Your January Agenda

Circus 1903

Circus 1903 is all about old-school spectacle. Settling into the Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall, they’ll be showcasing the kinds of feats that health and safety did away with years ago: acts like knife-throwers; trapeze artists and acrobats without safety nets; and an all-new act called the ‘Brazilian wheel of death’. Thankfully, the one tradition they haven’t revived is the use of live animals – instead, they’ve collaborated with the War Horse designers to create jaw-dropping, life-sized puppets instead… READ MORE

Details: Until 5th January | Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Road, South Bank, SE1 8XX | £29.50-125
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London International Mime Festival

If you haven’t heard of the London International Mime Festival… well, they’re probably doing something right. For their 44th year, they’re returning to the capital with an incredible line-up – there’s puppetry on a barge; breathtaking physical theatre; silent movies with live jazz accompaniments; a tribute to Stan Laurel and Charlie Chaplin in the crumbling Wilton’s Music Hall; hand dancing in a miniature set; and a show about two clowns featuring ‘disappointing nudity’.

Details: 8th January – 2nd February | Across London
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London Short Film Festival

Baloji

Taking place over nine days, this is actually a pretty long short film festival. Which is understandable, considering they’re fitting in industry talks; music videos with live accompaniments; dozens of experimental, heart-breaking and uplifting shorts; and quirky collections, including a screening dedicated to the internet phenomenon of ASMR; and compilations of 70s PSAs on subjects from sex ed and gateway drugs to hand safety for industrial workers, and the joys of pork.

Details: 10th-19th January | Across London
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Wave

Set in Eccleston Yards, Wave is an experiment in chromotherapy, which we’re told is “the science of using the powers of light and colour to balance energy in the body and mind.”

So basically, it looks cool as f*ck.

It’s been set up by the people at SquidSoup, and it’ll have 500 individual lights that you can wander through while evolving harmonies play.

Details: Until 11th January, 4pm-10pm | Eccleston Yards, SW1W 9AZ
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Red Palace

Head to the labyrinthine tunnels beneath Waterloo station this month, and you’ll happen upon a night of theatrical revelry full of dark, beguiling characters ripped out of a gothic fairy story. On your interactive journey through the palace, you’ll eat dishes by a Masterchef finalist, sip unusual cocktails, and watch performances by ballerinas, contortionists, and a very talented ghost orchestra… READ MORE

Details: Until 12th January | The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN | £15-70
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Hidden Jazz Club

The team behind HJC are so dedicated to jazz, they even improvise their venues. They pop up in undisclosed locations around the capital with a rotating roster of talented musicians, ready to soothe your eardrums with ever-changing set lists in intimate and atmospherically-lit settings. READ MORE

Details: 16th & 26th January | Secret Locations | £18
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Winter Lights

Not to be outdone by the flurry of interactive light shows that have been dazzling the capital of late, Canary Wharf has brought back their annual outdoor exhibition of luminous artwork. This year, you’ll find a giant illuminated storm cloud made of foam; a kaleidoscopic video screen made from 7,344 recycled plastic milk bottles; an infinitely reflected tunnel of light; an illuminated ‘bra tree’; and a huge, high-tech canvas that allows you to paint with light.

Details: 16th – 25th January | Throughout Canary Wharf | Free
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Twilight Lives

The Old Operating Theatre Museum is hosting one of their instant sell-out Victorian surgical demonstrations this month – but just to put it even more in demand, they’re throwing in a little live music, too. From the theatre stalls where medical students would have once watched complex operations, you’ll be able to listen to a selection of pieces written by overlooked 19th century female composers.

Details: 16th January | Old Operating Theatre Museum and Herb Garret, 9a St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY | £20
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Leo Villareal

Sneak In One Last Round of Ice Skating

Most of them are still open – but leave it later than the 12th, and you might find yourself skating on thin ice. Check out the best rinks in London.
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London’s Best Winter Rooftops

Rooftop drinking. It’s the height of sophistication. Especially when you do it at one of the city’s finest high-altitude spots, which have all been decked out with suitably wintry decor, hot cocktails, and fondue menus… READ MORE
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Flight 338

It’s an escape room, set on a plane. As in an actual plane, not just a narrow room with a drinks trolley. It’s a decommission jet they’ve parked in Greenwich, you’ll play a jailbird in a criminal gang aboard a prisoner transport, and you’ve got to find the tools smuggled abroad to help escape. The company behind the entire enterprise, The Riddle Within, haven’t done any escape rooms before, so yes – this is their pilot show. Hopefully it takes off.

