What To Do This Weekend 31.08.23
SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE:
Boursin x Manon Lagrève Pop-Up
You might recognise French home cook Manon Lagrève from Bake Off back in 2018. Since then she’s gained a loyal following on social media. This weekend, she’s teaming up with soft cheese brand Boursin for a charity pop-up in Bournemouth. Head to the beach to nab a free restaurant-quality meal at the pop-up dining room then pay what you can – all donations will go to FoodCycle, a nationwide charity that uses surplus food, spare kitchen spaces, and volunteers to create meals for people at risk of food poverty and social isolation. Expect dishes like creamy plant-based pasta, Boursin and spinach stuffed chicken roulade, almond and Boursin grilled cod with frites and peas, and a veggie Provençal Boursin tian. Tables are available on a first-come basis.
Undercliff Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3NZ; Thursday 31st August-Sunday 3rd September
Visit boursinbistro.co.uk
Pexels/ The Cottonbro Studio
GET CREATIVE FOR CHARITY:
The Big Sew Off
Last year The Big Sew Off raised £10k for mental health charity Mind. The initiative returns this weekend when The Sew Over It team will be sewing for 24 hours non-stop to raise money for the charity. If you want to get involved, sewing hubs around the country are hosting crafting workshops where you can learn new skills. On Monday 4th September, The Sew Over It team will host two sewing classes (10am to 2pm & 3pm to 7pm) – you can bring along any sewing project you like and the tutors will help you with the tricky bits. Tickets cost £50 and all donations will go to charity. There will also be classes in Brentwood, Birmingham, Dunfermline, Glasgow, Worthing and Diss.
32 Bocking Street, Hackney, E8 3FP
Visit TheBigSewOff.com
Rebecca Hope
MEET THE GIRLS:
JOIA Rooftop
JOIA Rooftop is a stylish new 74-cover open-air bar and terrace on the 16th floor of art’otel London Battersea Power Station. With panoramic views of London’s skyline, a selection of playful cocktails and an al fresco menu from acclaimed Portuguese chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, the space takes its inspiration from Lisbon’s vibrant rooftop culture. Guests can enjoy seasonal cocktails including the Aventurina, a gin-based cocktail with mint, cucumber and lime, and the Pimenta, made with tequila, agave and chilli. The food menu features a mixture of snacks, petiscos and tapas designed for sharing, with signature dishes such as octopus salad with red pepper, potato and smoked paprika, and tuna tartare with avocado and sea lettuce.
16th Floor, 1 Electric Boulevard, Nine Elms, SW11 8BJ
Visit JOIABattersea.co.uk
HEAR FROM AUTHORS:
Queen’s Park Book Festival
Queen’s Park Book Festival returns this weekend with over 20 events and talks. Visitors can listen to talks from authors, comedians, chefs, sports stars, historians and political correspondents at three sites across the neighbourhood. This year’s highlights include a talk on home cooking from Michel Roux Jr (2nd September at 2.30pm), Sebastian Faulks on his new book The Seventh Son (2nd September at 5.30pm), and a Q&A with Zadie Smith (2nd September at 5.30pm). Talks start from £5.
Various sites
TRY NEW DISHES:
Meatopia
Meatopia brings together the very best BBQ chefs for a full-on weekend of smoking, grilling and charring. From Thursday 31st August to Sunday 3rd September, more than 70 cooks will set London’s Tobacco Dock ablaze. There will be food, drink and music as the meat masters showcase both techniques and dishes using nothing but sustainable wood and charcoal, and responsibly sourced meat, fish and veg. Due to popular demand, an extra day has been added to this year’s event. Tickets cost £27.50.
Tobacco Dock, Wapping Lane, E1W 2SF
Visit Meatopia.co.uk
PLAN A FAMILY DAY OUT:
Pub In The Park Chiswick
Tom Kerridge’s annual food festival has its penultimate event this weekend at Chiswick House and Gardens. Guests can enjoy small plates from Tom’s two Michelin-starred pubs, The Hand & Flowers and The Coach, plus a selection of popular dishes from other great UK restaurants and Michelin-starred chefs. Tune into talks and watch demos from Andi Oliver, Si King from The Hairy Bikers, Atul Kochhar, McFly’s Danny Jones and Ben Tish. A great day out with the kids, expect live music from Hoosiers, Apollo Junction, La Roux and Squeeze to name a few. Tickets start from £45.
Burlington Lane, Chiswick, W4 2RP
Visit PubInTheParkUK.com
ENJOY LIVE MUSIC:
Jazz Nights at The Ned
We rate The Ned for a staycation in the capital, so we were pleased to hear the hotel has launched a new date night experience. On Fridays and Saturdays, diners can enjoy live jazz and cabaret with a three-course dinner in The Parlour, its swanky basement restaurant. Tuck into steak tartare or oysters before enjoying dishes from the grill like whole lobster with garlic butter. If you want to go all out, book an overnight stay which includes chocolates in your room on arrival and breakfast the next morning.
27 Poultry, City, EC2R 8AJ; from 6pm until late
Visit TheNed.com
SEE AN EXHIBITION:
The Nation’s Family Album at National Portrait Gallery
Last year, family history company Ancestry asked the British public to take candid family photographs that encapsulated four key themes: belonging, connection, legacy and identity. Now, the photos are on display at the National Portrait Gallery. Visitors can see the four winning shots, plus over 100 other submissions taken by a diverse range of families from around the country. Head to the free exhibition at the gallery’s newly refurbished Spotlight Space, where culture lovers and history buffs can delve into heart-warming stories.
St Martin's Place, West End, WC2H 0HE; until 7th September
Visit NPG.org.uk
FEEL ENERGISED:
Embassy Gardens Feel Good Festival
On Saturday 2nd September, Embassy Gardens in Nine Elms is hosting its Feel Good Festival with workshops and classes led by experts and wellbeing brands. Highlights include a dynamic mat Pilates class by Ten Health & Fitness (10am), a bodyweight and equipment fitness workout with UN1T Nine Elms (11am), a yoga and sound therapy session at Remedi London (2.30pm) and a talk from Lizzie Pickering on finding love after loss – whether that’s a marriage, job, or the life of a loved one (1.30pm). You can also take a dip in the hot and cold plunge baths, discover new books at the reading corner, and take the kids to instrument workshops. Tickets start from £5.
3 Viaduct Gardens, Nine Elms, SW11 7AY
Visit Eventbrite.co.uk
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