If you’ve recently said to yourself ‘there’s nothing to do this weekend’, prepared to be stunned to silence this week because boy have we got a packed round-up to keep you busy.
There are whispers of winter, plus we’ve been treated to more rainy days. But that’s okay when you’ve got spooky Halloween fun creeping up, and the return of pumpkin spiced lattes to keep you cosy.
This week, have a read of our best winter warmers. Get yourself some ramen, hot chocolate or pasta and prepare to feel warmer and cosier than you’ve ever felt before.
Elsewhere, Theatre Peckham still has a whole host of cool events on to celebrate Black History Month. Check out what they have in store across the month of October.
Plus, find out where to see a giant coffee mural and how you can go to a house party courtesy of Captain Morgan x Pepsi Max.
Read on for a whole range of recommendations for October 19 and 20, handpicked as always by The Slice.
Don’t miss
London’s best winter warmers
Bone Daddies x Tajin. Best for: bringing the heat. Ramen from £12.50. Walk-in only.
Bone Daddies has cemented itself as one of the go-to restaurants to get ramen, and with innovative and unique bowls, it’s not hard to understand why. Their new Pastor Ramen bowl really goes big on the Mexican ingredients we all know: made with homemade pork broth, al pastor pork, crispy nachos, pineapple pico, charred elotes, tajin seasoning and more… all in one bowl. A winter warmer must.
Knoops. Best for: when you want a delicious handwarmer. Pumpkin spice mix, £4.95.
Knoops has fast become the de facto place to get that heavenly drink. And October means their special pumpkin spice hot chocolate is back on the menu – an aromatic mix of quintessential autumnal flavours including cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Pick your preferred percentage of chocolate (ours is 65%, fruity and rich with a hint of coffee) and drink up. It’s not hard to see why it’s the best in the business.
N5 Kitchen x Northern Pasta Co. Best for: a hearty lunch. Bowls from £10.50.
A big bowl of pasta has to be the ultimate comfort food at this time of year. N5 Kitchen, Finsbury Park’s all-female deli has teamed up with Northern Pasta Co. to create pasta lunch boxes every Friday. To kick it all off, the first 75 pasta lovers through the door on Friday 18 October will get a complimentary bag of rigatoni with every lunch bowl. Seasonal boxes vary each week, with highlights including chicken Milanese and courgette & ricotta fritters.
2. See art and coffee combine in a new gigantic mural
Calling all coffee buffs: A new gigantic mural is now up on East London’s Hanbury street, inspired by the iconic Nighthawks painting by Edward Hopper. Created by London-based street artist Itaewon in collaboration with Alpro, the mural reimagines coffee culture through the lens of modern coffee lovers. Plus, you can bag yourself a free full size Alpro Barista pack in any Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons or Waitrose just by scanning the mural’s QR code.
3. Transport yourself to Barcelona at The Campaner
By Jeremy Ullmann
The Campaner’s dining hall is deceptively huge, with giant paradise plants that stretch well above human height, while enormous Basque cheesecakes sit patiently on the glass counter. It’s an impressive space that feels ill-suited to Catalan food – which is known to be wholesome but not exactly chic. The Campaner certainly is wholesome, with an astonishingly well-priced £35 lunch menu, but what caught me by surprise was just how tasty they have made even the simplest of traditional dishes. Grilled asparagus is made rich and luxurious by nutty, tomato-based romesco sauce, while the papada iberico (translucent slices of pork cut from the fatty part of a pig’s neck) adds a smokey dimension to an already fantastic dish. A generously-sized plate of Iberian pork rice with bravas sauce is the showstopper, finished off with a char-grilled top that is as impressive to look at as it is tasty. Chelsea rarely does food this good at this price. I’m not even convinced it tastes this good in Barcelona.
Fixed lunch menu from £35. Chelsea Barracks, 1 Garrison Sq. Book here.
4. Live music for only £2? Yes please!
A £2 concert might sound too good to be true but don’t worry, we don’t do fake news round here – and it’s very much true. The hour-long concerts by Sinfonia Smith Square give you the chance to enjoy classical music at an affordable price. At Rush Hour #1: Anthems you can expect famous classical melodies, with a programme featuring Jesse Montgomery and Beethoven.
