Your March Agenda

YOUR MARCH AGENDA | Pop Up London 2020

Main image: Osmo at FutureFest 2020

We know what really makes you smile.

Facial muscles.

Aaaand also knowing that you have access to the very best collection of transitory experiences happening in London throughout March – all of which we’ve devotedly uncovered, summarised and beautifully wrapped up for you inside this, Your March Agenda.  It has a bow on it, and everything. Metaphorically-speaking.

Highlights this month include an immersive show that plunges you into the criminal underworld of 1920s London; a walk-in balloon filled with projections of the cosmos; a pair of film screenings inside a 1950’s ballroom; a séance inside a shipping container; a couple of pop ups from some of the World’s 50 Best Bars; hidden jazz club; a new exhibition dedicated to the legend of Andy Warhol; a Sri Lankan supperclub with hopper cooking demonstrations; lots of new exhibitions, talks, lectures & theatre; aaand the world famous Oxford v Cambridge, er, Goat Race.
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Crooks 1926

COLAB have played an absolute blinder with their newest immersive theatre show. You’ll be part of a criminal network in 1920s London, trying to broker a deal with the Italian gang leader Sabini. There’ll be boxing matches to watch, traitors to uncover, and an almost ever-present threat of violence to contend with, as you follow your own individual storyline. Plus, you can dress up for the night and feel suave AF. READ MORE

Details: Wednesday – Sunday throughout March | King William IV, 16 Harper Road, London, SE1 6AD | £28
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WOW Festival

The programme for the 10th annual WOW (Women of the World) Festival looks staggeringly good. You can watch amazing female-led performances, head to a career mentor speed-networking session, or listen to talks by the likes of Deborah Frances White, Scarlett Curtis and Sandi Toksvig. This year they’re also staging a special edition of the sell-out Letters Live event, in which you’ll hear a secret line-up of celebrated speakers read powerful and touching letters either written by, or to, notable women. READ MORE

Details: 6th-8th March | Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX | Day passes £40, or individually ticketed events
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Slices of Time

This epic installation, created with thousands of individually cut out numbers and symbols, is just one of the new pieces of artwork by Emmanuelle Moureaux on display at Greenwich’s NOW Gallery. It’s called Slices of Time, which is a reference to the nearby Greenwich Meridian Line (where the GMT timezone begins), but could just as easily refer to the hours she must have spent creating it… READ MORE

Details: Until 19th April | The Gateway Pavilions, Peninsula Square, SE10 0SQ | Free, but book a timeslot in advance here
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Club Golf

Coal Drops Yard – the majestic lifestyle hub in King’s Cross –  has partnered up with artists Baker & Borowski to launch a new 80s and 90s rave culture-inspired mini outdoor golf course, running right through its centre. It’s nine holes in total, for just £5, which you can pay either on the day or by booking in advance here.

Details: Until 29th March | Mon-Sat, 12 – 8pm | £5 (Under 12s go free)
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Enchanted Egg Hunt

The multi-sensory masterminds Bompas & Parr are back in town with a one-day pop up, creating a garden in bloom inside a Covent Garden wine bar. Book yourself a ticket, and you’ll be welcomed with a rose gold cocktail before you’re given 45 minutes to hunt around for Galaxy caramel easter eggs. Luckily it’s adults-only, so you won’t have to feel bad about elbowing small children out of the way.

Details: 10th March | Grays & Feather Wine Bar, 26 Wellington Street, London WC2E 7DD | £10
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TT Cinema

TT Liquor is one of Shoreditch’s eminent cocktail bars. And hidden away in their back room is a boutique cinema, where they host intimate screenings accompanied by a welcome drink. This month, they’re loading the slate with Hidden Figures, the story of three African-American women working at NASA during the Space Race; the Golden Globe-winning Irish coming-of-age story, Sing Street; Scandi horror Midsommar; and the iconic Lost In Translation. READ MORE

Details: 10th, 17th, 24th & 31st March | TT Liquor, 17b Kingsland Road, E2 8AA | £15, or £20 for two
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The Penis Gallery x Vagina Museum

It takes a lot of balls to put on an event like this – but after a highly successful inaugural year, the Book of Man festival is back to discuss masculinity in the 21st century. And as with last year, they’ll be collating thousands of (solicited) dick pics for their Penis Gallery, designed to confront some of the anxieties around size and shape and er, keep everyone’s pecker up. But this time, they’ll also be joining forces with the newly established Vagina Museum, with director Florence Schechter talking about misconceptions around female genitalia, and Dr Chris Morriss-Roberts, who’s essentially an expert on penis envy.

