Wine and dine: Bottle and Rye, a bistro and wine bar, is newly opened in Brixton
(Picture: Handout)With the heatwave done and dusted (for now at least), we can all re-emerge from our well-fanned rooms and head out to explore London once again.
This weekend is shaping up to be a cracker too, with a new Brixton restaurant and wine bar standing out as a foodie must-do, and a Hollywood actor-approved west London pub ready to welcome you in.
Elsewhere, there’s Persian club night in Shoreditch, a multi-venue performing arts festival and a fasincating exhibition in Hampstead.
Here’s all you need to know.
The restaurant: Bottle & Rye
Chef Robin Gill and wife Sarah — owners of London restaurants Bermondsey Larder, Sorella, Darby’s and Rye by The Water — have expanded their empire into Brixton with the newly opened Bottle & Rye. A Paris-inspired bistro and wine bar, dishes will range from Vichyssoise oyster tartare to smoked eel brandade with pink fir crisps and Provençal herbs, while the drinks will come from an ever-evolving European wine list.
Ground Floor, 404-406 Market Row, Brixton Village, SW9 8LD, bottleandrye.com
The bar: The Pelican
The Pelican isn’t a new pub — the boozer has maintained its spot on All Saints Road in Notting Hill since 1872 — but it has recently been given a major facelift under new ownership. These days, it does a great bit of food (as our critic Jimi Famurewa found out last month) and has proven a hit with the celebs (Margot Robbie has been spotted there). Whether it’s for food, a pint or a bit of A-lister spotting, there’s ample reason to stop by.
45 All Saints Road, W11 1HE, thepelicanw11.com
The exhibition: Lucian Freud - The Painter and His Family
Even though the place is named after his grandfather Sigmund, the Freud Museum had never previously staged an exhibition of Lucian Freud’s work. That has now changed, with a new exploration of the artist’s work to mark 100 years since his birth, bringing together paintings, drawings, books, letters and photographs.
£14, until January 29, 2023, 20 Maresfield Gardens, NW3 5SX, freud.org.uk
The event: Underbelly Festival
This eclectic festival, which is split across two sites, is well underway — and there’s plenty to see and do this weekend. In Earls Court, there’s a free outdoor cinema kicking off with a triple-bill of Sing 2, Sonic The Hedgehog and Operation Mincemeat, while over in Cavendish Square, there’s comedy, drag variety and more. Head to the website for the full listings.
Various prices and locations, underbellyfestival.com
The club night: Mehmooni London x Disco Tehran at Village Underground
Get the party started Iranian-style with this Shoreditch club night. A collaboration between Mehmooni London — who take their name from the Farsi word for party — and the NYC-based collective Disco Tehran, you can expect a mix of classic anthems and cutting-edge club tracks, all of which are certain to keep things glued to the dancefloor until 5am.