5. Decadent Turkish food at Leydi
By Lola Christina Alao
This all-day Turkish restaurant in Hyde London City hotel might be modern, but you won’t find teeny tiny plates here. Instead, expect beautiful dishes with complex flavours that will leave you happy and satisfied. Even the humble crisp gets a glow up, generously coated in sumac and baharat spices with an accompanying yoghurt dip. The dolma (vine leaves stuffed with tomato rice) are packed with flavour while the seasonal tomato salad is deliciously fresh. And the kunefe dessert, a syrupy cheese pastry which my friend tells me is a breakfast favourite in her dad’s home country of Lebanon, is sweet and decadent in the best way. For delicious Turkish food and an equally lovely atmosphere, it’s worth paying Leydi a visit.
Meze from £6. Hyde London, 15 Old Bailey, Holborn. Book here.
5. Wicked Wines for spooky season at La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels
By Rob Buckhaven
How did I not know Neal’s Yard was an actual place and not just a brand of cheese? No one answer that, please. Particularly when it’s a courtyard housing La Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, a wine bar that’s recently blown my mind, which I lovingly shorten to ‘CVS’ now I’m in the know. It’s owned by the Experimental Group, who also do Experimental Cocktail Club and STEREO. CVS may have been going for 10 years, but it’s got itself a new Head Chef. For one night only, it will be celebrating Halloween with ‘Wicked Wines’, turning out 4 orange wines paired to seasonal small plates by the Head Chef himself, Ranieri Raimondi. Think black ink squid Taglioni, spider crab with breadcrumbs or pork neck steak, squash and clam emulsion matched to an orange Pinot Gris from the Loire. Even if you’re not doing the Halloween promotion, they have an impressive tome of a wine list, but it’s way easier to go by the glass and ask the staff to choose. We did and they nailed it. There’s also a mystery glass of wine you can order, which if you guess correctly, you’re gifted a bottle. Spoiler alert, it’s basically impossible (aka I didn’t get it right)…
Wine from £11, plates from £15. 31 October, 8-10 Neal’s Yard, Covent Garden. Book here.
6. Experience an indoor high street from the future
A free immersive augmented reality ‘high-street’ will land on Brick Lane this weekend, featuring free fashion, beauty and fitness experiences. The Ely’s Yard building in Brick Lane will be revamped into an indoor ‘high-street’, imagining what the high street might look like in the future.
From yoga classes to free coffee from the Ghost Cafe – and a chance to try out new makeup looks using AR at the Snapchat x Boots vanity mirrors. No need to book tickets, just turn up!
7. Captain Morgan x Pepsi Max Mixer
We love a mixer, and this one’s taking things seriously. The Captain Morgan & Pepsi Max mixer (23-24 October) is taking over cool Shoreditch venue Kachette for an immersive pop-up experience.
By day, pop into their convenience store, with CCTV screens dotted around so that you can snap candid moments with your friends. By night, a house party awaits, where you can put your feet up on the sofa and snap a selfie before moving onto the kitchen where DJs will hit the decks (or the kitchen table).
To apply for guest list spots, sign up here.
8. Try the maeun saeu at Miga
By Martina Andretta
When was the last time you ordered a dish at a restaurant… Twice? And not because you and your date wanted the same starter – but because you just had to have more. That’s exactly what happened during my visit to Miga, in Hackney, when I tried their succulent japchae (glass noodles), and seriously considered a third serving.
This family-run Korean restaurant is understated and earnest (you’ll love it if open kitchens are your thing), and lets the food and service do the talking. The mood is welcoming and casual (‘You were here last month before your trip to Korea, weren’t you? How was it?’). I wholeheartedly recommend the maeun saeu (king prawns with gochujang sauce), but remember to bring your own booze if you’re going all out. If it’s not at the top of your list of new places to try, it should be. And good luck getting a spot.
£35-50pp. 1 Mare St, Hackney. Book here.
9. Immerse yourself innovative storytelling
BFI’s annual London Film Festival For Free programme sees more than sixty different events taking place between 10-27 October. It’s the perfect opportunity to experience new films, series and innovative storytelling.