Details: 10th March | The Book Club, 100-106 Leonard Street, London, EC2A 4RH | £11.37
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Hidden Jazz Club

Ironically, The Hidden Jazz Club is probably now the most talked-about jazz spot in the city. But what it lacks in hiddenness, it more than makes up for in quality – you’ll still find some of the best musicians in town gathering in a beautiful, unusual venue, and spoiling you with wonderful music. SEE MORE JAZZ BARS IN LONDON

Details: 12th, 28th & 29th March | Across London | £18
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The Candlelight Club

The Candlelight Club remains – and we feel confident in this claim – the city’s finest itinerant 1920s shindig held in an old ballroom lit almost entirely by candles. And they’re back this month with their inimitable mix of swinging live music, cocktails and vintage DJs playing into the wee hours. READ MORE

Details: 14th March | Secret Location | From £25
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Orchids at Kew

Indonesia has over 5,000 different species of orchid scattered across its 17,500 islands. And Kew have done a pretty good job of squeezing most of them into one of its greenhouses. They’ve been putting on an orchid festival for a quarter of a century, so they’ve got the flower arranging down to a fine art. And on a couple of evenings, they’re opening their doors after hours, when you can walk through boughs of orchids with a drink in hand, before sampling Indonesian cooking and watching traditional dance performances.

Details: Until 15th March | Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond TW9 3AB | From £16.50
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Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

As most people know, 17th March commemorates the life of St. Patrick; the man who drove the snakes out of Ireland. Don’t worry, they wore seatbelts. And you should buckle in too, because here’s your official St. Patrick’s Day London guide…
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Cinema Nights at The Rivoli Ballroom

London’s only remaining 1950s ballroom is hosting a pair of pop up film screenings this month. You’ll be able to sip cocktails and munch on classic cinema snacks as the chandeliers are dimmed, and they load up the slate with Fight Club and Pulp Fiction. Of course, if cinema’s not your thing, you could always head to their jive party on Saturday instead, featuring live music from The Revolutionaires.

Details: 19th-21st March | 350 Brockley Road, Crofton Park, SE4 2BY | From £10/Jive Party £17
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Mushrooms: Gallery Late

Somerset House are opening their doors for an after-hours look around their mushroom exhibition, where you’ll also be able to ‘get hands on with mushrooms’ and witness the performance of STINKHORN by artist Siôn Parkinson. In the vaults beneath Somerset House, amongst peeling plaster and crumbling brickwork, he’ll be performing his one man show inspired by the Stinkhorn mushroom, which apparently looks like a penis and smells of rotting meat. It’ll all be accompanied by live theremin music and – be warned – a specially-developed scent.

Details: 19th March | Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA | £10
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The Little Orchestra

DUH DUH DUH DUUUUUUUUUH. That was the opening of Beethoven’s fifth symphony, as played in your head by three letters of the alphabet.

Now imagine it played by an actual orchestra. One that’s just a few feet away from you, for a spine-tinglingly intimate experience in a gorgeously atmospheric space… READ MORE

Details: 19th – 21st March | Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN | £5-30 for a sofa
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FutureFest 2020

It’s the inaugural edition of this future-focussed festival, founded by the appropriately mysterious-sounding Nesta, an ‘innovation foundation’ who are hoping to answer some of the big questions about our future. And they’ve bussed in an excellent team to help: there’ll be speakers like Louis Theroux and Richard Ayoade; a giant inflatable cosmic balloon to lie down in; an interactive experiment to see how you can best get to know a stranger; and a chance to make your own female semen… READ MORE

Details: Sadly, this event has been postponed | Tobacco Dock, 50 Porters Walk, E1W 2SF | £25-80
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Music From The Movies

Fancy hearing a movie tonight? The London Concertante orchestra – who pride themselves on their laid-back concerts – will be playing through a set of iconic film soundtracks, including The Godfather, Schindler’s List and Jurassic Park. Plus, it’s all taking place in a stunning, newly restored Victorian theatre.

