May

With two bank holidays in May we’ve got some great ideas on how you might want to spend your long weekends. Sometimes it fun to explore the city we live in. Festival season kicks off this month and we will be sharing our favourites to check out this Summer.

The BBQ Club

The BBQ Club - Starting 3rd May

Based on the Southbank, directly on The Thames, The BBQ Club encompasses the best of modern BBQ food. From their reservation only interactive 6 course rooftop dining concept each evening, to a delicious casual street food menu featuring everything from burgers to showcasing the best rare breed meats with their low and slow specials… All washed down with delicious and refreshing summer cocktails and craft , its a must to check out. To book tickets and for more info click here.

Wine Week

Wine Week - 13th -19th May

London Wine Week is a seven day summer festival which takes place across the city, with delicious events happening each day of the week – from pop-up wine bars to al fresco parties, decadent dinners and tutored tastings – plus some of the very best wine bars creating bespoke tasting flights of wine for just £6 for you to try! For the first time - Festival Passes for London Wine Week are free meaning even more reason to drink up for more info click here.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 21st - 25th May

The world’s most famous flower show is back for another year, featuring cutting-edge garden design  fabulous shopping and plants from every corner of the globe. The RHS Chelsea Flower Show, runs from 21 to 25 May 2019 and will feature the very best that the gardening world has to offer, including the famous Great Pavilion at the heart of the show packed with specialist growers and nurseries. It’s the ultimate day out for tickets and more info click here.

Grand Design Live 4th -12th May

Grand Designs Live, proudly sponsored by Anglian Home Improvements, returns in 2019 at London's ExCeL from 4-12 May and from 9-13 October at Birmingham’s NEC. Based on the Channel 4 series and presented by Kevin McCloud, the show offers visitors top expert advice, new product launches and specialist exhibitors in six project zones. Whether you’re planning a self-build, renovation or are adding the finishing touches, find ideas and inspiration for your very own Grand Design at this multi-award winning event. This year Sommer will be taking part in a panel, health vs the home. For tickets and more info click here.

All Points East

Festival season kicks off this month, each month we’re going to share some of our favourites to check out. Starting with All Points East.

All Points East - 24th May to 2nd June

All Points East is a music festival held over two weekends once a year in London’s Victoria Park, run by AEG Presents. The 10 day event comprises of two weekends of the most exciting names in music and four days of free entry and community activities known as In the Neighbourhood. For more info and tickets click here.

Float Tanks

3 Tribes - Floatation Tanks - now open

With wellness becoming the biggest trend of 2019 we love to explore new ways to relax and look after ourselves. If you find it hard to relax then head to a floatation tank.

Floating is an experience that can help to reset our mental well being and bring balance to our thinking. By taking some time to quieten all the thoughts passing through our head, we allow ourselves to think clearly and become more focused. Floatation tanks are a modern and controlled way to meditate. Many of us have high-pressure jobs and find it hard to take time away from screens, people and everyday noise. For more info and to book an appointment click here.

Vinegar Yard

Vinegar Yard - now open

Vinegar Yard is set to be a brand-new eating, drinking, shopping and art space from the team behind Flat Iron Square. Located under the direct gaze of The Shard, Vinegar Yard will comprise art installations, container pop-up shops, bars, street-food traders and a huge open-air garden area with outdoor seating for hundreds of people. Open seven days a week from early until late, we imagine the venue will be filled with after-work drinkers and weekend fun-seekers come summer. For more info click here.

Lyaness

Lyaness - now open

Lyaness is the brand new bar from the award-winning Mr Lyan and team, continuing their collaboration with Sea Containers London and the iconic space overlooking the Thames. We love the interiors an can’t wait to check it out for more info click here.

March

March is an exciting month as there is lot’s going on, the days are getting longer and sunnier with spring on the horizon. It’s time to get outside and embrace the warmer weather. To help inspire you we have a round up on all the different things to get up to this month in and around London.