From live music events, to talks, workshops and even a VR experience (where you can watch transhuman species have a dance). Though free tickets have sold out, you can still get tickets for as low as £10 (or £5 with a free BFI 25 & Under account).
Plus more tickets are being released at 10am every Friday from 20 September to 18 October. Tickets here.
10. Herne Hill music festival
Non-profit Herne Hill Music Festival brings together a huge mix of live music this month. You can expect traditional music from America’s Deep South, plus neo-soul, jazz, alternative folk and more. Tickets here.
11. Reclaiming Narratives for Black History Month at Theatre Peckham
Theatre Peckham’s Young, Gifted & Black season is back – and in alignment with this year’s Black History Month theme, ‘Reclaiming Narratives’, they have a series of untold stories for us to look forward to.
It kicks off this week with Hard to Let, a legacy film produced by Theatre Peckham in the early ’90s. But a whole host of different shows will play later in the month, from spoken word, Black Panthers Edition to Cleopatra’s Antony.
Until 2 November, check website for listings. Theatre Peckham, 221 Havil St. Tickets here.
12. Try Parker’s viral ‘Matilda Cake’
There’s been a lot of hype around Parker’s, the new restaurant imported from Dubai to Knightsbridge’s glitzy Jumeirah Lowndes hotel. It all looks fabulous and fun, but the offering is very much an Instagram-friendly novelty. If that’s your vibe, go all out and order Mac & Cheetos (but eat it quickly or the crisps go soggy), the Steak Sando (it’s what everyone’s eating here), then round the meal off with the restaurant’s viral Matilda Cake.
The waiter gives you time to whip your camera out before they slowly remove the metal collar from around the chocolate sponge. As they do, glossy sauce spills down the sides and all over the plate. It’s food porn at its finest. But does it taste as good as it looks?
It’s definitely the standout item on the menu and it’s perfectly nice, but it’s got nothing on the epic Bertha cake we tried recently. If you’re looking to have your Bruce Bogtrotter moment, I’d recommend heading to Fortnum & Mason to grab a slice of that while you still can,
Matilda’s Cake is £24. 21 Lowndes St, Belgravia. Book here.
13. See a new Infinity Mirror Room at Every Day I Pray for Love
Yayoi Kusama’s long-awaited London exhibition, Every Day I Pray for Love, is finally here. It’s a rare chance to experience a new Infinity Mirror Room, Beauty Described by a Spherical Heart and introduces works from the artist’s latest series of paintings and sculptures installed across the Victoria Miro gallery and waterside garden.
Best places to eat
14. Lahpet Larder
By Sophie Laughton
The area around Bermondsey Street was once called the ‘larder of London’, which makes sense for historical reasons (there were a lot of food warehouses here) and for modern ones (it’s home to a solid half mile of top-notch restaurants). One of the newest arrivals is Lahpet Larder, the third opening of Burmese chain, and it fits right in. Although still finding its feet, it’s cosy and unfussy, with shelves at the front selling authentic house-made and Myanmar imports for you to enjoy at home.
Steaming bowls of braised aubergine and intense, warming King Prawn Curry are brought to your table as they’re ready, but wait for a side of fresh, tangy ginger or lahpet (tea leaf) salad before you tuck in – you’ll need it to liven up all the sweet, sticky spice. It’s worth a visit as a solid intro to Burmese food – and for the frankly addictive bowl of milk tea foam that comes with the sugar-dusted paratha dessert. They should sell that at the door, seriously.
Large plates from £10. 39-45 Bermondsey St. Book here.
15. Trejo’s Tacos
By Courtney Pochin
Can you picture Danny Trejo? You know, everyone’s favourite movie mercenary… No? Well, don’t worry, you’ll never forget his face after a visit to Trejo’s Tacos in Notting Hill, because a giant mural of the actor is plastered along the wall (and if you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of the star in real life).
His restaurant, which also has a site in LA, has a tasty menu, some interesting decor choices, and very friendly staff. Start with chips and cheesy bean dip, then follow up with classic carnitas or (the most popular) beer battered cod tacos. Don’t forget to order the churros for dessert (the Mexican chocolate dipping sauce is worth all the calories).
