This weekend, the last before fashion week arrives, sees London open up with new restaurants, bars, a glut of weekend freebies and arty festivals to attend.
The breadth of food on offer in London sees both highfalutin British fine-dining and approachable Turkish on offer, alongside a Taipei-inspired drinking den and a free festival at Southbank celebrating diversity in artists with disabilities.
As ever then, this is what to eat, drink, see and do this weekend in London.
The hot table: Leydi
Selin Kiazim is back. Oklava, Kiazim’s old joint, closed last year and things have been a little quiet since then. Leydi is new, the main dining room at the recently opened HYDE hotel near St Pauls and the food is, as Oklava was, deeply rooted in Turkish culture and flavours. Kiazim deploys fan favourites like muhammara and baked hummus alongside more contemporary creations of Welsh lamb kebap with dripping pide. Go here.
15 Old Bailey, EC4M 7EF, hydehotels.com
The drinking den: Good Measure
Daddy Bao is a casual Taiwanese Tooting favourite and it has finally opened a place to go for drinks afterwards. It’s the quiet definition of a drinking den, a low-key subterranean spot underneath the main dining room, said to be inspired by Taipei’s own underground bar scene. Cocktails are set to include a peanut old fashioned with peanut infused Buffalo Trace bourbon and the Apricot Affair, made with plum sake, yuzu sake and Cocchi Americano.
113 Mitcham Road, SW17 9PE, daddybao.co.uk
The old favourite: Counter 71
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Scribbled at the bottom of the drinks list at Counter 71, the highly regarded fine-dining restaurant by Joe Laker, are the words “sparkling teas from Saicho”. This week, those four words receive dramatic elevation as the luxurious Saicho non-alcoholic sparkling teas act as the main drinks pairing to the full menu at Counter 71. Running for six weeks, this bold pairing sees the jasmine, hojicha and darjeeling expressions served alongside the full 12 course. For anyone swerving the sauce, or looking to discover these gorgeous teas, this one is a must.
From September 6, 71 Nile Street, N1 7RD, www.counter71.co.uk
The weekend festival: Product Earth London
Drumsheds might be best known for day raves and house music, but this weekend, Product Earth takes over for the weekend with wellness, health and medical marijuana. The scientific-sounding Curaleaf Laboratories, Wellford Medicinal Cannabis and plenty more brands on the burgeoning business of developing legal, medical weed for health purposes will be exhibiting their wares, alongside gong bong yoga (we’re not sure, either), live music from the likes of Artful Dodger, BMX shows and free health consultations. Groovy.
September 7 and 8, Drumsheds, 6 Glover Drive, N18 3HF productearth.life
The art fix: Saatchi Summer Lates - Strike a Pose: Voguing Life Drawing
This summer, as part of Beyond Fashion, the Saatchi Gallery has opened a series of “Lates”, offering what they call “Art After Dark”. This weekend the gallery is hosting a life drawing class, coalescing around the dance movement of Voguing, a technique which emerged from the drag scene in Harlem during the 1980’s. Get your pencils ready for this night of drinking, dancing and just a little bit of art in Chelsea.
September 6, Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York's HQ, King's Road, SW3 4RY, saatchigallery.com
The weekend freebie: Lime thru bakery
Bicycle enthusiasts Lime have tapped up Pophams for a free “ride-thru” bakery this weekend. At the event in Shoreditch a limited-edition lime-flavoured pastry baked by Pophams is filled with a lime curd white chocolate cremeux topped with a swirl of Italian meringue - importantly, the delicious-sounding pastry is a freebie. To claim the offer of a complimentary pastry, coffee and 15-minute LimePass you’ll need to download and register on the Lime app and remember this one’ll be popular, strictly on a first-come, first-served basis (read: get there early).
September 6 – 8, Protein Studios, Shoreditch, EC2A 3EY, www.li.me
The (other) weekend freebie: Unlimited at Southbank
Across the weekend, the Southbank centre has curated a host of free-to-attend performances across music, art and dance by disabled artists. With literature and poetry readings from the likes of Raymond Antrobus, a deaf rave with DJ Chinaman and solo performances by Michael Turinsky exploring movement and mobility punctuating the weekend. For a powerful realisation of the true accessibility of art, head here for a show.
September 4 - 8, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, SE1 8XX, southbankcentre.co.uk
The boat festival: St Katherines Dock Boat Festival
St Katherine’s Dock welcomes dozens of antique and historic vessels this weekend for London’s largest collection of ships and boats at the St Katherine’s Dock Boat Festival. Expect WWII maritime vessels, beautiful Dunkirk Little Ships and larger cruising racing yachts side-by-side at this two day festival of boating and sailing.
September 7 and 8, St Katherines Docks, E1W 1LA, skdocks.co.uk
The ticket to book now (for later): Jazz Cafe Festival
Next weekend, artists including Earl Sweatshirt, Alchemist, ELIZA, the Buena Vista All Stars and Nils Frahm headline this lineup of contemporary Jazz music in all its glory. Tapping into the very best influences from Hip-Hop and R&B, the day festival is a celebration for fans of the 35-year London music venue, split across four live stages.