Details: Throughout January | 338 Boord Street, Greenwich Peninsula SE10 0PF | £20-£87pp
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Secret Cinema Presents: Stranger Things

We never thought we’d see the day that Secret Cinema adapted a TV show. But Stranger Things have happened. Yes, the immersive experience pioneers are back, and after a staggering 70 productions they’re taking on a whole new branch of entertainment… READ MORE

Details: Until 29th February | A Secret Location | From £49
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Moving to Mars

You can now see what it would be like to live on Mars, thanks to the new exhibition from the Design Museum –  because they’ve got a full-scale, completely liveable Mars home inside it… READ MORE

Details: Until 23rd February | The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG | £16-£18
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WOW at Japan House

When you call your visual design studio an all-caps, back-patting, rakishly confident name like WOW you had better deliver. And WOW certainly does. They’re a Japanese firm whose work has been stunning audiences in the Far East, and is now making its way to the UK for the first time. It’s at Japan House, and you’ll find digital installations including Tokyo Lights Odyssey, a 360-degree immersive look at Tokyo at night, and Poppo, a chance to carve a traditional wooden doll and project your own face onto it.

Details: Until 22nd March 2020 | Japan Centre, 101-111 Kensington High Street, W8 5SA | Free
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Tutankhamun

This vast exhibition is apparently the last chance you’ll have to see the riches of Tutankhamun’s tomb before they return to Egypt forever. Hopefully, it’s not just some kind of pyramid scheme. The largest exhibition ever staged outside of the country, it promises to feature over 150 of the awe-inspiring objects the boy king was buried with, from precious gold artefacts and statuettes to a pair of 3000 year-old gloves.

Details: Until 3rd May 2020 | Saatchi Gallery, Duke of York’s HQ, King’s Road, SW3 4RY | £24.50-28.50
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The Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2019/20

There’s only one acceptable context for shooting wild animals, and it’s the one practiced by the world’s wildlife photographers.

And now in its 55th year, the Wildlife Photographer of the Year is back to show off the very best amongst them. This year, they trawled through some 48k entries from 100+ countries before landing on the winning images, which are displayed on special lightboxes (alongside dozens of runner-up shots) throughout the Natural History Museum’s gallery. READ MORE

Details: Until 31 May 2020 | The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, SW7 5BD | £14
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See The Best London Theatre Shows On Right Now

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Club Naija

Veerle Evens

Lola, the chef behind Club Naija, has followed her roots back to Lagos for this convivial Nigerian supperclub. On the menu, you’ll find Yoruba classics like spicy groundnut soup, peanut barbecued skewers, dumplings, stew, and ‘puff puff’ for dessert – deep fried dough balls with tiger nut custard and pineapple.

Details: 8th January | Grounds & Grapes, 41 Honor Oak Park, London, SE23 1DZ | £35
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Monograph

We won’t write a monograph on this Japanese supperclub. Suffice to say that you’ll be treated to some of the country’s most delicious dishes (udon, soft tofu, matcha dorayaki) in a secret warehouse conversion with evocative Japanese A/V projections splashed across the walls. Oh, and it’s all BYOB.

Details: 17th & 18th January | Secret Whitechapel Location | £36.90
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Rande

Feeling a little Rande? You will be, because it’s a Mexican pop up restaurant that seeks to “explore life beyond tacos” in ever-changing, unusual venues, from laundromats, to warehouses, to distilleries. This month, they’re popping up behind a door in Hackney with a four-course Mexican feast.

Details: 18th January | Secret Location | £39.50
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Lunar New Year Banquet with the Dinner Ladies

2020 is the year of the rat. And if you can smell something, it’s probably the delicious feast that supperclub pros The Dinner Ladies are cooking up in its honour. They’ll be putting together a four course Chinese feast to ring in the new year, with welcome cocktails and live entertainment.

Details: 24th January | Secret London Location | £33
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Chubby Buddies

Chubby Buddies describe their cooking style as “American mess touched by Asian fluffiness”. And that comes across as being startling accurate when you see the dishes they produce: BAOgers (that’s a burger in bao buns) and BAOdogs (you can guess) and other such cross-Pacific fusion.

