Something for the Weekend July 29- 31
It's your last chance to squeeze the last little bit of fun out of July. We suggest you do it like this
DRINK: Cocktails In The City
We like: sampling the wares of London's finest cocktail bars. We don't like: having to move from one such purveyor of alcoholic goodness to another. EFFORT. This is why we can't wait for the return of Cocktails In The City – a two-day alfresco extravaganza that has the genius idea of bringing 25 such bars together. In one place! With minimal walking required! That place is Bloombury's Bedford Square Garden, where you'll find the likes of The Cocktail Trading Co, Aqua Shard, Opium, Graphic… And us.
29-30 Jul; from £15
Cocktails in the City, Bedford Square, London, WC1B 3ES
FOOD: Patty & Bun Redchurch Street
Patty & Bun have a plan for global domination. It goes something like this: 1. Take over London's street-food scene with their brioche-burger truck (try the 'Smokey Robinson' – featuring a beef patty, cheese, caramelised onions, bacon and smoky P&B mayo – and you'll follow that darned truck wherever it goes, believe us). 2. Make the burger joint hip again, with a string of super-successful restaurants that add new sides and creative cocktails into the mix. And now, here comes phase 3: Invade the east London nightlife scene, with a new Redchurch St outpost where the upstairs burger bar hides a raucous, cocktail-fuelled speakeasy downstairs. Burgers, beats, booze: we like this new world order.
Opens 28 July
Patty & Bun, 36 Redchurch St, Shoreditch, E2 7PD
DRINK: Shout For Free Beer
If there's one thing better than craft beer, it's FREE craft beer. And that's just what's in store this Friday, as Camden Town Brewery celebrate the launch of its new limited edition lager, Strawberry Hells Forever, by giving away keg-fuls of the stuff. That's right, at seven London locations from 7pm, all you need to do is turn up, grab a glass and get some fruity beer goodness, GRATIS. Better yet, take a group of friends and have them be dazzled by your 'generosity' as you insist on getting a round in…
29 Jul, from 7pm until the keg runs dry
Locations: The Stag, Hampstead; Crooked Billet, Clapton; Caravan, Kings Cross; The Canonbury, Canonbury; The Flying Pig, East Dulwich; Camden's Daughter, Camden;
Caps and Taps, Kentish Town
NIGHTLIFE: Krankbrother Never Be Found Out Street Party
We've filed this under 'nightlife', but really this weekend is all about 'daylife' – because party starters Krankbrother are bringing their beats out into the sunshine. Back to host another edition of their Street Party series, the DJ duo will be closing down Shoreditch's Clifton Street and replacing boring old cars with big, fat electronic sounds from the likes of Gilles Petersen and Leon Vynehall. What's more, the theme is '70s New York disco, so expect dancers, drag queens and general fabulosity, plus street food and drinks aplenty. Not so much with the bunting though. It's not THAT kind of street party.
30 Jul, 1pm-10pm; from £21
Krankbrother Never Be Found Out Street Party
FOOD: Squirrel
Health food. The phrase usually conjures up some sort of mung-bean based goop recommended by an over-avid reader of, well, Goop. It doesn't, it's fair to say, scream lunchtime TREAT! Until now. New South Kensington hangout Squirrel's take on health food means colourful summer salads and protein-filled quinoa bowls, chunky avocado on toast and brightly topped organic yoghurts. Meanwhile hanging 'bird feeders' are full of nuts, seeds, fruit and roasted beans, and drinks include matcha lattes and reishi hot chocolate. And if this still isn't enough to sell you on health food, know this: here you'll dine inside an ACTUAL TREEHOUSE. Done.
Now open
Squirrel, 11 Harrington Road, South Kensington, SW7 3ES
EVENT: Elrow Daytime Beach Party
We're big fans of immersive party crew Elrow here at ELLE. Flamboyant costumes, amazing DJs, and - whisper it - glitter cannons... sure beats your average night down the local. And the good news is, they're taking a break from their Space Ibiza residency to bring the beach vibes right here to London. This Sunday, they're turning the outdoor space at Studio 338 into a Spanish fiesta, complete with flamenco-dancing señoritas, fearless matadors, acrobats, huge party beats - and confetti. A s**tload of confetti. In a word: unmissable.
31 Jul; £30
Elrow Daytime Beach Party, 338 Boord Street, SE10 0PF
THEATRE: River Stage Weekends
Down by the river, things are about to get very raucous indeed. Because for the next four weekends, the National Theatre's River Stage is throwing an almighty free festival packed with theatre, music, dance, DJs and all manner of eclectic performances. Each weekend sees a takeover from a guest curator – with the likes of Latitude Festival, Mayfest and the Rambert Dance Company in prospect. This weekend, however, belongs to east London's The Glory: drag landlords Jonny Woo and John Sizzle lead a glittering, high-heeled cast of underground stars in Glo Raves, beach parties and Drag-e-oke. Fabulous, darling.
29 Jul-29 Aug; free
National Theatre's River Stage, South Bank, London, SE1 9PX
MUSIC: Borderless
Brazilian samba. Ghanian soul. African funk. The place to find them all? Well, er, Battersea. OBVIOUSLY. Because for the next two months, Battersea Arts Centre hosts the non-more-diverse Borderless series of world music gigs, aiming to bring a global festival feel straight to south London. Highlights include Mobo Award-winning jazz trio Sons of Kemet, avant-garde Brazilian roots outfit Meta Meta, groovy dubsters Nubiyan Twist and multi-continental fusion collective Family Atlantica. It all kicks off on 2 August with the Hackney Colliery Band. Because Hackney is in the world too, you know…
2 Aug-29 Sept; from £12.50
Borderless, Battersea Arts Centre, Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN
EVENT Rebel Bingo
Feeling lucky ? Then get your self over to Clapham, grab a marker pen, fuel up on Moscow Mules at the bar (courtesy of Russian Standard Vodka), and wait for the fun to begin. Part show/part game/part clubnight, this is nothing like your ordinary granny bingo: expect dancers, DJs, glitter cannons, and giant pandas.
And since its birth in London (where else?), it is now a worldwide hit entertaining the masses from LA to Lovebox.
July 29, 8 pm
Rebel Bingo, The Grand, 21-25 St Johns Hill, London, SW11 1TT .
Tickets start at £10 online, £20 on the door
Russian Standard Vodka is taking the show to the Edinburgh Festival on selected dates from August 4th – 28th
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