Details: 21st March | Alexandra Palace Theatre, Alexandra Palace Way, N22 7AY | £16.92-42.50
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VAULT Festival 2020

London’s answer to the Edinburgh Fringe is back, and promises (as ever) an extraordinary motley crew of performers. This year, you can catch a one-to-one immersive physical theatre show based on the diaries of Dalí; a VR holiday where you can taste and smell the world around you; a theatrical cookery lesson inspired by Dungeons & Dragons; a dramatised first-hand account of the slave trade through traditional African Griot storytelling; and an attempt to answer the age-old theatrical dilemma: “how pregnant is too pregnant to perform a one-woman show?” READ MORE

Details: Until 22nd March | The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN
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Darkfield: Séance – Flight – Coma

Inside three shipping containers in King’s Cross lie a series of pitch-black immersive experiences blending art with theatre. In a Victorian séance room, an economy airplane cabin or a dystopian dormitory, you’ll sit down, put on a pair of headphones, and be taken through parallel worlds, psychological experiments and more… READ MORE

Details: Until 22nd March | Lewis Cubitt Square, 11 Stable Street, London, N1C 4BT | £8/9
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London Gypsy Jazz Festival

This festival rolls into town at the end of the month, showcasing the genre of jazz pioneered by Django Reinhardt in the nightclubs of 1930s Paris. Over the week there’ll be six gigs held in the intimate attic bar of the Toulouse Lautrec in Kennington, with the likes of Benoit Viellefon, Lollo Meier and the Café Manouche Quintet taking to the stage.

Details: 25th-29th March | 140 Newington Butts, London SE11 4RN | Buy individual tickets here
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Green Rooms Market

If you’ve got green fingers, then you’ll a) probably want to get that checked out, and b) be keen to head along to the next Green Rooms Market. This month, it’ll be popping up in Peckham Springs, where you’ll be able to browse hundreds of indoor and outdoor plants, grill the experts, and brush up on a few skills in their botanical workshops. READ MORE

Detail: 28th March | Peckham Springs, 22a Blenheim Grove, SE15 4QN | Free entry
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The Oxford-Cambridge Goat Race

It’s that time of year when the two oldest universities in the UK go head to head on the river to settle an age-old rivalry. Meanwhile, over on the other side of town, two goats in outfits will be racing through Spitalfields City Farm to establish a more reliable result. Tickets always go quickly, but somehow there are still a few left – and you can even plump for a VIP ‘Goat Encounter’.

Details: 29th March | Spitalfields City Farm, Buxton Street, London E1 5AR | £17.50-50
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When You Believe: The Musical World of Stephen Schwartz

You might not recognise the name Stephen Schwartz, but you’ll definitely recognise his music – he’s the multi award-winning songwriter behind the music of Wicked and Disney films including Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. For one night only, he’ll be joined by the 60-strong BBC Concert Orchestra, plus the full London casts of Wicked and The Prince of Egypt, for an epic play-through of his best work.

Details: 29th March | London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, London WC2N 4ES | £15-75
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United Queendom

This party is going to go down in history. It’s set in 1734 at King George II’s birthday bash, where you’ll be right in the midst of a heated love triangle between the King, Queen Caroline, and his mistress, Henrietta Howard. It’s the latest immersive show from Les Enfants Terribles (the theatre company behind Alice’s Adventures Underground), and will actually take place in the rooms where it all happened… READ MORE

Details: Until 30th March | Kensington Palace, Kensington Gardens, W8 4PX | £35-49
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Orchestral Renditions at XOYO

We like to think that music sounds at least 80% better when it’s performed by a full orchestra. We call it the Big Band Theory. And you can see for yourself at XOYO this month, where the celebrated Re:imagine orchestra will be staging epic play-throughs of cult albums. For the very specific price of £16.96, you can bop along to Beyoncé’s Lemonade, Frank Ocean’s big hitters; or a play-through of classic Daft Punk with an ‘elaborate light show’.