For an authentic drinks pairing, opt for a glass of the house horchata, a sweet rice beverage made with almond milk. This won’t be the cheapest meal of your life, but it’ll be good fun and you might even see someone famous.
£6-7 per taco. 299-301, Portobello Rd, Notting Hill. Book here.
16. The Thin White Duke
By Juliet Walsh
Sprinkling a little (Ziggy) Stardust over Soho is The Thin White Duke, a David Bowie-themed bar known for its creative cocktails and tasty dim sum. If you’re looking for something sweet and floral, ‘China Girl’ is the one to give you that ‘Soul Love’. The Shanghai Pan Fried Chicken Dumpling and prawn toast were the standouts, I was really impressed by how much filling was packed in the Pan Fried Dumplings which were bursting with flavour and had the perfect amount of crisp.
The prawn toast is refined, flavorful version — not your typical chippy offering, but an elevated dish with perfectly balanced seasonings. And if that doesn’t all sound cool enough, it also houses a hidden gem — a speakeasy recording studio! With its blend of great food and world-class studios, The Thin White Duke’s homage to music history, is keeping the heart of London’s rock scene beating.
Dim sum from £3.50. 22b Great Windmill Street, Soho. Book here.
17. Reminisce the summer at seasonal bistro July
By Jeremy Ullmann
Situated on Fitzrovia’s gastronomic strip of world-class restaurants that is Charlotte Street, July is a modestly small, quaint French restaurant which is inspired by flavours of the culture-blending Alsace region in eastern France on the border to Germany. Don’t expect any gimmicks or images of women in traditional Kutt costumes, all the Alsatian markers are in the flavours, the service and the wine.
Simplicity is key here: deviled eggs covered by a smooth tarragon mayo is a delicate starter that balances out the sharp sauerkraut – a staple of Alsatian cuisine – while the green bean salad with basil and peaches is balanced by a light vinaigrette. If there is any critique here, it’s that no matter how confident July is about where it’s from, it isn’t overly clear what it thinks it is, as it could just as easily be a wine bar with excellent food.
Because of this, it might slip out of mind when giving someone a list of London recommendations, but it deserves visiting and trying the exciting chef Holly Hayes’s food – there’s a name to watch out for.
Large plates from £22. 10 Charlotte St, Fitzrovia. Book here.
18. Eat at the elegant Chinese Cricket Club
By Lola Christina Alao
We’ve become accustomed to restaurants that fuse together different cuisines to make obscure combinations. But, Chinese Cricket Club tucked away at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Blackfriars, is classic in a refreshing way.
The sleekly-designed gem features familiar Chinese favourites on its menu – deliciously crispy smoked peking duck with pancakes, pillowy salt and pepper squid, and good old fried rice – but the beef fillet main was on the saltier side and missing that dimension. Looking for the big hitter? The Mandarin Fortune, with its light spongy base and subtle white chocolate mousse, could knock even the most cynical dessert doubters for six.
Mains from £13.50. 19 New Bridge St. Hyatt Regency, London Blackfriars. Book here.
19. Leo’s
By Jeremy Ullmann
Behind a quirky 1960s caff entrance, Leo’s dining room echoes a traditional Italian bistro: pristine white table cloths, decorative wine bottles lining the walls, hanging pots and pans. Except it’s a bit more modern — it’s lit with enormous skylights, and you can watch the chefs preparing head chef Giuseppe ‘Peppe’ Belvedere’s distinctive Sardinian menu.
Remember — this is island food, so don’t expect a pizza or a bolognese here. Instead, try the bottarga (a surprisingly subtle powdered fish roe) and lemon pasta, it’s superb. The duck heart, fig and walnut salad is another excellent dish, full with wild contrasting flavours tied together with mosto cotto — a sweet and tangy vinegar.
With expert cooking and a lovely atmosphere, Leo’s is the kind of Italian restaurant that should attract more attention. That it’s inspired by Sardinia and not the mainland — or that it’s not a cheap dinner out — might be why, but for now it’s a delightful secret and worth every second of the trek to Clapton.
Mains from £19. 59 Chatsworth Rd, Clapton. Book here.
