What To Do This Weekend 18.01.24

START THE NEW YEAR RIGHT:

Barre For Brains

Blending Pilates, cardio and ballet, the Barre Series is a workout with a holistic focus that's proved to be popular on the London fitness scene. Now its founder Catie Miller has launched her ‘Barre for Brains’ class. The aim is to understand the power of music and its effect on the brain, as attendees maintain a consistent BPM to activate the brain’s engagement in recognising tempo, rhythm and flow.

Available online

Visit BarreSeries.com

GET SOME R&R:

Grey Wolfe

Barnes wellness destination Grey Wolfe has transitioned into a private members club. What sets it apart is that clients can make a reservation and enjoy exclusive access to the entire space, either solo or with a guest. Monthly membership also includes a luxury welcome box, a quarterly wellness mapping kit, a one-to-one wellness check-up, an ‘Attuned Recharge Treatment’, unlimited BioTech treatments, and online wellbeing classes. Take this as a sign to focus on your health this year.

71 White Hart Lane, Barnes, SW13 0PP

Visit GreyWolfe.co.uk

TRY A NEW SPOT:

Alley Cats

Paying homage to New York’s iconic pizza scene, this buzzy joint in Marylebone is set to become the casual neighbourhood spot to know. Sicilian-born Francesco Macri heads up the kitchen; his CV reads like a long list of our favourite Italian-style eateries – Santa Maria, Pizza Pilgrims and Princi. Even if the pizzas are not served by the slice in true New York style, the compact dining space, glazed subway tiling, gingham tablecloths and exposed brick walls will make you believe you’re in the Big Apple. Diners can expect 14-inch pies with traditional topping combinations as well as some wildcard options like the slow-cooked vodka-infused tomato sauce. This is pizza done well.

22 Paddington Street, Marylebone, W1U 5QY

Visit AlleyCatsPizza.co.uk

CHECK OUT NEW HEALTHY FOODS:

Jin Jin x Onngi

If the new year has inspired a health kick, this collaboration is for you. The creators behind Jin Jin, a naturally fermented super drink, and Onngi, the vegan Kimchi brand, have teamed up for a month-long pop-up at Delli's shop in Netil Market. Once you’ve picked up some groceries, drop into one of its special events each weekend – including a one-off cooking collab with Yang’s Noods on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st January.

13 Netil Market, 23 Westgate Street, Hackney, E8 3RL

Visit Delli.market

@TOMCOCKRAM

BOOK AHEAD:

Socca Seasons

Impress your foodie friends with this event at Mayfair restaurant Socca. Over the next few weeks, co-founder and chef Claude Bosi will be joined by a troupe of the country’s buzziest chefs. Each event in the series focuses on one ingredient. Next up is Jackson Boxer (Brunswick House), who will celebrate the best seasonal seafood from the UK’s coastline with an exclusive menu on Monday 22nd January. Dishes include crab quiche, mussels with camembert and preserved raspberries, catch of the day, and oyster and Guinness ice-cream with ginger cake. Can’t make this one? The next is on Monday 26th Feb, Ben Marks will be making the most of Menton lemons, or there’s Margot Henderson highlighting asparagus on Monday 15th April. Tickets cost £45 (£55 with wine pairings).

41A South Audley Street, Mayfair, W1K 2PS

Visit SoccaBistro.com

PLAN A DAY TRIP:

Obsession 24 Culinary Festival

Lock in your tickets for this gourmet getaway at country house hotel Northcote in Lancashire. Now in its 24th year, the festival has a line-up featuring only chefs that hold at least one Michelin star – from Adam Handling to Michel Roux Jr. While many of the events are already sold out, Northcote has released an exclusive chef’s table on the evening with Sameer Taneja (Friday 2nd February). With just 14 at the table, this promises to be a memorable dining experience. Tickets cost £400pp.

Northcote Road, Langho, Lancashire, BB6 8BE

Visit NorthcoteObsession.com

POLLOCKS TOY MUSEUM

TAKE THE KIDS:

Pollock's Toy Museum Pop Up

Last year it was game over for Pollock’s permanent fixture in Fitzrovia. Happily, though, the Toy Museum is back for a pop-up in Croydon that will be open every Saturday for the next six -months. The area is a prime spot for the museum – Croydon was home to a major toy factory from the 50s to the 80s. Pollock’s will honour this history with a selection of vintage toys made by the company – look out for the intricate 50s/60s-style dollhouses. As well as being a great way to keep the kids entertained for an afternoon, entry is free.

North End, Croydon, CR0 1LP

Visit PollocksToyMuseum.co.uk

BARBICAN LIBRARY

CATCH AN EXHIBITION:

From the Caribbean to Coventry at Barbican Centre

From art and fashion to Caribbean food, the Windrush generation had – and continues to have – a huge impact on British youth culture. This new exhibition at Barbican Centre explores its positive influences across architecture, art, literature, fashion and, of course, music – particularly two-tone. The exhibition also explores the full history of two-tone, starting in France and Belgium after the end of WW2 and ending up in 1980s Coventry. The display has been curated with contributions from fans and cultural experts.

Level 2, Barbican Centre, Silk Street, Farringdon, EC2Y 8DS; Fri 12th Jan-Sat 25th May

Visit Barbican.org.uk

DISCOVER NEW ART:

London Art Fair

The first big event in the 2024 art calendar is the London Art Fair, which runs until Sunday with a line-up of over 120 leading galleries across modern and contemporary art. Over its 35-year run, the fair has become a go-to among those-in-the-know for sourcing artwork by established and emerging artists from the UK and beyond. As well as the main exhibition space, visitors can drop into Photo50, an area for modern photography, as well as dedicated spaces for screenings and discussions. Look out for the talk on AI’s implications for the art market. Day tickets cost £20 or a multi-day pass costs £39.50 – if booked in advance.

52 Upper Street, Islington, N1 0QH

Visit LondonArtFair.co.uk

DRINK DIFFERENTLY:

Savoia’s Vega Road Partnership

Aperitivo brand Savoia has joined forces with several cocktail bars in London to offer a range of limited-edition, vegan cocktails. Made using Savoia Rosso (rhubarb flavoured and bittersweet) and Savoia Orancio (made from orange wine), the drinks are available until Sunday 11th February at venues including Bar Antoine at Four Seasons Hotel London Park Lane, Tozi, Tavolino, Aqua Nueva and Aqua Kyoto.

Various locations

Visit Casa-Savoia.com

KEEP UP WITH VEGANUARY:

Vegan Doughnuts

Getting through the festive comedown, while sticking to Veganuary, would be difficult without sweet treats. Luckily, the doughnut aficionados at Crosstown are here to sate your sweet tooth with a new batch of plant-based options. Flavours include pistachio and rose, matcha and rhubarb, plus there’s a coffee, cardamom and coconut doughnut. As well as the new launches, there’s a new vegan store in Marylebone serving up exclusive vegan versions of your old favourite flavours.

Various locations

Visit Crosstown.co.uk

ENJOY SOME LIVE MUSIC:

Family Ties – The Schumanns and The Mendelssohns at Southbank Centre

Each month, Ukrainian-born Natalia Ponomarchuk returns to Kyiv to conduct her orchestra in the city. With no flights, it takes her two days to travel there and, should the bomb alarm go off mid-performance, musicians and audience members have to go into the shelter until they can resume. Come and watch her conduct the London Philharmonic and pianist Alexander Melnikov in a performance of classic works by husband-and-wife duo Clara and Robert Schumann and the Mendelssohn siblings.

Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX

Visit SouthBankCentre.co.uk