Details: Throughout March | XOYO, 32-37 Cowper Street, London EC2A 4AP | £16.96
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See The Best London Theatre Shows On Right Now

Ever since the dawn of time, human beings have gazed at the stars in awe and asked themselves “Where can I get a list of only the best London Theatre shows playing right now – divided into musical, comedy, drama, and immersive categories – in which I can also discover a heap of nearby bars and restaurants to help me make a night of it?”

And the answer is… well, here.
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March Talks & Lectures

This month, you can hear from Michael Palin on his recent jaunt into North Korea; delve into the unusual history of East End radical printing houses; hear how peer pressure could be used to battle climate change; and listen to legendary punk poet John Cooper Clarke muse on the meaning of life. SEE WHAT’S ON
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Head To One Of London’s Top Museums

There’s a host of new exhibitions to check out, including a stunning new fashion exhibition dedicated to the kimono; a peek at 1000 year-old Hebrew manuscripts; and a newly unveiled gallery of bizarre medical artefacts… SEE WHAT’S ON IN LONDON’S MUSEUMS
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Peruse Exhibitions At London’s Best Art Galleries

And over in the art corner, we have a gallery filled entirely with spherical artwork; the arresting, beautifully patterned portraits of Kehinde Wiley; a fascinating collection of David Hockney’s drawings from life; and a seminal exhibition on masculinity… SEE WHAT’S ON IN LONDON’S ART GALLERIES
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Check Out The Best Recently Opened Restaurants in London

We’re talking Nigerian tapas in a pink Tottenham eatery; the revival of a Michelin starred classic; and the unveiling of an iconic fresh pasta spot in Shoreditch… SEE ALL LONDON’S RECENTLY OPENED RESTAURANTS
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Then Get Excited For New Openings This Month

Coming up, we’ve got a permanent solo spot for vegan taqueria Club Mexicana; a restaurant in a former courthouse (with a rooftop bar); a new Peckham spot owned by neighbours Levan; and a new resident in the Mayfair pop up space that keeps churning out hits… SEE ALL RESTAURANTS OPENING SOON

 

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Puff The Bakery

F**k magic dragons.

If you’re going to check out Puff anything, it should be the bakery popping up for one last time at Shoreditch’s Passo this Sunday. Why? Caramel, vanilla & choc mille feuille, frangipane tarts, hot rice pudding, and Viennoiserie pastries. That’s why.

Details: 1st March | Passo, 80 City Road, EC1Y 2AS
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Lunch Baron

The Lunch Baron is here, and he’s ready to serve you… dinner. South London chef George Brown will be lavishing Louie Louie with his seasonal, globally-styled grub, including fish finger bao; slow-cooked lamb with smoked aubergine; deep-fried cauliflower cheese; rhubarb and ginger custard tart; and pan-fried pizza. As a side.

Details: 3rd-14th March | Louie Louie, 347 Walworth Road, London SE17 2AL
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Club Naija

Lola, the chef behind Club Naija, honours her Lagos roots in this convivial Nigerian supperclub. Over the past few months, it’s started to make something of a name for itself, and new dates are added all the time – so she’s clearly onto something good. 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: 4th March, 1st April, 6th May, 3rd June | Grounds & Grapes, 41 Honor Oak Park, London, SE23 1DZ | From £35
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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 in a Hackney mews house with a four-course Mexican feast.

