Quirky hotels, winter lights and an interesting twist on the classic roast dinner; here’s what you should be doing this weekend in London
Words Helen Brown
The Roast Burger
Borough Market’s Roast restaurant has taken the Sunday classic to carby new heights. Layers of Welsh Black roast beef, red cabbage, curly kale, melted ale and mustard cheddar, carrot piccalilli and horseradish sour cream have been sandwiched between a rosemary and garlic bun, decadently embellished with crispy roast potatoes. Red wine onion gravy sits on the side because, let’s be frank, you can’t call it a roast without gravy. roast-restaurant.com
New Film Release: Lion
Set to storm the box office, Lion tells the extraordinary true story of five-year-old Saroo Brierley, who gets lost on a train travelling away from his home in India. Years later, living in safety and security in Australia with his adopted family, he yearns to reunite with his family, and decides to track them down. With hazy memories, and the help of a new technology – Google Earth – Saroo, played by Dev Patel, embarks on one of the greatest needle-in-a-haystack quests of modern times. Already BAFTA nominated 5 times, Lion is a critically-acclaimed true story that would be almost impossible to believe if it hadn’t actually happened. UK premier Friday 20th January
Guerrilla Tacos X Breddos Tacover
LA favourites Guerrilla Tacos are hitting London this weekend for a ’tacover’ at Breddos Taqueria in Clerkenwell. Events kick off on Friday with a Breddos + Guerrilla collaboration ‘taco dinner’ — expect a 7 course tasting menu bringing the best of Breddos and Guerrilla, including tacos, tostadas, seafood and two Herradura cocktails. On Sunday Breddos & Guerrilla will come together to host an all-day taco and mescal party.
Tickets available here.
The Distillery Gin Hotel
December was an exciting month for anyone partial to a G&T, with the opening of London’s first gin hotel on Portobello Road. This four floor mecca dedicated to drinking gin includes a pub, a 400-litre gin still and The Ginstitute; where you can learn about the tipple and its history. Visitors can sample the spirit from barrels suspended from the ceiling of The Resting Room and enjoy food and booze together at Spanish bar and restaurant, GinTonica. For the full gin-works, pay a visit to the top floor where you’ll find a private dining room, VIP bar and 3 boutique rooms complete with mini bars and record players.
Boatels at Gainsborough Wharf
If water floats your boat, a stay in a spacious oasis on the Regent Canal might be just up your street. Moored up at Gainsborough Wharf are two luxury canal boats designed to have the feel of a luxury hotel room, complete with all the facilities you might expect from a self-catered apartment. As part of your stay you can expect a breakfast hamper, stocked to the brim with locally made products, such as breads, milk, eggs, bacon, or anything else you might have a hankering for. The Palmer is the bigger of the two boats and sleeps up to four people. It features a large open plan living space with wood burner for the perfect cosy weekend on the water. Book here.
Blend & Press’ Juicing to Rejuvenate Workshop
Whether you’re looking to add some extra nourishment to you and your family’s diet, boost immune health during the winter months or kick-start your New Year diet, Blend & Press are here to help. In this 5 hour interactive workshop they will teach you how juicing can boost immune health, increase energy levels and restore a healthier, balanced digestive system. You will sample Blend & Press recipes and learn how to select ingredients for their medicinal/functional properties and flavour combinations to replicate delicious recipes at home.
Book tickets here.
Winter Lights Festival
See the Canary Wharf skyline illuminated by the creations of some of the most innovative artists and designers around today, presenting work in different forms of light technology. These sculptures, structures and installations will appeal to art lovers, families, young and old and come alive during the evening until 9pm. Head over to brighten your dark January evenings this weekend and experience an incredibly inventive and spectacular light show of performance art and visual spectacle.
More information here.
London Art Fair at the Business Design Centre
December was an exciting month for anyone partial to a G&T, with the opening of
The UK’s premier fair for Modern British and contemporary art returns to the Business Design Centre. This annual exhibition brings together more than 125 galleries and showcases the very best contemporary and modern art from the UK and around the world. For its 29th edition, there is an exhibition from The Ingram Collection titled Ten Years: A Century of Art, a unique exhibition in the pavilion at the entrance to London Art Fair.
More information here.
