What To Do This Weekend 31.03.22
TREAT YOURSELF: Le Printemps At Balthazar
Covent Garden restaurant Balthazar has opened a pop-up flower shop to celebrate the start of spring. ‘Le Printemps’ also pays homage to the restaurant’s building – which used to be a flower cellar. There’s also a cool Monet-inspired floral installation over the entrance, plus a menu of spritz cocktails in partnership with Grey Goose vodka. New food dishes include dressed crab with herb mayo and lemon; buffalo mozzarella with pear, quince compote, glazed pecans and truffle honey; pan-fried seabass with mussels, samphire and a saffron emulsion; and rum baba with strawberries and chantilly cream. On select nights, diners can also enjoy jazz.
Until Sunday 15th May; 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, WC2B 5HZ
Visit BalthazarLondon.com
DINE WITH A STAR: Sheekey Secrets With Dame Judi Dench
Covent Garden seafood restaurant J Sheekey is a favourite with famous faces and West End actors. It has just launched Sheekey Secrets, a series of exclusive ‘in conversation’ evenings with esteemed stars of stage and screen. On Monday 4th April, diners have a rare opportunity to meet Dame Judi Dench, alongside her family members Sam and Finty Williams. After the Q&A, chef Andy McLay will serve a three-course menu alongside Moët & Chandon champagne.
28-32 St Martin’s Court, Covent Garden, WC2N 4AL
Visit J-Sheekey.co.uk
@BENSAGEPHOTOGRAPHY
FIND A SPECIAL OCCASION OUTFIT: Rachel Gilbert Pop-Up At Harrods
Australian womenswear label Rachel Gilbert has popped up at Harrods. Its SS22 range will be available to shop in store for the next month. Gilbert is known for her glamorous take on occasion wear, and her new collection features sequins, glitter and feathers woven into dresses, ballgowns, trousers and going-out tops – we’ve got our eye on the Frenchy Aqua dress.
87-135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7XL
Visit Harrods.com
GO OUT OUT: Number 90 Birthday Weekender
Hackney Wick’s riverside pub Number 90 is celebrating its eighth birthday with a huge birthday weekender party. To mark the milestone, there are DJ sets at Number 90 and its sister venue Rhythm Sister. On Thursday 31st March, DJ Greg Brockmann will kick off the weekend with house tunes, before nd_Baumecker, Space Dimension Controller and up-and-coming DJ Mica Coca take to the decks on Friday 1st March. On Saturday 2nd April, US house and disco king Maurice Fulton will perform, followed by Raw Silk DJs Grace & Steph, while DJ collective Rhythm Sister will host a daytime workshop for aspiring female, non-binary and transgender DJs. Order drinks and Mediterranean dishes from the kitchen – there are 2-4-1 burgers on Thursday and 2-4-1 cocktails on Friday until 10pm. Tickets are free.
90 Main Yard, Wallis Road, Hackney, E9 5LN
Visit Number90Bar.co.uk
KRIS HUMPHREYS PHOTOGRAPHY
TAKE TO THE RIVER: GoBoat
GoBoat is opening early this year. From this weekend, groups of up to eight can sail along the river on eco-friendly boats launching from three London sites: Paddington, Kingston and Canary Wharf. Groups can choose from one, two or three-hour cruises. The experience is both dog and child friendly, with life jackets and buoyancy aids, and no prior boating knowledge is necessary as staff will give you a full tutorial before you set sail. For a boozy cruise, head to Canary Wharf or Kingston with a picnic and a couple of bottles of rosé. Tickets cost £95 for one hour, £135 for two hours, and £175 for three hours.
Various sites
Visit GoBoat.co.uk
FAHMI FAHRUDIN/ UNSPLASH
DISCOVER A NEW BREW: London Coffee Festival
After a two-year hiatus, London Coffee Festival returns to the Truman Brewery on Brick Lane this weekend. From Thursday 31st March to Sunday 3rd April visitors can book tasting experiences and masterclasses, and try a range of blends from over 150 brands. Expect to find stands from Lavazza, Barista & Co, Alpro, Canacoffee, Curve Coffee, DeLonghi, Illy, Dualit, Nespresso, Sage and Pact. Shop reusable coffee cups, take part in a latte art workshop, and watch live acts and DJs on the music stage. Once you’ve tried a few samples, make a beeline for The White Label Kitchen pop-up restaurant for brunch or lunch. Tickets cost £24pp.
The Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, E1 6QR
Visit LondonCoffeeFestival.com
NICKY HAMILTON
BOOK AHEAD: The Handmaid’s Tale At The London Coliseum
The English National Opera begins a new production at the London Coliseum on Monday 4th April. Based on Margaret Atwood’s seminal novel, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in the totalitarian state of Gilead where women, stripped of their identities and rights, are subject to the whims of a patriarchal republic. They’re treated as state property, while Gilead is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. Danish composer Poul Ruders has created an exciting score featuring mediaeval chanting and gospel music to add to the dramatic story. Tickets start from £10 – under-21s can get free opera tickets to all ENO performances, while 21-35-year-olds can get discounted tickets.
Until Thursday 14th April; St Martin's Lane, Strand, WC2N 4ES
Visit ENO.org
WORK OUT WITH A VIEW: Sky Garden Yoga
London’s highest green oasis – Sky Garden – has just launched its summer series of morning yoga classes with TruBe. Offering panoramic views of the city, classes will take place among Sky Garden's luscious tropical greenery. Participants can enjoy a one-hour session of vinyasa flow yoga, suitable for all levels and abilities. With a focus on breathwork, the TruBe instructors will guide you through a range of postures designed to boost energy levels and rejuvenate. After the class, grab a coffee at Sky Pod Bar or have breakfast at the Darwin Brasserie before taking a stroll through the beautifully landscaped gardens. Daily classes take place from Tuesdays to Sundays; tickets cost £25pp.
Visit DesignMyNight.com
GET CREATIVE: Spring Hoop Making Workshops At Carousel
On Saturday 2nd April at 12pm and 1.30pm, restaurant Carousel is hosting two spring hoop-making workshops in partnership with The Botanist Gin. During each class, east London florist Lizzie Thorne will show you how to make a Scandi-inspired hoop with dried grasses, foliage and ribbon – a lovely decoration for the home. Ticketholders will also receive a complimentary foraged cocktail from The Botanist Gin. Tickets cost £35pp and include 20% off your bill in the wine bar (before 6pm on Saturday 2nd April only).
Carousel, 19-23 Charlotte Street, Covent Garden, W1T 1RL
Visit Carousel-London.com
GET INTERIOR INSPO: The Argos Mood Hotel
Argos and Pinterest have joined forces to create The Argos Mood Hotel inside Bethnal Green’s Town Hall Hotel. Drawing on the biggest interiors trends emerging from Pinterest, six rooms have been curated using products from Argos. They are open to the public from Saturday 2nd April to Monday 4th April. Look out for the Luxe Room, filled with plush velvets and opulent gold accents, as well as the Nature Room (designed to bring the outdoors in) and the Night Room with its contrasting lighting and striking silhouettes. You can also enter a competition to win a stay in one of the rooms. Tickets are free.
Town Hall Hotel, Patriot Square, Bethnal Green, E2 9NF
Visit TheMoodHotel.co.uk
DISCOVER LOCAL DESIGNERS Sample Spring Market At Greenwich Peninsula
Urban design market Sample Spring is returning to Greenwich Peninsula for a one-day event on Saturday 2nd April. Shoppers can browse fashion, homeware, beauty and wellness products from thousands of brands and try a range of street food from on-site food hub Canteen. Browse stalls from textile designer Sophie Charles, lifestyle brand Cuemars, womenswear brand Oli, Pikaya Jewellery, and framed pictures from Brick Lane shop East End Prints. You can also take part in workshops throughout the day, from how to darn a jumper to family paper decoration classes. Resident DJs Nariaki and Seiji Ono will set the vibe with music while you shop, while record label Melodies International will sharing undiscovered sounds including rare soul and disco music. Be sure to visit Ben’s Bakery for freshly baked pastries and cakes.
The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, Greenwich, SE10 0SQ
Visit GreenwichPeninsula.co.uk
DISCLAIMER: We endeavour to always credit the correct original source of every image we use. If you think a credit may be incorrect, please contact us at info@sheerluxe.com.