Details: 6th March | Shacklewell Lane, E8 2BZ | £39.50
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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. This month, you can find them finishing off their guest slot at Spitalfields café Crispin, serving dishes like crispy potato skins with cod roe; chicken kofta yakitori; and caramelised cauliflower cheese; before they embark on what will likely be their breakout residency at 10 Heddon Street. READ MORE

Details: At Crispin until 7th March, then at 10 Heddon Street from 10th March | Crispin, Pavilion on The Corner, White’s Row, E1 7NF | 10 Heddon Street, Mayfair, W1B 4BX
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Roots Kitchen

This all-vegan Tuscan supperclub sold so quickly back in Veganuary that they’re back for another night. They’ll be taking over the kitchens at Balham’s Little Brother Marcus to serve up meatless balls and fauxmagerie as part of a five-course feast.

Details: 8th March | Little Brother Marcus, 9 Chestnut Grove, SW12 8JA | From £40
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International Women’s Day at Stoney Street

This one-off lunch club will see six of the industry’s finest female chefs band together to cook you a once-in-a-lifetime feast at Stoney Street, inspired by all of the incredible women who have shaped their lives. Tickets are £45 and include six courses, with a separate wine menu curated by expert sommelier Francesca Diliberto (currently of Flor). It’s all happening in celebration of International Women’s Day, with any profits going to Women for Women, a female-focused charity helping survivors of war rebuild their lives.

Details: 8th March | Stoney Street 2, Stoney Street, SE1 9AA | £45
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Angie Mar at New Street Grill

Angie Mar is the rock’n’roll chef behind The Beatrice Inn in New York – a critically acclaimed, moodily lit, speakeasy-style steakhouse. And for one week only, she’ll be bringing her “gritty, ugly, gutsy” food to the New Street Grill, including roast duck flambé, milk-braised pork shoulder, and bone marrow crème brûlée…

Details: 9th-14th March | New Street Grill 16A New Street, London, EC2M 4TR
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Michael Thompson

Filling in Fallow’s shoes when they leave Crispin is Michael Thompson, the former head chef of Cub and chef-director of pop up restaurant Fodder. He’ll be in residence until the end of April, serving Modern British dishes with a sustainable edge. There’ll be small plates to share like squid with egg yolk, and smoked Jerusalem artichoke dashi, alongside unusual puddings like hogweed, whiskey, pear & popcorn dessert.

Details: 10th March – 25th April | Crispin, Pavilion on The Corner, White’s Row, E1 7NF
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Hop & Roll

Sri Lankan food is having a real moment in the capital – and this supperclub goes the extra step. Besides spoiling you with four courses of flavourful dishes – from slow-cooked mutton curry to mackerel rolls wrapped in deep-fried pancakes – chef Rosheana will also talk you through the country’s culinary traditions and give a live cooking demonstration of fresh hoppers while you sit back with an arrack piña colada.

Details: 11th March | The Beast of Brixton, 89b Acre Lane, SW2 5TN | £39
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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’ve got until the 14th to find out for yourself at the Sun & 13 Cantons.

Details: Lunch & dinner on Tues-Sat until 14th March | 21 Great Pulteney Street, Soho, W1F 9NG
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Sougo at Carousel

Daisuke Nomura has cooking in his DNA – born into a Tokyo restaurant dynasty, he became the third-generation executive chef at Daigo, a shojin ryori (fine dining) spot, and promptly won the place two Michelin stars. He’s since departed to launch a modern vegan venture, Sougo, which he hopes will be accessible to “every generation, every culture and every diet.” And it’s about to become a lot more accessible when he brings it to Carousel this month for a limited pop up run.

Details: 17th – 21st March | Carousel, 71 Blandford Street, W1U 8AB | £65 | N.B. Not suitable for gluten-free diets.
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Tales From The Kitchen Library

This supperclub is basically a dream dinner party – it’s hosted by Mark Hix and Richard Bertinet, who won a James Beard award (essentially the Oscars of the food world) for Baking & Dessert. At the intimate private chef’s table of Hix’s restaurant Tramshed, they’ll be reflecting on their varied careers while plying you with braised wild rabbit and salt-baked celeriac; shrimp flambéed in Somerset Cider Brandy; and brie baked in brioche.

