Pop Up
Peckham’s become a bit of a rooftop terrace hub lately, but anyone after some al fresco dinner and drinks might be hard-pressed to find it at the usual suspects, which are typically rammed. So, if you don’t mind being closer to the ground, the terrace at Peckham Arches has you covered – literally. The canopied space is heated, has the capacity for 600 guests and adjoins an art gallery, screening room and dancefloor.
Ahead of the Netflix doc on Robbie Williams, the streaming giant is opening a pop-up shop dedicated to the singer in Covent Garden. The series is being released to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Robbie’s solo career and is promising a behind-the-scenes look at his rise to fame, and you’ll get a first glimpse at the pop-up. As well as being able to watch the first episode of the series before it airs, you’ll also be able to see even more never-before-seen archival footage from Robbie’s life, score some limited-edition merch and snap a selfie or two at the photo ops.
ELECTRIC WINTER
Between The Bridges on the South Bank is being transformed into Electric Winter, with the heated and covered areas, plus street food from the likes of BBQ Dept, Bang Bang Burger, The Duck Shed, Papi Chulo and Made of Dough. There’s a packed programme of entertainment too, with Old Dirty Brasstards, Masseoke, UKG Bingo, Swiftogeddon, and Sleigh Queen Drag Brunch featuring queens from Drag Race all hosting events so you won’t be short of festive fun.
WINTER MARKET AT SOUTHBANK CENTRE
Southbank is one of the most magical places to visit at Christmas, and they are spreading the cheer this year with a winter market featuring festive pop-ups and alpine-style chalets. As well as shopping, there’ll be street food on offer, including raclette, truffle burgers, duck wraps, and dutch pancakes, and hot bevvies to sip on.
DECK THE HALLS AT PERGOLA PADDINGTON
Pergola Paddington is transforming for another winter and this time it’s decking the halls with Christmas trees and twinkling lights. The upstairs level is turning into a winter forest complete with a lifesize Polar Express train whilst downstairs will be decked out like an alpine hall. As well as seasonal tipples like mulled wine, hot toddies, spiced ciders and boozy hot chocolates, there’ll be cheese fondue, bratwurst rolls, tarte flambée and pigs in blankets to tuck into. There’ll also be a series events, including gospel choir performances and Christmas movie screenings to get you all in the holiday spirit.
Founded by Nicole Compen, raye the store is a concept grocery store that showcases products across food, drink and wellness that all have a clear purpose and strong design. The latest edition of the pop-up shop in Covent Garden features health-conscious products from a whole host of innovative brands, 80% of which are vegan and 90% of which are from the UK, including JUX Food, Lovegrass Ethiopia, Left & Ripe, Mirror Margarita, Fermenti, BRISCO, Sixways, Indi and more. The store will also be hosting a range of events, including vinyasa yoga, candle making, gut health workshops and tasting sessions.
JIMMY GARCIA'S FIRE AND FROMAGE
Jimmy Garcia is taking over the South Bank this winter with Fire and Fromage. The alpine-inspired pop-up will feature a set of (heated, obvs) igloos, serving a menu including squash soup, fondue with charcuterie, sharing steaks to cook on hot stones, and apple & brandy crumble custard tart. Or you can go for the raclette bar menu with unlimited cheese and all kinds of nice things to smother it on. N-ice ice baby.
Indulge in a little friendly competition and sweep your way to glory this festive season at The Curling Club at the Southbank Centre. With five curling sheets, there’ll be plenty of chances for you to get on the ice and show off your skills, and there’ll be winter cocktails, alpine-inspired street food including bratwurst and raclette fries, and live entertainment to keep the party going after the games have finished.
MIRACLE AT HENRIETTA
The US’s renowned Miracle bar is coming back to London just in time for Christmas. Popping up on the Henrietta Hotel’s mezzanine, the Christmas-themed pop-up will be serving up their famous festive cocktails, including the Christmapolitan (vodka, elderflower, dry vermouth, spiced cranberry sauce, lime, rosemary & an absinthe mist) with a side of kitsch. You can also enjoy a selection of snacks from the Italian Supper Club at Henrietta whilst taking in the extravagant retro Christmas decorations and being transported back to Christmas past.
CLUB CURLING AT COAL DROPS YARD
Club Curling is back at Coal Drops Yard for some winter sports action for 2023 and this year, it’s nineties-themed. You can curl the night away on one of the six lanes in teams of up to six, and children under 12 play for free when accompanied by an adult. There’ll be a pop-up cocktail bar on site so you can have a festive tipple while you curl to the soundtrack of 90s anthems provided by weekly DJs.
