7 Roach Road, Fish Island, Hackney, E3 2PA

Visit LondonMargaritaRumble.com

HIT THE SHOPS:

Ben's Yard

Ben's Yard is the new shopping destination to have on your radar. Close to the cathedral city of Ely, near Cambridge, it’s full of independent boutiques, a florist and a salon. Visitors can browse Freda & Bert for homeware and gifts, Something About Rose for contemporary womenswear, and Thatch & Roses for bouquets and floral workshops. There’s also a pop-up space with a rotating line-up of brands. Afterwards, stop at the restaurant for modern British dishes, or the café for hot drinks and snacks. Families can also explore the surrounding Stuntney Estate which has marked trails through woodland and wildflower meadows.

Stuntney Estate, Ely, CB7 5TR

Visit BensYard.co.uk

TRY NEW BEAUTY:

Elemis Cleansing Lab Pop-Up

Regular SL readers will know how much the beauty team rate Elemis’s Pro-Collagen range, so we were pleased to hear the brand is opening a pop-up in Covent Garden from Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd July. Head to the ‘Scent Distillation Station’ to discover Elemis’s fragrances (including a new limited-edition scent), try a range of balms, cleansing oils and hydrating milk, and enjoy mini facials. Take pictures in the ‘balm booth’, head to the experimental zone for a chance to win prizes, and check out the research area to learn how each product is made.

Covent Garden Piazza, Cranbourn Street, WC2H 7AR; 11am-6pm on Friday & Saturday, and 11am-5pm on Sunday

Visit Elemis.com

SEE A CLASSIC:

Macbeth at The Globe

The Globe continues its summer series with a new adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, Macbeth. Max Bennett (Poldark) takes the title role in the epic play about one couple’s ruthless quest for power. When the universe gives Macbeth a sign that he will become king, he and his wife stop at nothing to cling to power, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. The production also stars Matti Houghton as Lady Macbeth and Aaron Anthony as Macduff. As with all plays at the Globe, standing tickets cost £5, otherwise seated tickets start from £12.

21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, SE1 9DT

Visit ShakespearesGlobe.com

GET YOUR NAILS DONE:

So.Shell

Luxury Ukrainian nail bar So.Shell has opened a pop-up in Fitzrovia. The space has four manicure stations and two pedicure stations, where guests can choose from a range of treatments while enjoying a soft drink, Aperol spritz or glass of prosecco. Book in for a gel manicure or choose from brow and lash treatments like tinting, shaping and lamination. You can also ask for nail art designs – look through the salon’s Instagram for inspo. Prices start from £15 for brows and lashes, and £22 for manis.

9-11 Tottenham Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 2AQ

Visit SoShell.uk

ENJOY AN ICE-CREAM:

Araw Pop-up at Raye the Store

Araw is a new artisanal ice-cream brand which creates interesting flavours inspired by different corners of the world. It has opened a pop-up at the new Raye the Store in Spitalfields Market, where customers can order scoops from the ice-cream bar. Flavours include Roasted Banana with Tahini Fudge, Brown Butter Sage with Spiced Apple Compote, and Coco Raspberry Lychee – as well as flavours exclusive to the store, like Black Sesame Praline, and Honeydew and Yuzu Sherbet. Once you’ve picked a flavour or two, check out Raye’s shelves which are home to over 70 wellness brands.

8 Market Street, Spitalfields, E1 6DT

Visit WeAreRaye.com

TAKE THE KIDS:

Theatre on Kew

Kew Gardens kicks off a series of open-air shows on Saturday, when families can watch an adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Journey down the rabbit hole and enter a fantastical world inhabited by curiouser and curiouser characters. Join Alice as she searches for a way home, meeting the disappearing Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter, and the bad-tempered Queen of Hearts along the way. Adult tickets are £23 and children cost £16, which also includes entry to the gardens.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond, TW9 3AE

Visit TheatreOnKew.com

TRAVEL BACK TO THE 80S:

Hijingo Bingo

Hijingo is the fun bingo evening from the team behind Bounce and Puttshack. Expect a high-energy, multisensory experience with live entertainment, stadium-grade lighting, and cool music and audio effects. There’s a new game to try over the next six weeks: ‘The 80s Power Trip’ is a chance to play bingo, dance and sing along to 80s classics. Players will be guided through the cinematic experience with the help of ‘Hijingobots’ (otherworldly masked dancers) and on-screen characters during a 90-minute session which includes six rounds of bingo with chances to win prizes of up to £250 and a European holiday for two. You can also order food and drink to the table, like sushi, bao buns and burgers. Tickets start from £16pp.

90 Worship Street, Shoreditch, EC2A 2BA

Visit Hijingo.com

GET YOUR CULTURE FIX:

Reclaiming Black Women Exhibition at Somerset House

Somerset House opens an exhibition today which examines the historical representation of Black women in visual culture. Curated by historian Aindrea Emelife, ‘Black Venus’ brings together the work of more than 20 Black women and non-binary artists to explore the othering, fetishisation and reclamation of narratives around Black femininity. It includes a selection of archival photographs taken between the early 18th century and 1930, as well as new works by British artists. It's one of Somerset House’s accessible exhibitions so tickets are free but charity donations are encouraged.

Strand, Covent Garden, WC2R 1LA; 20th July-24th September

Visit SomersetHouse.org.uk

PLAN DATE NIGHT:

Kuro Late

Kuro Eatery is one of our favourite spots in Notting Hill, so we were pleased to hear its turning the original Kuro Coffee into a bar every Tuesday to Saturday evening from 5.30pm to 9pm. Guests can choose from a selection of world wines and cocktails, including watermelon martinis, matcha sours and its signature mojito. You can also tuck into nibbles before heading to Kuro Eatery for dinner.

3 Hillgate Street, Notting Hill, W8 7SP

Visit Kuro-London.com

ORDER DIM SUM:

Seed Library x My Neighbours The Dumplings

Seed Library is making a name for itself as one of the best places out east for chef residencies and fun pop-ups. This week, the Shoreditch spot begins a new residency with My Neighbours The Dumplings. For the next three months, it’s serving wontons and dumplings stuffed with prawns, pork or mushrooms, topped with spring onions and served with chilli sauce. You could also try crispy turnip cake, loaded silken tofu with XO sauce, and smacked cucumber salad. Wash it down with one of Mr Lyan’s inventive cocktails, like the ‘Soka Martini’ made with Porter’s Tropical Old Tom gin, Empirical Soka and Cocchi Dry.

100 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch, E1 6JQ

Visit SeedLibraryShoreditch.com