28 things to do in London this weekend September 14-15

An extra dose of sunshine is expected this week for us Londoners. It won’t be shorts weather (sorry to disappoint) but we can at least look forward to a sunny and calm Saturday and Sunday, and hopefully no rain.

With that in mind, it’s the perfect opportunity to make the most of what’s on this weekend, and we’ve got a packed list. From an all-new immersive experience for Batman fans, to the best bars to celebrate Negroni Week.

Enjoy a wholesome day and take your dog along woof you to The Big Woof. Or, experience one of the many foodie events happening in the capital (CelebrASIA or Black Eats Fest).

Read on for a whole range of recommendations for 14 and 15 September, handpicked as always by The Slice.

Don’t miss

1. Batman Unmasked

Coming to London is an all-new immersive experience. Batman fans will be happy to know that the experience gives you the chance to see a never-before-seen UK collection of original props, vehicles, and costumes direct from the archives. There will be 9 themed rooms to explore, plus Pattinson’s Batmobile from ‘The Batman’.

Full review coming soon in the Slice Newsletter! Sign up here so you don’t miss out.

2. Try a magical Harry Potter Afternoon Tea

Now it’s September, we’ve gone back to Hogwarts to experience a truly spell-binding afternoon tea. Surrounded by floating candles in the Great Hall at Warner Bros Studio, devour Molly Weasley’s sandwiches, butterbeer scones, and even a chocolate frog macaron. 

The Hogwarts pie, a beef brisket with flaky pastry, was like a mini Great Feast, but the sweets are the true stars — white chocolate and raspberry Golden Snitches, and a pumpkin loaf cake from Hagrid’s patch that was too cute to handle. The butterbeer scones are expecto patronYUM, with pockets of fudge and heavenly cream that would give Honeydukes a run for their money. Lupin’s chocolate macaron was the real chosen one, rich and perfectly crispy.

Maybe Professor Lupin was onto something with his chocolate obsession… My only wish? Some themed cutlery and plates to match the magical vibe like a grim tea cup, Umbridge’s kitschy collection, or something from the Black Manor vaults…

From £39.75pp, must be booked with a Studio Tour Ticket. Warner Bros Studio, Leavesden. Book here.

It’s getting spookier… Warner Bros Studio Tour London launches its Dark Arts feature on 13 September to celebrate the run up to Halloween. Find out more here.

3. Raise a glass at Good Measure, beneath Tooting’s Daddy Bao

New basement bar Good Measure is hidden in the basement of Tooting’s neighbourhood restaurant Daddy Bao. It’s all very intimate — you’re seated around one big rectangular table in the centre of the small, softly-lit space.

Expect a selection of drinks that use ingredients and flavours inspired by Taiwan’s vibrant culinary scene (our fave is the plum green delicately made with sake, whisky and green tea). And the bar snacks? They’re not just your typical fare, we’re talking succulent beef tataki, tuna tartare on nori rice crackers, and spicy furikake crisps. The old skool hip hop and low fi playlist are a great addition too. Experience Good Measure on Friday and Saturday nights.

Bar snacks from £3. Cocktails from £11. Downstairs at Daddy Bao. 113 Mitcham Road. Tooting. Walk-in only.

4. Say Cheers! to Negroni Week (16-22 September)

The Little Violet Door. £9. Best for: low/no alcohol. Book here.

It’s officially Negroni Week next week (16-22 September)! And a negroni without any alcohol still counts as a negroni, you know. So for those of you looking for a ‘clean’ version of the classic apéritif, you’re in luck. The Little Violet Door’s Ford Vs Ferrari is made with non-alcoholic Pentire Adrift, Martini Vibrante and Crodino, served on the rocks. Even better, it will only set you back £9. They also do a ‘normal’ negroni named Sunset Boulevard made with Silent Pool Gin, Campari, Martini Ambrato and Watermelon. 

Rudy’s. Pizzas from £8.90; Negronis, £8.50. Best for: lining your stomach. Book here.

