Waiters sprint trays of sparkling wine around Soho Square while the fire brigade takes on the police in a tug of war. No this isn’t a standard night out in Soho. This is the 51st edition of the Soho Village Fete.
St Anne’s Gardens will host the Soho Village Fete on Sunday 19th July, one of the last community-run fetes left in central London. The whole thing is organised by volunteers and headline sponsored this year by Square, and the bill runs from Morris dancers and a dog show to snail racing and a spaghetti-eating contest. The main draw is still the Soho Waiters’ Race: hospitality staff from the likes of Dean Street Townhouse and L’Escargot racing from The French House and back with a bottle of Nyetimber, a glass and an ashtray balanced on a tray. The French House runs the bar for the afternoon, and the day closes with a drag finale led by Minnie Diamond. It comes at a moment when Soho’s late-night culture is under pressure from residents pushing for earlier closing times, which makes a free, daytime, entirely community-run fete feel like a useful reminder of what the area still has going for it beyond the nightlife fights.
Entry is free and first-come, first-served, so turn up early if you want to get in.
Key Information
Date | Sun 19th July, 12pm – 6pm
Address | St Anne’s Gardens, Wardour Street, W1D
For more information | www.thesohosociety.org.uk