Details: 18th March | 32 Rivington Street, EC2A 3LX | From £155
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The Yard

Finally putting her money where her mouth is, Kelis is actually making milkshakes. You’ll find them, naturally, at The Yard; a two-day pop up she’s running in collaboration with Deliveroo to mark 20 (!) years since the release of her album Kaleidoscope. She’ll be serving five different flavours, each inspired by songs from the album. We suggest you bring your own and instigate some kind of fair, balanced taste test among the other punters to establish the veracity of her claims.

Details: 18th & 19th March | 46 Great Eastern Street, London EC2A 3EP
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For Starters Presents: Loose Cannons

For Starters was founded by a theatre maker and a chef from a Michelin starred restaurant, so to say their supperclubs are exciting is an understatement. Every sense is stimulated – and considering this month’s theme is ‘loose cannons’ (i.e. no theme at all), you can expect a full-on sensory assault, with music, live cooking, and paired cocktails.

Details: 25th & 26th March (and 22nd & 23rd April) | 471 Holloway Road, N7 6LE | From £39
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London Shell Co’s Daylight Saving Cruise

It’s that glorious time of year again, when the clocks move forwards and we finally all get a little more sunlight. And to celebrate, London Shell Co are hosting a one-off daylight-saving cruise, with welcome cocktails; a seasonal mackerel dinner; Loire Valley wines; and a big ol’ party afterwards.

Details: 29th March | Sheldon Square, Paddington Central, W2 6PY | £30
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The Nitery

Gizzi Erskine has done all the things that most chefs aspire to do: publish a string of cookbooks, star in a cookery show, attend the Glamour Awards, etc. The only thing she hasn’t done is start a restaurant. Well, that may all be about to change, because she’s taking a giant leap forward with her own pop up, The Nitery. The aesthetic is gorgeous – all dark, moody walls; intimate banquette seating and candlelit tables; and the soundtrack – a mix of Bowie and French crooners from the 1930s – is, for want of a better, cooler word… cool. The cocktails are fantastic, and well worth a visit in their own right. And the food – a gluttonous roll-call of Franco-American delights – is largely on point (as long as you don’t mind a bit of salt). Hit the scallops, the pomme purée and the beef tartare – or the set menu for the best value – and watch this space for the permanent spot that will surely follow.

Details: Daily until 30th April 2020 | St. Martin’s Lane Kitchen, 45 St. Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4HX
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Craving Coffee at Tottenham Social

A rotating roster of street food outfits cook by candlelight every Thursday-Saturday at this Tottenham café. This month, the line-up includes vegan Ethiopian courtesy of Fikre Kitchen; South-East Asian snacks from Tangy’s Tasty Stuff; Vietnamese from the traders du jour, Hanoi Ca Phe; and nachos & tacos by Soffle’s.

Details: Thurs-Sat throughout March | Unit 3, Gaunson House, Markfield Road, N15 4QQ | Book via tottenhamsocial@gmail.com or walk-in
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Filthy Buns

Filthy Buns (aka John & Debs) are settled into the kitchen at Dalston’s 3 Compasses, where they’re cooking up ludicrously large, jaw-dislocating burgers. They’re all made with 45 day dry-aged beef from The Ginger Pig butchers, sandwiched in between brioche buns with outrageous bedfollows: this here is the Millionaire Short Rib, boosting that beef patty with beer-braised short rib, Swiss cheese & beer BBQ glaze, smoky gravy mayo and Biscoffy peanut butter.

Details: Until April 2020 | The Three Compasses, 99 Dalston Lane, E8 1NH
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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 has settled into the Scandi-chic space, at least for the next few months. Emile is run by chef Damian Clisby (formerly of Petersham Nurseries) and wine man Nick Gibson (landlord at The Drapers Arms), and they’re putting together a wine-driven menu of Modern European dishes. READ MORE

Details: Open Tues-Sun until March 14th | 26 Curtain Road, EC2A 3NY
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Hello Kitty & Friends 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. Various Sanrio characters have been immortalised in all manner of poke, brunch bowls, ramen, and doughnuts. And it’s exactly as charmingly twee as you’d imagine.

