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.
Residencies and pop-ups
Oli Brown at Mortimer House (coming soon)
Where: Mortimer House, Fitzrovia
When: 5-27 July 2019
What: The latest residency at Mortimer House's upstairs guest series is Oli Brown of Pop Brixton's Duck Duck Goose. It's a mix of Chinese and European traditions, with produce sourced from some of the best in London.
Applebee's South BankWhere: Under the Hungerford Bridge, South Bank, London
When: Until 15 September 2019
What: Applebee's have been serving up seafood dishes in Borough and now they've arrived on the South Bank for the Summer. Expect an oyster and Champagne bar as well as fish & chips and chip butties to go.
Tipple and TasteWhere: Upstairs at The Tommy Tucker Pub, 22 Waterford Road, Fulham, London SW62DR
When: Every Friday in summer from 14 June 2019
What: This Friday pop-up turns the upstairs of the Tommy Tucker pub in fulham into a cocktails and small plates bar. With cocktails that include a "Irish Dark Chocolate Espresso Martini" and food that includes curried wings, pomegranate, coconut, mint riata, and poppadum crumb it looks very inviting.
Maria Elia’s ‘Smashing Plates’ at Great Guns Social
Where: Great Guns Social, 96 Southwark Bridge Rd, London SE1 0EF
When: 4-22 June 2019
What: If you've ever tried chef Maria Elia's food, then you'll know that this three-week residency at Great Guns Social in Southwark is worth pencilling in the diary. The globetrotting chef and author (she's launched restaurants in California and done pop-ups in Rwanda) is planning a modern Greek menu for her return to London.
Whisk dessert barWhere: Angel Central, First Floor, 23 Parkfield Street, London, N1 0PS
When: 14 May - 3 August 2019. Tuesdays to Saturday nights.
What: If you prefer dessert over any other course - then a pop-up coming to Islington will be right up your street. The Whisk Dessert Bar features a three-course dessert tasting menu, swapping out all the savoury dishes for sweet.
Le Bun at the SebrightWhere: Hackney - Sebright Arms, 34 Coate St, London E2 9AG
When: 21 May - end of summer
What: Le Bun are serving up their French-America truffle burgers at the Sebright Arms, including their famous truffle burger.
AngloThai at Counter CultureWhere: Clapham - Counter Culture, 16 The Pavement, London SW4 0HY
When: Wednesday - Saturday, 8 May - 30 June 2019
What: Husband and wife team John Chantarasak and Desiree West's AngloThai has moved to Counter Culture in Clapham where they'll be serving up traditional Thai flavours matched with modern techniques. And each Sunday of the run they'll be hosting team-ups with some special chef guests.
Elizabeth Haigh at Mortimer House
Where: Fitzrovia - Mortimer House, 37 Mortimer St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3JH
When: Thursday - Saturday, 2 May - 29 June 2019
What: Ex Pidgin head chef Elizabeth Haigh is previewing her own restaurant Kaizen at a Mortimer House pop-up. The menu will draw upon her Singaporean and British background with dishes including truffled roti with curried lamb sweetbreads.
Chinese LaundryWhere: Brockley - 10 Coulgate Street, Brockley, SE4 2RW
When: 9 May - 4 August 2019 (Thursday - Sunday)
What: Chinese Laundry's latest pop-up is trying something different. They're still serving the Chinese food inspired by their childhoods that they're known for, but this time in a regularly changing set menu too.
Liu Xiaomian at the JackalopeWhere: Marylebone - The Jackalope, 43 Weymouth Mews, London W1G 7EG
When: 23 January 2019 - TBC
What: 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.
Secret Samosa Club at the Tuk Tuk
Where: Dalston - The Tuk Tuk bar, 12-14 Kingsland Road, London E2 8DA
When: 10 May - 27 July 2019
What: Canadian Rick Matharu is back with his Secret Samosa Club featuring the cheeseburger samosa and - for this pop-up - he's converted the British institution bangers 'n mash into a samosa. All that and naanwiches too.
Events
Every week we round up some of the best food and drink events in London...
29 June - The Jones Family Project in Shoreditch are hosting a Prosecco DOC cocktail masterclass followed by a three course lunch paired with the wines. It's £75, which include a cocktail on arrival, the cocktail masterclass with cocktails to sample, and a three course meal paired with Prosecco DOC wines. Email reservations@jonesfamilyproject.co.uk to book.
1 July - Gridiron by COMO are teaming up with Tom Brown of Cornerstone for the ultimate surf’ n’ turf menu. It's £75 per head with a wine pairing available for £45.
1-2 July - Ynyshir's chef Gareth Ward is coming to Mãos at Blue Mountain School for a two night residency. The food includes Salt Waygu Rib, Lamb Rib and Duck Hoisin and tickets are £200. To book, email sp@bluemountain.school Or call 020 7739 9733.
3 July - Eneko Atxa (of 3* Azurmendi in Bilbao) will cook alongside Nieves Barragan of Sabor in a charity dinner at Eneko’s London restaurant, Eneko Basque Kitchen & Bar for Action Against Hunger. Tickets for the dinner on 3 July are priced at £95, including a welcome drink and the nine-course menu. For dinner with a drinks pairing, featuring several wines from Gorka Izagirre, Eneko’s family winery in Bilbao, it's £150.
16 July - The Zetter Townhouse is holding a Wild & Foraged supper club celebrating the best ingredients that the season has to offer. It's five courses, for £45 a head.
1-7 July - Chef Merlin Labron-Johnson is hosting a Wild Garden Banquet at this year's RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Tickets are £80 for a foraging tour followed by the banquet including a glass of Champagne.
9 July, 15 August: ROOTS is a series of collaborative dinners designed to celebrate the culinary roots and traditions of four top chefs - Gemma Ellis of Clifford’s, Budgie Montoya of SARAP, James Erasmus of Harlequin and James Cochran of 12:51, - "a proper celebration of London’s diverse dining scene". Each one-off dinner, held at Clifford's will be £55 (paired wines for £35) for four courses plus welcome cocktail. Get tickets here.
5-6 July - Head to Blanch & Shock in Camberwell for two nights of dinners cooked by chef and researcher Ben Reade of Edinburgh Food Studio. Tickets are £48 and include 7-8 servings and a cocktail.
21 July - Over in Bermondsey, writer Sudi Piggott is putting on a workshop on food writing. The £125 fee includes "a bloody good lunch, wine and a reading list of food books you cannot live without" along with practical writing exercises. The workshop is limited to 8 people. Email sudipigott@gmail.com to book.
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