Details: Until the end of January | The Rose & Crown, 71-73 Torriano Ave, NW5 2SG
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Bar Under The Bridge

This one’s pretty self-explanatory. The bar: a sprawling lodge with cosy heated chalet booths, fleece rugs, and board games, serving up food from Baggio Burger as well as mulled booze. The Bridge: Hungerford, next to the Southbank Centre.

Details: Until January 5th | Under Hungerford Bridge, Southbank Centre, SE1 8XX
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Fallow

These two young Brixton lads met in the kitchens of double Michelin-starred Dinner, and are now spreading the word about sustainable dining. Following a residency at Carousel, they’re now settling into the kitchens of Spitalfields café Crispin for two months, serving dishes like crispy potato skins with cod roe; chicken kofta yakitori; and caramelised cauliflower cheese.

Details: 7th January – 7th March | Crispin, Pavilion on The Corner, White’s Row, E1 7NF
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Berber & Q’s Pita Takeovers

Berber & Q are gearing up to throw themselves their annual pita party. First, though, they’ll be letting five guest chefs take over their kitchens for a week, serving their own signature take on the dish before it culminates in the grand pita-off. This year, those chefs include Gunpowder’s Harneet Baweja, Bala Baya‘s Eran Tibi, and the duo behind the recently closed (and much-missed) Hoxton deli, Monty’s Deli.

Details: Every week in January | Berber & Q Shawarma Bar, 46 Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE
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The Gun’s Winter Wonderland

The Gun in Spitalfields have pulled the trigger on their new festive pop up restaurant: a life-sized gingerbread chalet with edible walls. It’s got all manner of sparkling fairy lights, cozy throws, festive decorations, and bricks that look good enough to eat (and literally are). Thankfully, your hunger should be taken care of by their new menu, which includes braised beef short ribs and whole, deep-fried bries.

Details: Until the end of February | The Gun, 54 Brushfield St, Spitalfields, E1 6AG
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Pacific

What covers two thirds of the earth and can be found in Mayfair?

Pacific.

It’s taking up the space in Mayfair’s rotating residency 10 Heddon Street, and it’ll be headed up by Aussie chef Shaun Presland, who’se spent the last 25 years training under the best Japanese chefs on the planet… READ MORE

Details: Until March 2020 | 10 Heddon Street, Mayfair, W1B 4BX
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Pampushka at the Sun & 13 Cantons

We feel cockily confident in asserting that you’ve probably never had Ukrainian food before, which is a pity, because if it’s all as good as the stuff they’re serving at Pampushka – wild mushroom & tarragon dumplings; clay pot chicken with root vegetables; layered chocolate & cream cake – then we’ve all been missing out. Luckily, you can find out for yourself at the Sun & 13 Cantons for the next few months.

Details: Until March 2020 | 21 Great Pulteney Street, Soho, W1F 9NG
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Filthy Buns

Filthy Buns (aka John & Debs) are settling into the kitchen at Dalston’s 3 Compasses, and cooking up their ludicrously large, jaw-dislocating burgers. They’re all made with aged beef, and they’re serving something gloriously called a ‘Sunday Roast Bun’ at the end of the week.

Details: Until April 2020 | The Three Compasses, 99 Dalston Lane, E8 1NH
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Fodder

Fodder’s watchword is sustainability. And they’re going to be sustaining themselves in Brixton’s Shrub & Shutter for the next six months, serving an environmentally aware menu filled with foraged ingredients. Expect confit ray tail, wood pigeon yakitori, and beech leaf sorbet, all cooked up by a former Cub chef.

Details: Until April 2020 | Shrub & Shutter, 336 Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8QH
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Emile

It was a sad day when Swedish restaurant Rök was officially beaten by paper. Specifically money. And the lack thereof.
But the good news is that something just as delicious is settling into the Scandi-chic space, at least for the next few months. Emile will be run by chef Damian Clisby (formerly of Petersham Nurseries) and wine man Nick Gibson (landlord at The Drapers Arms), and they’ll be putting together a wine-driven menu of Modern European dishes.

Details: Until mid-2020 | 26 Curtain Road, EC2A 3NY
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Seb Myers at P Franco

Celebrated wine bar P Franco regularly give up their kitchen space for a new chef residency – And currently, that chef is Seb Myers, whose London cheffing career started alongside Nuno Mendes at the iconic Viajante, and has since taken in Chiltern Firehouse and Sager + Wilde Paradise Row. His menu here changes daily, but you can expect a line-up of around seven or eight elegant dishes – which so far have included the likes of red mullet tartines; pork rillettes and cuttlefish rice.