Rudy’s are experts at making good pizza, and the reviews back that up. In fact, its Tottenham Court Road branch holds the number one spot for pizza in London. So of course we had to give the city’s alleged favourite pizza a try… and well, the reviews weren’t wrong. For Negroni Week, Rudy’s has a selection of limited edition negronis from a classic version to a grapefruit negroni (our pick) made with Rosa Malfy grapefruit, Aperol, and Cocchi rosa. This month, score a free pizza and negroni by wearing a Rudy’s Negroni Month t-shirt (£35, available nationwide) to any Rudy’s Pizza.

SOUND at the Cumberland Hotel. £15. Best for: a good deal. Book here.

Marble Arch based bar has all sorts of negronis on their menu, with all sorts of fun names in honour of the greatest in rock and roll, country and pop music. You can get The Jimi Hendrix, made with Hendriks Gin, Campari, Antica Formula, Purple Edible Glitter – or maybe The Lady Gaga takes your fancy? But the real fun starts for those of you named, Jim, Jimmy, James, Hendrix, Buddy, Holly, Lady Gaga, or Dasha. If you’re lucky enough for your name to be on the list, you can bag yourself a complimentary negroni and main course at SOUND. 

5. Say hello to the country’s largest festival of history and culture

The country’s largest festival of history and culture is back: Heritage Open Days features a host of different events.

Dive into history with tours around off-limits museum collections, pottery workshops, and a tour up the Brixton windmill. You can also look forward to a bit of nostalgia with free heritage bus rides in southeast London on the old red London buses. Runs until 15 September, all events here.

6. Indulge in rom-com sweetness with Shifters at Duke of York’s Theatre

Prepare to laugh, gasp and cry at the West End’s brand new heartwarming rom-com, Shifters. Following a hugely successful run at Bush Theatre, Benedicte Lombe’s tale of long-lost love has transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre with Tosin Cole, star of Netflix’s Supacell, reprising his role alongside Heather Agyepong. 

It follows a young Black couple who reconnect years after they first dated and must decide, by the end of the night, whether to continue their sizzling romance or part ways again, for good. Shifters is a gorgeous exploration of soulmates and trauma, while the chemistry between Cole and Agyepong will leave you lusting for more. But at the heart of Shifters is the humour which is so perfectly executed by the two leads. It’s a more than worthy watch that promises to warm your heart and soul. 

Tickets from £25. Until October 12, Duke of York’s Theatre, Covent Garden. Tickets from £29.50. Book here. 

7. Take your dog along woof you to The Big Woof

Get practicing your downward dog, as The Big Woof comes to Coal Drops Yard this weekend. Running from 14 – 15 September, this FREE 2-day canine wellness festival promises a weekend filled with fun, fur, and frolics dedicated to our beloved four-legged friends.

Think doggie yoga, talent shows, dog tarot card reading, soundbath, dog massages and more. You’d be barking mad to miss it…

8. South East Asian food galore at CelebrASIA

In a huge celebration of South East Asian food, CelebrASIA and Battersea Power Station will take visitors on a journey though the region. Between 13th – 15th September, expect to enjoy traditional delicacies including a chicken satay burger from Chick’N’Sours created in collaboration with Mandy Yin exclusively for CelebrASIA. More info here. 

9. Get your Olympic fix at Run To The Future

Inspired by the Paris 2024 Paralympics? Join Paralympian Richard Whitehead and DJ Adele Roberts on Sunday 15 September at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for Run To The Future, a special race that’s all about celebrating diversity.

Whether you choose to run, walk or push, the inclusive running event is open to all. Sign up for either a 2k or 5k here, entry from £15.

10. Immerse yourself in the array of cuisines within the Black diaspora

Black Eats LDN is celebrating its 4th year anniversary with their third and final event of the year, Black Eats Fest between 14th – 15th September. The event showcases the best of Black-owned food, drink and retail vendors, and highlights the diversity of cuisines within the Black diaspora.

