Jump to: Residences and pop-ups | Events
Pop-ups and residencies in London are getting more interesting by the week. Now you'll see some excellent food popping up everywhere from disused restaurant spaces to residencies in pubs across town. We're rounding up some of the best below.
The Polo Lounge at The Dorchester Rooftop
Where: 53 Park Ln, London W1K 1QA
When: Until 31 August 2021
London's reputation as a staycation hotspot has just got an injection of pure West Coast glamour with the news that the Polo Lounge is popping up here this summer. The famous Los Angeles restaurant from The Beverly Hills Hotel will spend the whole of July and August on the rooftop of The Dorchester.
Erev at Maria's Market Café
Where: The Market Porter, 9 Stoney St, London SE1 9AA
When: Until September 2021
Erev is the supperclub of Borough Market Kitchen resident Shuk. They're taking over Maria's Market Cafe in the evening for Middle Eastern sharing food inspired by family recipes, hand-picked produce from Borough Market and a produce-inspired cocktail menu
Chase Lovecky at P Franco
Where: Clapton - 107 Lower Clapton Rd, London E5 0NP
When: Ongoing
While his own restaurant Two Lights was a victim of lockdowns, Chase Lovecky is now in place as the latest chef manning the hobs at P Franco. A veteran of Momofoku Ko, Clove Club and more, look out for brand new dishes from him with the occasional touch of new-wave Americana.
Anders' Terrace
Where: Stratford - 9 Endeavour Square, London E20 1JN
When: Until the end of summer
Over in Stratford the restaurant group D&D (think German Gymnasium, Bluebird, 14 Hills) has just opened a pop up outdoors restaurant. Set in Endeavour Square, the summery spot is hoping to bring the flavour of the Alps to East London.
Auntie Banh Mi at Homeboy
Where: Islington - 108 Essex Rd, London N1 8LX
When: Ongoing
The original Islington Homeboy has a Laotian Banh Mi - Khao Jee Pâté pop-up from Auntie Banh Mi - with the Auntie Favourite including 24hr roasted pork, Auntie's cha lua, fired spam, family jeow, chicken liver pate and more besides.
Hot 4 U
Where: Prince Arthur, London Fields and The Plough, Homerton
When: Ongoing
Hot 4 U, Eddy Tejada (ex-St John and Silo) and Matthew Scott (ex-Head Chef of Cub), were one of the big successes of the first lockdown and now they have two residencies in East London. Expect a regularly changing menu with a strong focus on zero-waste - and some amazing buns too. (Photo by Caitlin Isola)
Newcomer Wines X SSAW Collective
Where: Dalston - 5 Dalston Ln, London E8 3DF
When: Ongoing
SSAW Collective (Spring Summer Autumn Winter) is a community of growers and makers focused on ethical and seasonal produce, while Newcomer itself focuses on an all organic, biodynamic and natural wine list.
Rogues London
Where: Hackney Coffee Co, 503 Hackney Rd, London E2 9ED
When: Ongoing
Rogues is made up of the pair Freddie Sheen and Zac Whittle, who first worked together at Galvin La Chapelle. The current Rogues menu has a focus on fire and BBQ with dishes including Highland Wagyu Skirt with XO Vinaigrette and BBQ Onions.
Tigre Tacos
Where: Holborn - Gunmakers, 13 Eyre St Hill, London EC1R 5ET
When: Ongoing
Up until now, Tigre Tacos have been popping up with their food truck at the alfresco Nine Lives Alley. This is their permanent residency at Gunmakers in Clerkenwell. There'll be baja fish and camarones tacos among the dishes on the Mexican menu.
All's Well with Chantelle Nicholson
Where: Hackney - 171 Mare Street, London E8 3RH
When: Ongoing
Chef-owner of Tredwells, Chantelle Nicholson is behind this Hackney pop-up. Hyper seasonal, sustainable plates are at the heart of the menu which will celebrate produce from across the UK. Organic and biodynamic fruit and vegetables will be delivered bi-weekly from Kent and Sussex while pasture-fed, organic meat will be from Wiltshire and there are plans to work with more innovative producers.
Satsu at The Gun
Where: Hackney - 235 Well St, London E9 6RG
When: Ongoing
Called Satsu (that means ‘murder’ or ‘kill’ in Japanese - a play on The Gun's name), this is from Reece Moore (Four Legs, Dabbous, Texture and Bao), Jenny Phung (pop up Ling Ling’s) and James Shepherd (ran Haggerston cocktail bar, Shep’s). The menu is pitched as "Western dishes are subtly punctuated with an eastern influence".
Stoney Street by Night x Tom Cenci
Where: Borough - Stoney Street, 2-3 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AA
When: Runs Wednesday to Saturday nights
Tom Cenci (Loyal Tavern) is back behind the stoves again. This time he's running a residency at Stoney Street in Borough Market with beef at the heart of the menu. The restaurant had recently transformed itself into a wine bar in the evenings, and owner Alex Hely-Hutchinson decided to use the evening slots as a way to bring in and help out chefs affected by the pandemic.
