The summer of sport is well underway, and it’s been something of a mixed bag. While the football didn’t quite come home — let’s never speak of it again — Hamilton took the podium at Silverstone and while a Brit won at Wimbledon — Henry Patten in the men’s doubles — Murray, Raducanu and Norrie didn’t come close to a singles trophy.
While the summer results might be spotty, there’s life in London yet, with plenty of culture, music, entertainments and eating out to stay distracted with.
Tables from Mayfair to Fish Island, culture from Camden to Whitechapel and drinking from Greenwich to Soho: this is everything to do in London this weekend.
The hot table: Inis
Opening on the towpath canal in Fish Island, Inis is a collaborative café combining casual British and Irish fare. Brainchild of local duo Lynsey Coughlan and Lindsay Lewis (the former an ex-Ginger Pig butcher, the latter a graphic designer), Inis serves an accessible menu in a contemporary waterside space. Potted chicken with apricots on toast, roasted spring cabbage with celeriac and café de Paris butter, and an absurdly pleasing Guinness cake swimming in custard all feature on a menu that should come in at under £40-or-so for three generous courses.
13 Rookwood Way, Fish Island, E3 2XT, inisfishisland.com
The old favourite: Connaught Grill
Mayfair’s Connaught Hotel is a space dedicated to fine hospitality, but the outlets have often struck as more suited to the colder winter months. Now though is an ideal time to try the Grill though as it’s not heaving with thronging winter trade, and there’s more space to relax and enjoy the hospitality within. The menu is priced to the glitzy W1 postcode, but the lunch offering is a bit of a steal at £45 for three courses, or £55 if you add a glass of Champagne on arrival (which may well be the cheapest glass of Champagne going in London). Still, for those splashing out — and it is a lovely place to do so — the meat here is exceptionally good, ditto their fish (if the turbot’s on, absolutely make sure to order it). The only other choice to make is between starting with a martini in the bar or a drink here. Why not both?
16 Carlos Place, W1K 2AL, the-connaught.co.uk
The drinking den: Rasputin’s
The team behind Dom’s Subs has quietly opened a new bar on Mare Street. Rasputin’s is set to serve a small drinks list, featuring a five-olive martini and Guinness, alongside food of hot dogs and announced-but-as-yet-unseen chicken parms. Heading up the bar team will be Greg Boyce, the founder of Dom's Subs and Simon Bazeley, most recently of the Blue Posts in Soho. It looks like Mare Street might finally gets the unpretentious drinking den it deserves.
171 Mare Street, E8 3RH, @rasputinsbar
The art fix: Dominique White, Deadweight
Winner of the Max Mara art prize for women, Dominique White takes on the space at the Whitechapel Gallery this summer with her solo exhibition, Deadweight. The name references a nautical word which assesses a ship’s buoyancy, here inverted and exposed in the contradistinction to the savage history of slave ships. There is indeed a savage nature to these sculptures, which confront the viewer with a gripping and violent history.
Until September 15, 77-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX, whitechapelgallery.org
The circus-meets-party: Fuerza Bruta
Translating into “brute force”, the Argentinian dance troupe Fuerza Bruta continue their summer residency at Camden’s Roundhouse. Orbiting a hanging earth which looks redolent of a Luke Jerram installation, the part rave, part dance, part party undulates and dazzles in a celebration of music and indeed life itself.
Until September 1, The Roundhouse, NW1 8EH, roundhouse.org.uk
The summer festival: Soho Village Fete
This Sunday, go to Soho. The village fete is back for its 49th annual summer party, which features all the peculiarities one would expect from a Soho day out. Snail racing, the “dog who looks most like their owner” show, the human fruit machine, morris dancing and the famous Waiter’s Race are all set to take place during the day. Post up in St Anne’s Gardens or visit London’s best gastropub, the French House and enjoy.
July 21, St Anne’s Court and across Soho, W1F 0BW, thesohosociety.org.uk
The (other) summer festival: Rhythm & taste, a jazz and food festival
This weekend sees the rhythm and taste jazz and food festival return to Greenwich with flavours of New Orleans stretching from the plate to the stage. Across the festival will be live music, wine tastings, a pop-up vinyl market, a drumming workshop and an “in-conversation” event between DJ and musician Tina Edwards and musician and author Andre Marmot. In Bureau, the restaurant within the Greenwich design district, is set to serve New Orleans-inspired dishes from sweetcorn fritters to jambalaya hot dogs. One not to miss.
July 20, 13 Soames Walk, SE10 0AX, greenwichpeninsula.co.uk
The theatre fix: Skeleton Crew at the Donmar Warehouse
Set in a working class Detroit car factory, Skeleton Crew charts the fortunes of four employees attempting to navigate their own career progression and fulfilment against a sea of local and national decline, a failing production industry, within the city this industry once supported. Dominique Morriseau’s play explores this with a playful ease, with the Standard’s theatre critic calling it “a vivid slice of American life addressing a situation in which millions find themselves worldwide”.
Until August 24, Donmar Warehouse, 41 Earlham Street, WC2H 9LX, donmarwarehouse.com
The ticket to book now (for later): The Sea The Sea Untapped Closing Party
The Untapped series at The Sea The Sea saw a roster of London’s burgeoning cooking talents pop-up at the Hackney counter space. From Rahel Stephanie to Naz Hassan, the line-up has been undeniable, but that series is soon to come to an end with something of a homecoming. Ezra Dobbie, head chef at The Sea The Sea Chelsea, is due to return to Hackney, showcasing his signature style, developed under the tutelage of Leandro Carreira. The last of the chefs table series, the last of the Untapped counter events is not one to skip.