Black Eats LDN has also released an expanded directory of 505 Black-owned restaurants ahead of Black Eats Fest. Book here, entry from £8.80 for a child and £15.50 for an adult.  

11. Try your luck at Hijingo Bingo

Forget what you thought about bingo – old ladies in a village hall this is most definitely not. Shoreditch’s futuristic Hijingo Bingo is now on Generation 2.0, which means even more neon lights, pumping dance music, and faintly unnerving Squid Games energy.

The new version is hosted by AVA, a smooth-voiced and slightly threatening AI bot, with two faceless ‘Hijingobots’ as her grooving assistants, who’ll guide you through two hours and six games of fast-paced bingo action. And if you win? Be brave and get up on stage – it’s time to show off your best dance moves for a chance to score anything from a robot vacuum to a holiday.

Don’t worry if you think your number crunching skills aren’t up to scratch (which they very well may not be after a couple of ‘Blade-Rummer’ cocktails), all called numbers are shown on the board, while masked helpers will double check your card to make sure you’ve not missed anything (or that you’re not staying quiet to avoid going onstage). It’s very fast, very fun, and completely bonkers. 

Tickets from £12 and food and beverage packages from £29. Book here.

12. Expect pizza with all sorts of spooky twists at Lost Souls Pizza

Now we’re in September, spooky season is officially brewing. We’re starting off my sinking our fangs into Lost Souls Pizza a vampire-themed pizzeria just a short walk from Camden Town station.

Known for their black pizza, killer cocktails, and electrifying playlists, this quirky joint has an atmosphere straight out of a slasher movie: think skull lampshades and murals of The Crow. We tried ‘Ready Pizza One’ with veggie sausage, red chili, and spicy green pineapple relish in a pentagram (the spicy pineapple sauce was to die for—we’d buy it by the jar!). They’re getting into Halloween spirit early with a house party on Friday 13th (obviously). We might end up haunting this place for eternity…

House party tickets £13. 245 Eversholt St, Camden. Book here.

13. Dip your toes into the podcasting world at The London Podcast Festival

Fancy yourself a good listener? The London Podcast Festival at King’s Place (5-15 September) is the perfect place to sit back, wind down and hear from a bunch of different voices.

Look forward to hearing Frank Film Club, co-hosted by Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams – plus I Weigh with Jameela Jamil, and plenty more. There will even be classes and workshops so you can dip your toes into the world of podcasting.

Tickets and more info here.

14. Birthday freebies at Humble Grape

Raise a toast to Humble Grape this September, as they celebrate their 15th birthday with a whole month with freebies and surprises. Every Tuesday, check the clues on their Instagram to find the Grape Mascot on a boozy treasure hunt around London to be in the chance to win £150 dining vouchers, free bottles of wine and much more!

Various locations. Book a table here, Supper Club tickets from £95pp available here.

Best places to eat

15. Take a stroll down Eccleston Yards into Cornus

People usually talk about a new opening ‘finding its feet’. Not Cornus. It’s located all of its limbs and is cracking on with being a smart, effortlessly dynamic and exciting hotspot serving innovative and tasty dishes alongside a jackpot wine list. I couldn’t have been more impressed by the place, and it only opened in August.

Founded by the two chaps behind Chelsea’s game-changing Medlar restaurant, Cornus is set in upmarket Eccleston Yards. It’s swish (we’re talking dedicated lift and crisp, white cloth-covered tables swish), but the atmosphere is unexpectedly relaxed.

We were tasting their three-course set menu, which aside from being decent value for money, is compact, complex and flavoursome. I don’t usually write about amuse bouches, but this posh puff was simultaneously logic-defyingly light, airy, decadently molten cheesy and crunchy. Then came the freshest Cornish mackerel nicoise and Landes chicken with roasted chicken fat and thyme brioche for starters, followed by lightly roasted leg of rabbit with girolles and grain mustard sauce for main.