20. Stroll down Eccleston Yards into Cornus
By Rob Buckhaven
People usually talk about a new opening ‘finding its feet’. Not Cornus. It’s located all of its limbs and is cracking on with being a smart, effortlessly dynamic and exciting hotspot serving innovative and tasty dishes alongside a jackpot wine list. I couldn’t have been more impressed by the place, and it only opened in August.
Founded by the two chaps behind Chelsea’s game-changing Medlar restaurant, Cornus is set in upmarket Eccleston Yards. It’s swish (we’re talking dedicated lift and crisp, white cloth-covered tables swish), but the atmosphere is unexpectedly relaxed.
We were tasting their three-course set menu, which aside from being decent value for money, is compact, complex and flavoursome. I don’t usually write about amuse bouches, but this posh puff was simultaneously logic-defyingly light, airy, decadently molten cheesy and crunchy. Then came the freshest Cornish mackerel nicoise and Landes chicken with roasted chicken fat and thyme brioche for starters, followed by lightly roasted leg of rabbit with girolles and grain mustard sauce for main.
Though the starters outperformed the mains, none would have sung as sweetly without accompanying wines from super-accomplished Head Sommelier, Melania Battison. Her wine list is refreshing in its inclusion of lesser-known producers and has some belters around the £8-9/glass mark. Next time I’m trying their signature Cornish lobster and caviar dish with a glass of Greek Assyrtiko, who’s with me?
Set lunch menu £55. 27c Eccleston Pl, Belgravia. Book here.
21. Try a local gem at Highroad Social
By Sophie Laughton
Located moments from Greenwich Market, this recently opened neighbourhood bistro is clearly already on the highroad to success. Seasonal British food can be a boring concept to sell, but their interpretation is anything but: they take a very good classic and make it delightful.
A hunk of warm locally-made sourdough is transformed with tangy Bloody Mary butter; piquant crackling and port reduction turns a battered sausage into the most highbrow corn dog you could imagine; and a sweet shallot tarte tatin is complemented by creamy ricotta. From the cocktails to the cured seabream from their Raw Bar, it’s all fresh, delicate, and utterly beautiful. Aren’t the people of Greenwich lucky?
Small plates from £9. 178 Greenwich High Road, Greenwich. Book here.
22. Get your five a day in style at Holy Carrot
By Sama Ansari Pour
Before we even get started on the food, we have to talk about the decor. Cosy, intimate and stylish. Perfect for a first date or really good Instagram pics – take your pick. Now, onto the main event: the menu is seasonal and shifts depending on what’s fresh, so you know that thought and care has been put into the dishes you’re about to eat. Take my word for it and order the stracciatella, peach, hazelnut, pumpkin seed salsa matcha.
The combo sounds strange, but works so well. The juicy peach bursts in your mouth, whilst the creamy stracciatella (complemented with a hint of spicy salsa) takes you on a culinary journey you didn’t know you needed. You won’t miss meat if you order the oyster mushroom al pastor.
It tastes just the same, or dare I say better? Top it off with a matcha ‘tiramisu’ (I would eat five of them in a row) and that’s your perfect dinner curated. I might have to go vegan now.
Small plates from £8. 156 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill. Book here.
23. Get into the silly Mrs Doubtfire mood at Colonel Saab
Dinner and a show is a long celebrated tradition of theatre goers, but Colonel Saab’s collaboration Mrs Doubtfire takes it to another level. The Indian restaurant has devised a dining adventure that celebrates the 90s film in all its chaotic glory, without compromising on taste. Start with a Chachi 420 (which is named after the Bollywood remake of Mrs Doubtfire), a gin-based cocktail that morphs from blue to purple just like the movie’s shapeshifting protagonist.
Each dish is named after a catchphrase or scene – ‘Hellooo’ Gutti vankaya and ‘Poppet’s’ panner pakeezah – and all are served by enthusiastic waiters wearing grey haired wigs and aprons with burn marks. The Jumping Jehosafatsi Jalpurl aloo potatoes are crisped to perfection with a gentle spice kick, and the Layered in Love mishti dol cheesecake finale was as light as Mrs Doubtfire’s spirit.
Colonel Saab is the perfect place to get in a silly mood to the hilarious West End show (the location is ideal too – you’ll only need to walk couple of minutes to arrive at Shaftesbury Theatre).