MADAME PIGG AT ISLINGTON ARTS CLUB
We were sad to see Madame Pigg, one of our fave roast spots, close in Dalston and we’ve had to make do with the odd supper club here and there since then. Until now that is because Madame Pigg is coming back for seven whole weeks, taking over the Islington Arts Club on the weekends. The menu for Saturdays will change but you can expect dishes like porchetta buns, deep fried prawn baps and proper chips, and on Sundays, the famous Madame Pigg roasts will be front and centre, with the likes of roast beef with horseradish and Yorkshire pud, porchetta with red apple sauce and whole chicken with bread sauce on offer.
Underbelly is bringing skating to the West End this winter with an elliptical shaped rink, inspired by the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity logo, in Hanover Square. Skate West End will be raising money for GOSH by donating a percentage from each ticket sold to the charity to support its vital research into paediatric brain tumours. Once you’ve whizzed round the ice (or if you only want to spectate, not skate) you can head to the central bar for a hot toddy.
CHOOSE LOVE STORE
Choose Love, the charity pop-up shop that raises much-needed funds to help refugees and displaced people around the world, is back for 2023 and just in time from Christmas so you can buy gifts with purpose. The Choose Love Shop will be stocked with essential supplies and life-saving interventions for refugees and displaced people around the world – everything from a warm coat to emergency housing. Shoppers will be able to buy these winter essentials which will then be sent out to those in need in either your name or the name of someone you love. Last year, the pop-up was able to raise £1.2 million in funds to support Choose Love’s humanitarian work. As always, the Choose Love Shop will also run a series of in-store events and workshops up until Christmas. Visitors will get the chance to catch film screenings, live music performances and craft sessions from the likes of Pioneer, Resident Advisor and Asylum Speakers.
HAMPTON COURT PALACE
With 11,194 sq ft of ice, a 26-foot Christmas tree, and a Tudor palace as a backdrop, there’s no better place to go for a spin than Hampton Court Palace. And when it comes to refuelling, you’ve got winter treats like plenty of mulled wine and mince pies on offer at the ice rink cafe. YUM.
ANYA HINDMARCH AT HOLBORN DINING ROOM'S PIE ROOM
As part of the Rosewood’s tenth birthday celebrations, Holborn Dining Room’s Pie Room windows and pie boxes will be covered in Anya Hindmarch signature eyes motif, and as well as picking up a tasty takeaway treat from Head Pie Maker Nokx Majozi, you’ll also be able to buy a limited-edition Anya Hindmarch ‘Pie with Eyes’ keyring. From midday on 9th October, you could bag one of 50 free pies, and throughout the week, the team will be hiding golden tickets inside some of the pies, with prizes like an overnight stay at the Rosewood and a private dining experience at the Pie Room. During the weekend of the takeover, Anya Hindmarch will also be popping up in the hotel’s lobby with pieces from her Labelled collection and a personalisation station so you can add a bespoke touch to the leather goods.
NEXT DAY SOLAR | LONDON'S FIRST SOLAR-POWERED POP-UP SHOP
Renewable energy company Next Day Solar has opened London’s first solar-powered pop-up shop in Covent Garden. The store has two solar panels installed outside to provide on-site electricity generation and the interior has made use of recycled materials wherever possible to keep it sustainable. Inside you can shop from a range of solar products, including solar-powered toys, garden lights, charging power boxes and portable solar panels, and there’s also a space where you can find out more info on renewable energy and the benefits of using solar power.
It’s been 100 years since Batman first appeared in DC Comics and to celebrate, Warner Bros. is bringing an immersive experience to London. Titled ‘Batman Unmasked’, the pop-up will feature a huge selection of costumes, props and vehicles spanning the entirety of the Caped Crusader’s cinematic history (from Michael Keaton’s Batman in 1989 to Christian Bale’s Dark Knight to Robert Pattinson’s 2022 take on the superhero). There’ll also be a ‘Joker Zone’, dedicated to the legendary villain, which will include two of Heath Ledger’s costumes from The Dark Knight (2008) and Joaquin Phoenix’s costume from Joker (2019), and over 100 comics will also be on display in a special comic book area. If you’re a Bat-fan, you won’t wanna miss this.
Rowley Leigh is getting back into the London restaurant game with Chez Rowley, which’ll be in residence at Notting Hill’s Laylow this autumn. As head chef at Kensington Place and then running Cafe Anglais (which closed in 2014), Leigh built a rep as one of the leading lights in modern British cookery, and his cooking has been much missed over the last decade. Chez Rowley will have an Italian-leaning bistro menu that showcases classic dishes and techniques, with dishes like raw bavette with cep toast & gribiche dressing; cuttlefish & clams on toast; seared mackerel with bread sauce & pickled gooseberries; and a signature dish of whole roast chicken with anchovies, black olives, onion, garlic, thyme & white wine, served with hispi cabbage & pangrattato, with the offering evolving as the seasons change.