Though the starters outperformed the mains, none would have sung as sweetly without accompanying wines from super-accomplished Head Sommelier, Melania Battison. Her wine list is refreshing in its inclusion of lesser-known producers and has some belters around the £8-9/glass mark. Next time I’m trying their signature Cornish lobster and caviar dish with a glass of Greek Assyrtiko, who’s with me?

Set lunch menu £55. 27c Eccleston Pl, Belgravia. Book here.

16. Take a trip to the seaside at Manzi’s Soho

By Jeremy Ullmann

Looking up from your table at Manzi’s and you can see blue paint strokes covering the ceiling, mimicking waves. The chandeliers have just the right amount of zoomorphic design that my friend was convinced was an octopus.

These subtle allusions are offset by some much more direct references to being by the sea: swathes of light blue, turquoise table lights, fish-shaped water jugs and crab-shaped salt and pepper shakers. It should feel cringey, but it is so charming, so relaxing, so surprisingly affordable that it’s everything a trip to the seaside should be.

The menu is a pleasant variety of seafood staples, all presented beautifully. Highlights include sweet Dorset crab and an impossibly soft sea trout tart. Wash it all down with the Casablanca cocktail – a smoky variation on a classic Margarita. No need to splash out here, £30 at Manzi’s goes a long way, which is refreshing considering its prime Soho spot – hidden in a side street just off Soho Square Gardens.

Set menus from £15.95. À la carte mains from £15. 1-8 Bateman’s Buildings, Soho. Book here.

17. Quality small plates at Half Cut Market

By Jeremy Ullmann

There’s something so wonderful about finding a really good neighbourhood restaurant. And man, Half Cut Market is a really, really good neighbourhood restaurant. What is most impressive is the sheer quality and creativity of the dishes, considering their new chef Aidan Richardson has been running the kitchen for just a couple of months.

The menu changes regularly (a sign of dependency on seasonal food plus the calibre of the chef), which makes recommendations difficult, but we’ve been assured the chocolate eclair is a regular – so order it if it’s there. Eclairs that crunch like this one, that have a chocolate mousse so light and creamy, and a topping cherry coulis so floral, so brilliant, deserve to be hung up in the Louvre, let alone a cosy wine bar in Caledonian Road. If you’re lucky and they’re on the menu, we strongly recommend the sardine toast with fresh eel mousse or the braised carrots covered with salty roe mayonnaise. Half Cut is a gem; once you know about it, you’ll be showing it off to everyone you know.

Small plates from £7. 396 York Way, Caledonian Road. Book here.

18. Veggie-forward dining at Holy Carrot

By Sama Ansari Pour

Before we even get started on the food, we have to talk about the decor. Cosy, intimate and stylish. Perfect for a first date or really good Instagram pics – take your pick. Now, onto the main event: the menu is seasonal and shifts depending on what’s fresh, so you know that thought and care has been put into the dishes you’re about to eat. Take my word for it and order the stracciatella, peach, hazelnut, pumpkin seed salsa matcha.

The combo sounds strange, but works so well. The juicy peach bursts in your mouth, whilst the creamy stracciatella (complemented with a hint of spicy salsa) takes you on a culinary journey you didn’t know you needed. You won’t miss meat if you order the oyster mushroom al pastor. It tastes just the same, or dare I say better? Top it off with a matcha ‘tiramisu’ (I would eat five of them in a row) and that’s your perfect dinner curated. I might have to go vegan now.

Small plates from £8. 156 Portobello Rd, Notting Hill. Book here.

19. Eat at Mexican and North American inspired Rita’s Soho

By Rob Buckhaven

Beloved Soho eatery, Rita’s, has only gone and updated their lunch menu for autumn. The new menu draws on inspiration from the cantinas of Mexico and the bars of North America with fresh, flavour-forward creations like grilled shrimp with fermented chilli and garlic, fillet steak ‘miso poivre’ with fries and oak smoked pork belly with spring greens and peach.