Mrs Doubtfire Experience Menu is £60pp for five courses including colour changing cocktail. Mrs Doubtfire Set Lunch Menu is £35pp for two courses. 193-197 High Holborn, Holborn. Book here.
24. Expect pizza with all sorts of spooky twists at Lost Souls Pizza
Now we’re in September, spooky season is officially brewing. We’re starting off my sinking our fangs into Lost Souls Pizza a vampire-themed pizzeria just a short walk from Camden Town station.
Known for their black pizza, killer cocktails, and electrifying playlists, this quirky joint has an atmosphere straight out of a slasher movie: think skull lampshades and murals of The Crow. We tried ‘Ready Pizza One’ with veggie sausage, red chili, and spicy green pineapple relish in a pentagram (the spicy pineapple sauce was to die for—we’d buy it by the jar!). They’re getting into Halloween spirit early with a house party on Friday 13th (obviously). We might end up haunting this place for eternity…
House party tickets £13. 245 Eversholt St, Camden. Book here.
Where to go for a drink
25. Try the Hippodrome’s newest bar Archive & Myth
By Jeremy Ullmann
Like so much at the Hippodrome, Archive and Myth – the Casino’s newest bar – is quite theatrical. A password (in the form of a series of images you press) opens the door, revealing a staircase leading down below the casino. There is little subtly to the design of the bar, with an exposed brick wall on one side, ceiling-to-floor red drapes on another, with fabric sofas dotted around on top of a patterned carpet. The cocktail menu is creative, using an interesting variety of ingredients you’ll find yourself needing to Google. ‘Daisy’ was our pick – a refreshing melange of tequila, guava, and black cardamom topped with a sweet coconut foam.
Cocktails from £11 (half size). The Hippodrome Casino, Leicester Square. Book here.
26. May Fair Bar
If you’re feeling bougie but don’t fancy fiddly fine dining, head to the newly reopened May Fair Bar. When I say newly, I mean their doors only opened from a full refurbishment on Thursday last week and I was one of the first in. Design-wise, it’s all earthy mushroom tones and creamy neutrals, with smooth stone surfaces and comfort at its core.
Speaking of mushroom and cream, the food and drink offering is divided into ‘by day’ and ‘by night’, and within that into ‘brunch’, ‘lunch’ and ‘night bites’. Brunch is on until 3pm, with food and drink options following a theme, called ‘The Travel Edition’, delivering dishes from a Malabar King Prawn Curry to a stunningly buttery Rigatoni al Funghi. If you’re there ‘by night’, aka from 4pm, it’s suddenly a sexy cocktail bar, serving innovative cocktails like ‘The Olive’, a dry Martini made with mastiha in lieu of vermouth and an exploding molecular olive.
Chase with some night nibbles, such as their insane lobster brioche or flavour-packed Iranian keema doughnuts with minced lamb and crispy masala potatoes. It’s one of those places you’ll go to for brunch, stay for lunch and leave at sundown… or later.
The May Fair Bar, The May Fair Hotel, Stratton St (enter via Berkeley Street). Book here.
27. Raise a glass at Good Measure, beneath Tooting’s Daddy Bao
New basement bar Good Measure is hidden in the basement of Tooting’s neighbourhood restaurant Daddy Bao. It’s all very intimate — you’re seated around one big rectangular table in the centre of the small, softly-lit space.
Expect a selection of drinks that use ingredients and flavours inspired by Taiwan’s vibrant culinary scene (our fave is the plum green delicately made with sake, whisky and green tea). And the bar snacks? They’re not just your typical fare, we’re talking succulent beef tataki, tuna tartare on nori rice crackers, and spicy furikake crisps. The old skool hip hop and low fi playlist are a great addition too. Experience Good Measure on Friday and Saturday nights.
Bar snacks from £3. Cocktails from £11. Downstairs at Daddy Bao. 113 Mitcham Road. Tooting. Walk-in only.