Details: Daily throughout March | 4 Windmill Street, W1T 2HZ
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Le Bun

French-American burger outfit Le Bun have taken 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: Lunch and dinner, Mon-Sat throughout March | Smugglers Tavern, 28 Warren Street, Fitzrovia, London W1T 5ND
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Prairie Fire at London Fields Brewery

Having been at the vanguard of the craft beer renaissance, London Fields Brewery have recently revamped their railway arch brewery, unveiling a new taproom to boot. 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 wings… and veggie options.

Details: Tues-Sun throughout March | London Fields Brewery, 365-366 Warburton Street, E8 3RR
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Pollo Feliz at Netil Market

A new street food spot to watch: Pollo Feliz, a family-run Mexican restaurant that’s been going for nearly half a century, has opened a stall in London Fields’ Netil Market. Their signature dish is tender grilled chicken served with refried beans with handmade corn and flour tortillas, but the sopes (filled corn patties) and quesadillas are worth a try, too.

Details: 12-3pm Wed-Fri, 10am-6pm weekends | Netil Market, Westgate Street, London E8 3RL
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Whole Beast at Brickfields

This pair met in the kitchens of Peckham’s Coal Rooms, and have since been popping up around the city with some very fine nose-to-tail cooking over a live fire. And for the whole of this month, they’ll be cooking midweek dinners at Brickfields in Brockley, with smoked pig’s head scrumpet, coal-roasted cauliflower cheese and a killer apple pie with cinnamon toast ice cream on the menu.

Details: Tues-Thurs throughout March | 293 Brockley Road, London SE4 2SA
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Donnelly’s at The Shrub & Shutter

Donnelly’s has been going at The Bermondsey Street Bar & Kitchen so long that it’s pretty much a fully fledged restaurant by now. Not ones to rest on their laurels, though, they’ve launched a pop up in Brixton, too, at The Shrub & Shutter. You’ll find different dishes on the menu here, including cured ham croquettes with sherry vinaigrette; jerk spiced chicken with kohlrabi; and ray wing with green peppercorn sauce and sage.

Details: Tues-Sat evenings throughout March | 336 Coldharbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8QH
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Boca Chica at Rye Wax

Boca Chica – or ‘little mouth’ – has settled into the kitchens at Peckham’s late night vinyl den. They’re serving up classic street food from the Dominican Republic, like whole fried sea bream with sweet plantain; pica pollo (Dominican fried chicken); palmeritas (plantain chips with smokey aubergine); and Moro (rice & beans) with slow-cooked beef. And it’s all delicious.

Details: Tues-Sun until at least mid-March – stay tuned for updates | Rye Wax, Basement Block A, 133 Rye Lane, London SE15 4ST
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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: Thurs-Sun throughout March | 107 Lower Clapton Rd, E5 0NP
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Cucina Rustica

This Italian-Sicilian food outfit is on the pans at Gospel Oak pub The Gypsy Queen, specialising in authentic crispy-based pizzas topped with the likes of ‘Nduja sausage and mascarpone; aubergine with charred pepper tapenade; and parma ham with balsamic glaze. That said, their arancini, lasagne and Nutella-filled doughnuts are pretty special, too.

Details: Daily throughout March | The Gypsy Queen, 166 Malden Road, London NW5 4BS
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Sarap

An award-winning Filipino pop up hitting Brixton for at least six months with some truly excellent dishes, including their meltingly good Lechon Liempo pork belly with a gorgeously glassy, brittle crackling…

…and that’s Sarap. READ MORE

Details: Tuesday – Saturday until August | 14D Market Row, Cold Harbour Lane, Brixton, SW9 8LB
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Alter at Counter Culture

Counter Culture’s usual menu has er, altered slightly. Robin Gill’s dinky Clapham restaurant is currently overseen by chef in residence Andy Hogben, who’s serving up a nightly changing vegan menu. Previously, he’s manned the pans at Som Saa, Kym’s and Dabbous, so expect all manner of global culinary influences to crop up.