Details: Throughout January | 107 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0NP
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Mei Mei’s Street Cart’s Residency at LP Bar in New Cross

Mei Mei’s have already followed the traditional plan of opening pop up, then following it with a permanent restaurant: their north London pop up was followed by a brick-and-mortar joint… in Liverpool. Now they’re back, slinging excellent Chinese fusion dishes (the tacos are particularly popular) at LP Bar in New Cross.

Details: Throughout January | LP Bar, 401 New Cross Rd, SE14 6LA
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Hello Kitty Matcha Bar at Tombo

Sure, Hello Kitty doesn’t have a mouth, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t start a pop up restaurant, which she has: it’s in Fitzrovia for four months. It involves all manner of poke, branch, ramen, and doughnuts. And it’s exactly as charmingly twee as you’d imagine.

Details: Throughout January | 4 Windmill St, W1T 2HZ
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Le Bun

French-American burger outfit Le Bun are taking over the kitchens at Fitzrovia’s Smugglers Tavern, serving up truffle honey bacon cheeseburgers; bone marrow loaded fries, and buffalo cauliflower wings. Oh, and a cheeseburger Scotch egg.

Details: Throughout January | 28 Warren St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 5ND
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Hideaway by Dabbous

Set in the culinary gardens of the ultra-luxe Chelsea Barracks development, Hideaway comes to us from Ollie “I collect Michelin Stars” Dabbous. He dipped his toes into the pop up scene here briefly during the Flower Show in spring, and now he’s back for something longer-term. You can expect light, cafe-style fare including black truffle Croque Monsieurs; Ibaiama sauscisson; and buckwheat pain au chocolats. READ MORE

Details: Throughout January | Chelsea Barracks, Garrison Square, SW1W 8BG
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Prairie Fire at London Fields Brewery

Having been at the vanguard of the craft beer renaissance, London Fields Brewery are unveiling a renovated taproom overlooking their brand new railway arch brewery. And they’re not only filling it with dozens of brews fresh out of the tanks, they’ve drafted in Midwestern BBQ specialists Prairie Fire to take care of the grub. You’ll find Kansas City classics like applewood-smoked pork buns; brisket and pulled pork platters; hickory smoked chicken wings… and veggie options.

Details: Throughout January | London Fields Brewery, 365-366 Warburton Street, E8 3RR
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Luardos at The Gipsy Queen

Mexican street food afficionados Luardos have taken over the pans at Kentish Town’s Gipsy Queen, a cosy 1920s pub with a suntrap of a back garden. They’re serving burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas and sides like cassava chips, fried plantain and elotes – and on Tuesdays their tacos (baja fish, chicken thigh and carne asada) are £2 a pop.

Details: Mon-Sat throughout January | The Gipsy Queen, 166 Malden Road, London NW5 4BS
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Chinese Laundry @ 10 Coulgate St

After their restaurant almost burned down and its charred husk was then occupied by squatters, the seemingly irrepressible ladies behind The Chinese Laundry are back with a long term residency in Brockley’s 10 Coulgate Street. And unseated of a fixed menu, there’s a rotating roster of dishes on offer, all inspired by their recent trip across China… READ MORE

Details: Weds-Sun until February | No. 10 Coulgate Street, SE4 2RS | £35 (including corkage, if you want to BYOB)
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Liu Xiaomian at The Jackalope

It takes a seasoned chef to get the level of spices right in a dish. Luckily, Liu Xiaomian has two. The duo behind the noodle outfit have won themselves queues round the block for their ‘spicy, numbing, addictive’ Chongqing cooking. And they’re settled into the kitchens at Marylebone pub The Jackalope for the near future, serving delicious, freshly made wonton, spicy noodles and slow-cooked pork with Chinese vegetables.

Details: Tues-Fri, 12-2.30pm & 6-9pm | The Jackalope, 43 Weymouth Mews, W1G 7EQ
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Supa Ya Ramen

Ramen is getting souped up.

Because ex-Nopi, Patty & Bun and Hand & Flowers chef Luke Findlay is running his own underground ramen restaurant. It only takes place on Saturday nights, with four sittings and six people at a time. To make sure you’re one of them, DM him on instagram and he’ll reply with a booking and directions to find it…

Details: Saturday nights | Secret N16 Location
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