What’s on
28. Try your hand at Jury Duty and interrogate a defendant
By Martina Andretta
If you are the kind of person who loves a good mystery, Jury Duty is for you. Part immersive play, part puzzle, during this interactive experience you will become a juror on a criminal case. As part of a group, you will have 90 minutes to examine all available evidence and interrogate the defendant, Harry Briggs, played by a terrific live actor who will be available via video link. Fast-paced and full of twists, the case won’t be as simple as it first seemed. Jury Duty overdelivers – it’s brilliantly moderated by a representative of the ‘Ministry of Justice’ (who we drove to exhaustion to the point she had to ‘text her mum’. Sorry Imogen). It’s a great choice for a team-building event, an alternative night out with friends or a fun date. After breaking the ice, you’ll find yourself grilling Mr Briggs as if you did it for a living, and you’ll be sad you won’t be able to experience Jury Duty for the first time again. Unmissable.
Tickets start at £42.50. Theatre Deli, 107 Leadenhall St. Book here.
29. Buyer & Cellar
By Sophie Laughton
A play about Barbra Streisand’s basement should be a hard sell, until you find out the Hollywood icon is hiding a miniature shopping emporium down there, complete with a doll shop, costume store and frozen yoghurt parlour. TV writer Ryan Murphy said he could write a whole book the night he spent down there with Lady Gaga, but playwright Jonathan Tolins beat him to it, writing a quirky one-person show about an out-of-work actor (My Son’s A Queer star Rob Madge) who gets a job manning the mall.
It’s hard work to keep an audience entertained alone for 100 minutes (especially with no interval and an almost entirely blank set), but Madge keeps them entranced with hilariously coy glances and breakneck character changes.
Several nicher jokes would probably land a lot better in NYC than they do in London, but a read of Barbra’s wiki page on the Tube up to Angel should jog your Memory if you’re not a devoted Streis-stan…
Tickets from £10. Until October 19. King’s Head Theatre, Islington. Book here.
30. Enter the Bat Cave at Batman Unmasked
By Sophie Laughton
The Bat is back. At least, all his cloaks, gizmos and gadgets are. In honour of the caped crusader’s 85th birthday, a new exhibition has landed in London’s Covent Garden that will delight Batfans from every generation. Beginning in Wayne Manor, journey through a brilliant series of themed rooms, each packed with a huge selection of original props, costumes and memorabilia from all the major movie adaptations.
Highlights include Uma Therman’s dazzling Poison Ivy costume, Heath Ledger’s legendary nurse outfit and clown mask as the Joker, the Batmobile from 2022’s gritty The Batman (parked fittingly in a smoke filled garage), and a tiny cowl from The LEGO Batman Movie. Not a film buff? Get the full Gotham experience walking through eerie immersive rooms or hit up the interactive gaming room to race a Scalextric Batmobile or rescue your pals from a burning building. But you best be quick – the Batman won’t be staying for long…
Tickets £21. Until 3 November. 45 Wellington St, Covent Garden. Book here.
31. Watch a theatre show all about being single with Why Am I So Single? at the Garrick Theatre
By Lola Christina Alao
Why Am I So Single is a silly, fun exploration of a heartwarming friendship between two (very single) best friends. The show delves into the nuances of modern life through big songs, like ‘Meet Market’ about the mostly weird and not very often wonderful world of tinder and hinge, where they poke fun at all the generic prompts by men — like ‘I like good coffee and good company’ and “south London born and bred’.
It makes its target audience very clear with references that you’d only understand if you’re a zillennial (people born three years before the end of the millennial generation or three years into Gen Z) – ‘who even uses Facebook anymore? It’s all about vine!’. Through all the humour though, they give an incredibly vulnerable performance that explores themes of grief, trauma, class and belonging.
Tickets from £20. Until Thursday 13 February 2025, Garrick Theatre, Charing Cross Road. Book here.
32. Enjoy a magical Harry Potter Afternoon Tea
Now it’s September, we’ve gone back to Hogwarts to experience a truly spell-binding afternoon tea. Surrounded by floating candles in the Great Hall at Warner Bros Studio, devour Molly Weasley’s sandwiches, butterbeer scones, and even a chocolate frog macaron.