The wine list is sustainable and low intervention with references from the likes of Greece and Slovakia, alongside a superb selection of hard and soft cocktails loaded with fresh ingredients. What started as a pop-up in Hackney has been gentrified into a bricks and mortar ‘American-accented’ Soho dining spot, thank goodness. Set up by celebrated restauranteurs Gabriel Pryce and Missy Malik-Flynn three years ago, the food and drink offering is inspired by their stateside travels. I bet they’ve got some stories to share…

Mains from £26. Open for lunch Thurs-Sat 12-3pm. 49 Lexington St, Carnaby. Book here.

20. Visit Brixton fave Fish, Wings & Tings

By Lola Christina Alao

A walk down SW9’s vibrant Atlantic Road puts you near the end of Brixton market, where Fish, Wings & Tings – the brainchild of Trini chef Brian Danclair – lives.

The deliciously tender curried chicken and perfectly flaky roti is a standout, and while the jerk chicken is sweeter than you’d typically expect, the saltfish fritters swing in to save the day and create the ultimate flavour balance – its bright specks of scotch bonnet loudly make itself known to create a moreish dish I could’ve easily eaten double of.

And, just round the corner, the sun illuminates a joyful gospel choir as they sing and sway back and forth. You just can’t beat the atmosphere of Brixton Market, and Fish Wings & Tings is the perfect place to take it all in. 

Brixton Village, Brixton. Book here.

21. Enjoy Korean-Japanese food at Jang

Perched on a mezzanine sits Jang, which is knocking Korean-Japanese dishes out of the grade I listed building it’s housed in. Start with a Subak Royal cocktail, their version of an Aperol Spritz which goes surprising well with their Jang KFC starter, aka crispy, juicy bundles of chicken drizzled with sticky-spicy gochujang sauce. Follow up with the intricately delicious 8-piece sushi, served on a silver crocodile, obviously.

For the main, the K-BBQ brings theatre to your table with slices of sirloin sizzling on the coals of Japanese barbecue, with a revelatory plate of condiments including wasabi butter, chimichurri and pollock roe.

Also on your order sheet should be the delicately sweet black cod miso alongside the most flavoursome bone broth for pouring or dunking. Finish on a naughty note with the Kkwabaegi Korean doughnut – basically a plaited churro accompanied by salted caramel ice cream and Biscoff crumble.

Mains from £22. First Floor, Royal Exchange, The City. Book here.

22. Get into the silly Mrs Doubtfire mood at Colonel Saab

Dinner and a show is a long celebrated tradition of theatre goers, but Colonel Saab’s collaboration Mrs Doubtfire takes it to another level. The Indian restaurant has devised a dining adventure that celebrates the 90s film in all its chaotic glory, without compromising on taste. Start with a Chachi 420 (which is named after the Bollywood remake of Mrs Doubtfire), a gin-based cocktail that morphs from blue to purple just like the movie’s shapeshifting protagonist.

Each dish is named after a catchphrase or scene – ‘Hellooo’ Gutti vankaya and ‘Poppet’s’ panner pakeezah – and all are served by enthusiastic waiters wearing grey haired wigs and aprons with burn marks. The Jumping Jehosafatsi Jalpurl aloo potatoes are crisped to perfection with a gentle spice kick, and the Layered in Love mishti dol cheesecake finale was as light as Mrs Doubtfire’s spirit.

Colonel Saab is the perfect place to get in a silly mood to the hilarious West End show (the location is ideal too – you’ll only need to walk couple of minutes to arrive at Shaftesbury Theatre). 

Mrs Doubtfire Experience Menu is £60pp for five courses including colour changing cocktail. Mrs Doubtfire Set Lunch Menu is £35pp for two courses. 193-197 High Holborn, Holborn. Book here.

Where to go for a drink

23. Visit Shoreditch’s gorgeous new bar Chiave

By Jeremy Ullmann

Probably the best part of the Chiave experience is sitting on the table that stretches the width of the bar facing out onto Redchurch Street – with the full vibrancy of a Shoreditch neighbourhood on constant display in front of you like a cinema screen. It’s to Chiave’s credit that even a man riding a penny farthing down the street is merely a quirky addition, rather than a distraction from the calming space and fantastic cocktail menu.