Tom Daley’s Banana and Blueberry Pancakes

5th March - Pancake Day

Have your frying pans at the ready because Pancake Day is just around the corner. If you’re looking to perfect your pancake toss at home or venture out to explore some yummy treats check out the previous blog post for inspiration. If you live in the Greenwich area of you fancy a good giggle, check out the Flippin’ Good Pancake races at Greenwich market on the 2nd and 5th March. For more info just click here.

7th-10th March - The Affordable Art Fair - Battersea

The Affordable Art Fair returns to Battersea Park this month. Whether you know your Hockney’s from your Hirst’s, or are simply looking to dip your toe into the world of contemporary art. Friendly, expert gallerists will be on hand to help you choose the perfect piece to suit your space, taste and spend. Discover an array of original artworks from their curated collection of living artists, all priced between £100 and £6,000, and find that perfect piece to bring your home to life! For info click here.

WOW Festival

8th March - International Women’s Day - WOW Festival at the Southbank.

International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. To mark the day why not attend WOW festival.

WOW festivals began in the UK in 2010, launched by Kelly at Southbank Centre London, where she was Artistic Director, to celebrate women and girls, taking a frank look at what prevents them from achieving their potential, raising awareness globally of the issues they face and discussing solutions together.

This year WOW presents an incredible line-up of events to mark the launch of The WOW Foundation and begin the countdown to 2020 – the 10th anniversary of WOW. The programme includes two very special conversations, including on Friday 8 March – International Women’s Day – with Angela Davis, and with Naomi Klein on Saturday 9 March, as well as two full afternoons: WOW: What Now? and WOW: What Next? led by Jude Kelly – and more. For more info and tickets click here. Source: Wow Festival Southbank.

Source - Blue Plant II at the O2.

17th March - St Patricks Day

On the 17th March it is St Patricks Day, the pubs will be full to the brim and the rugby will be on. But if you want to do something a bit different why not check out what is happening at the O2 on the 17th March. We were all obsessed by Blue Planet II and now you can relive the best bits of the action as the show is going on a UK concert tour and it hits Londons O2 this St Paddy’s Day. Stunning film sequences from the series will be screened alongside the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra playing live, featuring music by Hans Zimmer, Jacob Shea and David Fleming for Bleeding Fingers Music. And if you thought the programme looked epic on your telly, just wait until you get a look at it on the state-of-the-art 200sqm 4K Ultra HD LED screen…it’s going to be epic. For more info and tickets just click here.

The London Coffee Festival

The London Coffee Festival- 28th-31st March

Returning for 2019, the London Coffee Festival is the UK’s largest coffee and artisan food event, a celebration of London's vibrant coffee culture featuring gourmet coffee, speciality tea, artisan food, demonstrations from world-class baristas, live music and a comprehensive ‘lab’ seminar programme that will educate even the keenest of coffee lovers. 

The festival is once again the flagship event of UK Coffee Week. Highlights include the Latte Art Live workshops where you can learn to craft milky masterpieces, home barista workshops and a brand-new multi-sensory, guided and meditative coffee tasting experience. For info click here. Source - London Coffee Festival

The Gloria

With the warmer weather and longer evenings just around the corner, it’s time to get out of hibernation and explore again. It’s also Mother’s Day on the 31st so if you’re looking somewhere new to treat your mum look no further. Here are our top picks of restaurants and bars to check out this month.

The Gloria - We all have dreams and fantasies. Today, one of our wildest ones at Big Mamma is coming true (spoiler: it’s not taking pizza to the moon ). Since the beginning, we’ve always wanted to open in London, the most exciting city with the craziest vibe.
So meet Gloria, a 172-seat traditional Italian trattoria in the middle of Shoreditch.
Joyful and lush by day, it also gets funky with a buzzing atmosphere and house made playlists.

For info and reservations click here.