The Hogwarts pie, a beef brisket with flaky pastry, was like a mini Great Feast, but the sweets are the true stars — white chocolate and raspberry Golden Snitches, and a pumpkin loaf cake from Hagrid’s patch that was too cute to handle. The butterbeer scones are expecto patronYUM, with pockets of fudge and heavenly cream that would give Honeydukes a run for their money. Lupin’s chocolate macaron was the real chosen one, rich and perfectly crispy.
Maybe Professor Lupin was onto something with his chocolate obsession… My only wish? Some themed cutlery and plates to match the magical vibe like a grim tea cup, Umbridge’s kitschy collection, or something from the Black Manor vaults…
From £39.75pp, must be booked with a Studio Tour Ticket. Warner Bros Studio, Leavesden. Book here.
It’s getting spookier… Warner Bros Studio Tour London has launched its Dark Arts feature to celebrate the run up to Halloween. Find out more here.
33. Try your luck at Hijingo Bingo
Forget what you thought about bingo – old ladies in a village hall this is most definitely not. Shoreditch’s futuristic Hijingo Bingo is now on Generation 2.0, which means even more neon lights, pumping dance music, and faintly unnerving Squid Games energy.
The new version is hosted by AVA, a smooth-voiced and slightly threatening AI bot, with two faceless ‘Hijingobots’ as her grooving assistants, who’ll guide you through two hours and six games of fast-paced bingo action. And if you win? Be brave and get up on stage – it’s time to show off your best dance moves for a chance to score anything from a robot vacuum to a holiday.
Don’t worry if you think your number crunching skills aren’t up to scratch (which they very well may not be after a couple of ‘Blade-Rummer’ cocktails), all called numbers are shown on the board, while masked helpers will double check your card to make sure you’ve not missed anything (or that you’re not staying quiet to avoid going onstage). It’s very fast, very fun, and completely bonkers.
Tickets from £12 and food and beverage packages from £29. Book here.
34. See London through Monet’s eyes at this new Somerset House exhibition
The Courtauld Gallery at Somerset House has a new exhibition, Monet and London: Views of the Thames. See dreamy paintings of Charing Cross Bridge, Waterloo Bridge and the House of Parliament, which went on display in Paris in 1904 but have never been shown in London… until now.
Tickets from £16 including gallery entry, find out more here.
35. Go full steam ahead into Starlight Express’ all new production
By Jeremy Ullmann
Skating its way back to London for the first time since 2002, Wembley’s Troubadour Theatre has been transformed to platform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express – the utterly bizarre and iconic musical about a series of trains (performed by actors on roller skates). This new production of the show is, as it has always been, a spectacular achievement.
The dazzling new Troubadour set, the lighting and video effects, the so-camp hair and costumes (which look like a techno merger of Abba’s Super Troopers and C3PO) and the music with melodies that stick with you across literal decades are on full and confident display here. Though the plot struggles (as it always has) to give the story some weighted gravitas, it is easily forgotten when the melody of ‘Whistle at Me’ plays and you find yourself unironically believing in train love. For all the technical spectacle, this is, and has always been, an exhilarating (if barmy) sensation of a show.
Tickets from £29.50. Until 8 June 2025 at Troubadour Theatre, Wembley. Book here.
Read Jeremy’s full review here.
Slice’s Tip
To round off a spectacular night, grab dinner at the Troubadour Theatre’s very own restaurant, Studio 5. The menu features a tasty selection of well-priced dishes and boasts some hilariously-named cocktails such as ‘Express-O-Martini’.
36. Sing like you’ve never sung before at BAM Karaoke
Who doesn’t love a bit of karaoke? The Slice certainly does. Last month the team visited BAM, the latest addition to London’s singalong scene. Standing for Boite a Musique (aka Music Box), BAM has taken a detour from Japan via Paris, resulting in a party bar that’s a little bit Moulin Rouge, a little bit Simmons, and a whole lot of X Factor.
You don’t even have to put down your mic to order your next drink, as you can summon cocktails – Kate Bush fans should try the Bambooshka – shots, bottles of bubbly and classic party snacks straight to your room with a touch of a button. All of that just a warm-up? On Thursdays, head straight to the main stage for open mic night or chill out with Bandeoke’s singalong acoustic session on Friday night.
Private karaoke rooms from £8.50 pp/per hr. 74 Victoria St, Victoria. Book here.
See you next week!
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