Alter at Leman Locke
Where: Whitechapel - 15 Leman St, London E1 8EN
When: Returns 19 May 2021
They already had a successful stint at Counter Culture in Clapham, but now Alter from Andy Hogben (previously Dabbous, Som Saa and Kym's) has a residency in Aldgate's Leman Locke aparthotel. The vegan residency has set up there in the Shaman restaurant.
Tendril
Where: Soho - Sun & 13 Cantons, 21 Great Pulteney St, London W1F 9NG
When: Ongoing
This comes from Rishim Sachdeva, previously at Chiltern Firehouse, Almeida and The Dairy and who is now going it alone with Tendril, serving up a plant-based menu, based on British cuisine with a vegetarian/vegan twist.
Flat Earth Pizza
Where: Railway Tavern, 2 St Jude St, Mildmay Ward, London N16 8JT
When: Ongoing
Rich Baker and Sarah Brading's Flat Earth is back with plant-based pizzas using sustainable ingredients. Last year they were first runner up in the 2019 Sustainable Lifestyle Awards best restaurant of the year - and now they're opening at The Plough in Homerton for a long-term residency.
Filthy Buns at the Three Compasses
Where: Dalston - 99 Dalston Lane, London E8 1NH
When: Ongoing
Filthy Buns, led by exec chef John Gladwell, will be settling down for a residency in the pub following their start on the street food scene. Expect plenty of beer cheese.
Liu Xiaomian at the Jackalope
Where: Marylebone - The Jackalope, 43 Weymouth Mews, London W1G 7EG
When: Ongoing
This was originally a street food stall was started by Charlene Liu and her flatmate Liu Qian, serving up a Sichuan menu based on Chongqing food. Expect a variety of Chongqing noodles, daily chefs specials and more.
Four Legs at the Compton Arms
Where: Islington - Compton Arms, 4 Compton Avenue, London N1 2XD
When: Ongoing
Four Legs are Jamie Allan (ex-Hill & Szrok) and Ed McIlroy (ex-Bao). Their menus at The Compton Arms change regularly, depending on what's in season - and what's good right now. And their burger is touted as being one of the very best in London.
The Gherkin Summer Sunset Series
With the end of restrictions in sight, we couldn’t be more excited for Searcys at The Gherkin’s Summer Sunset Series. London’s original sky-high restaurant is running a series of spectacular dinners from Saturday 24 July, and then every Friday evening throughout August.
Watch the sun set over London from level 39 and 40 and enjoy a five-course tasting menu of seasonal summer dishes, accompanied with two glasses of paired wine and a cocktail on arrival. And with tables of more than six back on the agenda, this is the place to celebrate with friends and family. Priced at £119 per person.
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7-18 July 2021 - Taste of London - The festival returns, this time over a two week period. Expect 30 restaurants to take part with more details revealed in the run-up to the event.
11 July - Join an online miso making workshop to celebrate Japan Centre's 45th birthday. Livestreamed from Kanazawa, Seiichi Yamamoto, CEO of Yamato Soy Sauce & Miso Company will be revealing his miso secrets for free.
13-17 July - Former Typing Room chef Lee Westcott is back in London working on a new project. And while that's in the offing, he has a residency at Carousel, partnering with The Botanist Gin for a menu of seasonal wild ingredients. The set dinner menu is £75.
14 July - Sam's Riverside is holding a wine event at Phoenix Farm in White City, pairing food with six wines from Gusbourne. The event will also raise money for the Hammersmith Community Gardens Association. Tickets are £75 and you can book at hello@samsriverside.co.uk
15-18 July - The Magnum Pleasure Sensarium is popping up at The Truman Brewery for four days of immersive ice-cream action. Tickets are £10.
22 July - Adam Byatt is cooking for a special wine dinner at his Mayfair restaurant Charlie's at Brown's Hotel. The seven course menu is being served to just 20 guests and sees each course paired with award-winning wines from Kent and Sussex. Tickets are £170 with the wine pairing. Email aroch@roccofortehotels.com to book.
30-31 July - Cult Cardiff popup Matsudai Ramen is coming to London with two dates at the BFI Bar & Kitchen on the South Bank. But hurry - tickets are going fast.
9-10 August: Book now for the next Phil Howard & Thomas Straker supperclub (the last one sold out in minutes). Their tasting menu showcases the duo's new OTTO pasta delivery service. Dinner is £65.
3-5 September 2021- Meatopia - The festival of meat returns to Tobacco Dock with a promising array of chefs signed up.
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Dine to the music of the orchestra’s talented string quartet in the richly beautiful setting of Butlers Restaurant. Executive Head Chef Nathan Hindmarsh has created a delicious seven-course tasting menu which features the finest seasonal ingredients, including hand-dived Orkney scallops with sea herbs, fillet of Japanese wagyu, Baron Bigod fondue, and Valrhona chocolate with cognac ice cream. Each course will be served alongside Champagne from partner Lanson and wine from the hotel collection’s sister vineyard Bouchard Finlayson.