Details: Tues-Sat evenings until 28th March | 16 The Pavement, Clapham, South London, SW4 0HY
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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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Camden Town Brewery

The taproom beneath the railway arches of Camden Town Brewery is closed until the summer, when it’ll come back totally revamped. But in the meantime, the brewery will still be running a pop up version of the bar with all their best suds on tap.

Details: Open daily throughout March | 55-59 Wilkins Street Mews, NW5 3NN
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The Clumsies

Given their name, we can only assume the World’s 6th Best Bar team missed their flight back to Athens after their pop up at Madison last month, and are making the best of it by hosting another two. First up, they’ll be taking over the suave St. James’s Bar with a menu of exclusive cocktails, before joining forces with Soho’s Pittabun to serve a late night menu of cocktails and Greek street food.

St James Bar: 3rd & 4th March | Hotel Sofitel, 6 Waterloo Place, St. James’s, London SW1Y 4AN
Pittabun: 6th & 7th March | 4 Newburgh Street, Soho, W1F 7RF | £20 (inc. a drink, bun & chips)
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Paradiso

London’s getting spoilt for visits from the World’s Best Bars this month – hot on the heels of The Clumsies is Paradiso, a theatrical cocktail bar found behind a pastrami deli fridge door in Barcelona. For a few days, the team will be taking over the bar at 100 Wardour St, serving up their signature, one-of-a-kind serves – from Champagne Negronis to the Kriptonita, a glowing green gimlet supercharged with shiso, electric liquor, chocolate bitters and kaffir lime.

Details: 3-6th March | 100 Wardour Street, Soho, London W1F 0TN
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Dr. Stravinsky

Meanwhile another Barcelona native and #25 on the World’s Best Bars list, Dr. Stravinsky, will be settling in next door at The Den. Back home, the bar’s put together like a 19th century apothecary’s, with jars of homemade spirits and infusions lining the shelves. On their menu here you’ll find truffled tequila negronis; a wine-boosted whisky sour; and the Soil Martini, with vodka redistilled through soil…

Details: 5th-8th March | The Den, 98 Wardour Street, London W1F 0TN
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The Culpeper’s Winter Rooftop

The Culpeper have planted a cosy winter retreat amidst their rooftop garden, with a special warming menu of mulled cider and cocktails alongside cider-washed cheese, melty raclette, and Calvados-flambéed sagnaki (fried Greek cheese).

Details: Wednesday-Sunday throughout March | The Culpeper, 40 Commercial Street, E1 6LP
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The Espresso Martini Society

The Espresso Martini Society is back, and they’ve got an all-new line-up on the menu. Alongside the original classic recipe, you’ll also get a minty After Eight; a Strawberry Dream; Coco Loco and ‘the hot one’.

Oh, and it’s all you can drink. READ MORE

Details: 28th March | Ko Coffee, 258 Pentonville Road, N1 9JY | £25
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Chocolate Cocktail Club

If you like chocolate, cocktails, and clubs, then you’ll probably like it when the three intersect: The Chocolate Cocktail Club is here to serve you cocoa-laced booze until the end of April.

Details: Thurs-Sat until April 25th | 96 Leather Lane, EC1N 7TX | £9 (inc. welcome Chocotini)
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Bar Aspen

In English folklore, the leaves of an aspen tree are said to grant the wearer the ability to visit the underworld and – importantly – return safely. Which in fairly literal way is what you can do at Bar Aspen. Because it’s a subterranean natural wine speakeasy, popping up every Friday in a hidden Camden cellar. And it’s got live music.  READ MORE

Details: Fridays until May | The Cellars at Music & Beans, 82 Camden High Street, NW1 0LT
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The Emerald City at Queen of Hoxton

The Queen of Hoxton’s rooftop has taken a whirlwind trip to the Emerald City (Oz, not Dublin). You can expect green beers, hot buttered rums, a light dusting of Wiccan magic workshops and storytelling in their cosy wigwam. READ MORE

Details: Open daily throughout March | Queen of Hoxton, 1-5 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX
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