TikTok foodie and podcaster Seema Pankhania helms an IWD pizza pop-up at Vinegar Yard
(Picture: Handout)On March 8, the world will come together to celebrate International Women’s Day - and London is a hotbed of activity.
Led by trailblazing figures from the worlds of art, food, comedy and beyond, here’s our pick of the events, taking place both on IWD itself and throughout the rest of March.
Phlox Books pop-up
Aimée Madill, founder of east London indie bookshop Phlox Books, will host this month-long pop-up. Taking residence on Connaught Street, just north of Hyde Park, a selection of women-focussed books will be on sale, with a series of talks featuring female authors also planned. First up is Abi Daré, author of The Girl with the Louding Voice, who will be joined by poet Mona Arshi on March 8.
Throughout March, free, 12 Connaught Street, W2 2AF, connaught-village.co.uk
Figures of Change at Wembley Park
Eight new public artworks — created by female artists from around the world, and assembled by an all-women team — will appear in Wembley Park on March 8. Installations on the free art trail will range from digital artworks to photography and graphic design, with Sofia Cianciulli, Charley Peters, Laxmi Hussein and Lois O’Hara among those featured. The event is curated by artisticstatements.co.uk
March 8-June 26, free, Wembley Park, HA9, wembleypark.com
Women in Beer guided tasting at Real Drinks
If the world of beer can sometimes seem a blokey domain, then this event will prove otherwise. Hosted by Master Brewer Jenna Dunseath, and taking place at Real Drinks in Maida Vale — a craft beer and wine shop with an all-female management team — attendees will be enlightened on the history of women in beer, while drinking the creations of top female brewers. Tickets include a complimentary welcome drink, five tastings of various beer styles, and 10 per cent off the shop’s IWD range.
March 8, £20, 4 Formosa Street, W9 1EE, realdrinks.co.uk
Bad Girl Pizza Society at Vinegar Yard
TikTok foodie and podcaster Seema Pankhania has teamed up with Vinegar Yard residents Bad Boy Pizza Society to launch an IWD spin-off: Bad Girl Pizza Society. Running from March 8-12, the ‘za to go for will be the Mexican-inspired lamb birria creation (or the jackfruit version for veggies), the profits from which will be donated to women’s charity Refuge.
March 8-12, 72-82 St Thomas Street, SE1 3QX, vinegaryard.london
The Curl Talk Project at Granary Square
The lives of curly-haired women — and the ways in which wider society tries to straighten out those curls — will be the focus of this photography exhibition in King’s Cross. Showcasing more than 30 women from around the world, it is set to be, according to founder Johanna Yaovi, “a great way to show that whatever your circumstances, you deserve to be seen, heard and given a seat at the table”.
March 8-April 10, N1C 4AA, kingscross.co.uk
Ballie Ballerson
The gender pay gap in the UK last year sat just shy of 8 per cent — and Ballie Ballerson is doing its bit to redress the balance. The boozy ball pit in Shoreditch will be offering an 8 per cent discount on its tickets, cocktails, cloakroom and photo booth on International Women’s Day, and chucking in a free glass of prosecco to sweeten the deal. Female DJs will take care of the party-starting tunes on the night.
March 8, £4.56, 97-113 Curtain Road, EC2A 3BS, shoreditch.ballieballerson.com
The Black He(art) at Peckham Levels
Black femininity is in the spotlight at this month-long exhibition down at Peckham Levels. Bringing together photography, textile art, animation and more, the showcase will also look to “create a network for Black female artists who we’ve heard from experience have found it difficult to break into the industry,” says curator Anisa Morgan.
March 8-April 9, free, 95a Rye Lane, SE15 4ST, peckhamlevels.org
WOW London Festival
The festival celebrating women, girls and non-binary people returns to the Southbank Centre this weekend for a three-day stint. Packing in talks, performances, discussions, debates and more, it boasts the likes of Booker Prize-winning writer Bernadine Evaristo, Three Women author Lisa Taddeo and comedian Bridget Christie on the line-up.
Various prices, March 11-13, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX, thewowfoundation.com
Nopi’s IWD menu
Ottolenghi restaurant Nopi will be combining the powers of some of the group’s leading female chefs — Noor Murad, Elaine Goad, Saori Takomoton and Verena Lochmuller — to serve up a special seven-course menu celebrating IWD. Dishes range from blackened chicken thighs with caramel tangerine dressing to labneh lemon posset with meringue and burnt lemon, with a female-led wine list and signature cocktails also on offer. Can’t make it on the night? Three specials from the chefs will feature on the Nopi menu throughout the month.