EartH Kitchen

EartH Kitchen - Earth kitchen is situated in the recently launched music and arts venue Earth (Evolutionary Arts Hackney), a former art deco cinema in Dalston’ bustling Stoke Newington road.

The kitchen was established by Auro Foxcroft, founder of Village Underground and EartH, and Chris Gillard, who previously helmed the St. John Group as Executive Chef.

EartH Kitchen reflects Head Chef Chris’ passion for using the best available ingredients in line with the changing seasons. Restaurant Manager Toni Castillo, also formerly of St. John, will be running the floor and curating the wine list with a European focus, while the cocktail list will make the most of seasonal ingredients.

For more info and reservations click here.

BBQ Dreamz

BBQ Dreamz - Fresh from their triumph on My Million Pound Menu, where they secured investment from Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh, street food faves BBQ Dreamz will be popping up at MEATLiquor Kings Cross for a six-week residency. The 11-course tasting menu will consist of dishes that featured on the show, including grilled satay duck hearts (in homage to co-founder Lee Johnson’s auntie who runs a skewer stall back in the Philippines), their signature lechon kawali, adobo glazed chicken wings with lime aioli, and sour papaya noodle salad, with calamansi lime-spiked Bloody Marys on offer too (plus other drinks from the MEATLiquor bar). For more info click here.

DND

DND — Do Not Disturb. Is the cocktail bar hidden in the basement of the Vintry and Mercer Hotel in the City of London — it is the place for a clandestine drink in the City. Hand-beaded images of Ziegfeld Follies girls line the walls, beckoning guests into this secret bar through a darkened entrance tucked back on Garlick Hill.

September

Can you feel the change in the air? September has swept in, there is a little chill in the air and we're back to school in every possible sense! What a great Summer we've had (almost too good to be true) but now it's time to get back to business. A new season brings brilliant new energy and there is SO much to be excited about this month. We've rounded up our hottest picks for you in September leaving the Great British heatwave a distant but fond memory.

This weekend...

London Brunch Festival - 1st and 2nd September

Make brunch an all day affair this weekend. London Brunch Festival is throwing the biggest celebration of brunch London has ever seen. There will be coffee, there will be booze, also workshops, talks, music and most importantly … more awesome brunch food than you can shake a sausage at. Things are about to get seriously brunched up!

London Brunch Festival

Date night..

Midnight Apothecary - Until the end of September

Sip botanical cocktails, pile around campfires, toast marshmallows, tuck into Greek street food and venture into the Brunel tunnel - a giant subterranean concert hall - at this quirky cocktail takeover at the Brunel Museum's rooftop garden.

Midnight Apothacary

Stay Curious...

Open House London - 22nd and 23rd September

Open House London is the world’s largest architecture festival, giving free public access to 800+ buildings, walks, talks and tours over one weekend in September each year. This year it celebrates is 25th Anniversary, so why not take a peak behind the doors of some of London hidden architectural gems.

Open House London

Check out...

London Design Festival - 15th-23rd September

London Design Festival celebrate and promotes London as the design capital of the world. The Festival returns to venues and institutions across the city. There is so much happening for Design Festival, here are a couple of our suggestions to check out.

Kellenberger-White: Alphabet

Move, muddle and clamber over this 26 strong collection of chairs created by design studio Kellenberger-White for the London Design Festival. Each letter of the alphabet has been constructed using folded metal and licked with a different colour of paint to form a typographic rainbow. Sit back and wait for your Instagram feed to fill up with filthy words made with them.

Kellenberger-White: Alphabet

ES Devlin: Please feed the lions

A fifth fluorescent lion will join the other four beasts that call Trafalgar Square home during LDF. As well as being decidedly different in colour to the rest, this king of the jungle will also be a lot louder thanks to the poetry it’ll roar out across the day. The words it speaks will be chosen by the public and shown on LEDs embedded within its mouth during the day, while at night the poems will be projection mapped over the lion and onto Nelson’s column. 

ES Devlin: Please feed the lions