Expect a list of eccentric cocktail names (because…Shoreditch) including the Electric Lullaby, Doomsday and Libertango. The Street Spirit was a personal favourite, with the sweetness of the salted caramel wonderfully contrasted by the liquorice tones from the Rakı spirit. ‘Chiave’ is the Italian word for key, and on select nights, Chiave’s secret is unlocked, and you can head downstairs to their intimate dance floor for an after-hours boogie.  

Cocktails from £11. 36 Redchurch St, Shoreditch. Book here. 

24. Grab a bottle at Bottles

By Jeremy Ullmann

Bottles is a gorgeous little spot with a colourful aesthetic that seems to mix an authentic Mediterranean wine bar and a French bohemian dining spot.

There’s an exhaustive (and we mean exhaustive) wine list focusing primarily on Italy and France but includes a ‘new world’ section ranging from New Zealand to Georgia – some using indigenous grapes, others are organic, vegan, riserva or orange.

There’s also an excellent small food menu with which the chefs very nearly steal the wine’s thunder. Is Bottles a date spot or a post-work food stop? Frankly, we don’t know and we don’t care. Just go and crack a bottle. It’s a 10 either way.

Wine bottles from £35. Mains from £16. 67 Brushfield St, Tower Hamlets. Book here.

What’s on

25. See free art at Hart Shoreditch

A FREE immersive exhibition by Hart Shoreditch and 2LG Studio finds a home in artsy Shoreditch as part of London Design Festival (27 Aug-30 Sept).

SPECTRUM will use the hotel to showcase art by composer Quentin LaChapele, digital artist Lucy Hardcastle and more. Expect an exciting sensory journey that explores human and personal connections to colour through techniques like video projection, 3D printing, and bespoke upholstery. More info here.

26. Go full steam ahead into Starlight Express’ all new production

By Jeremy Ullmann

Skating its way back to London for the first time since 2002, Wembley’s Troubadour Theatre has been transformed to platform Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express – the utterly bizarre and iconic musical about a series of trains (performed by actors on roller skates). This new production of the show is, as it has always been, a spectacular achievement.

The dazzling new Troubadour set, the lighting and video effects, the so-camp hair and costumes (which look like a techno merger of Abba’s Super Troopers and C3PO) and the music with melodies that stick with you across literal decades are on full and confident display here. Though the plot struggles (as it always has) to give the story some weighted gravitas, it is easily forgotten when the melody of ‘Whistle at Me’ plays and you find yourself unironically believing in train love. For all the technical spectacle, this is, and has always been, an exhilarating (if barmy) sensation of a show. 

Tickets from £29.50. Until 8 June at Troubadour Theatre, Wembley. Book here. 
Read Jeremy’s full review here.

27. See over 100 murals at The London Mural festival

The London Mural festival (5-29 September) will see over 100 murals dotted London, spotlighting some of the world’s best street artists. Themed around ‘Connection’ this year (something lonely London could do with a bit more of, eh?), 50% of murals will be located within local authority housing estates.

More about the whole programme of parties and gigs, artist talks, tours, and workshops here.

28. Sing like you’ve never sung before at BAM Karaoke

Who doesn’t love a bit of karaoke? The Slice certainly does. Last month the team visited BAM, the latest addition to London’s singalong scene. Standing for Boite a Musique (aka Music Box), BAM has taken a detour from Japan via Paris, resulting in a party bar that’s a little bit Moulin Rouge, a little bit Simmons, and a whole lot of X Factor.

You don’t even have to put down your mic to order your next drink, as you can summon cocktails – Kate Bush fans should try the Bambooshka – shots, bottles of bubbly and classic party snacks straight to your room with a touch of a button. All of that just a warm-up? On Thursdays, head straight to the main stage for open mic night or chill out with Bandeoke’s singalong acoustic session on Friday night. 

Private karaoke rooms from £8.50 pp/per hr. 74 Victoria St, Victoria. Book here.

See you next week!

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