London’s best pop-ups

Dinner theatre specialists The Lost Estate return with a theatrical dining experience themed around classic Sherlock Holmes adventure ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’. We’re not entirely clear how storytelling and nosh are integrated – presumably you sit in a fixed place and actors act around you – but the show is set in 1889 at (where else) 221B Baker Street, and the three-course menu consists of duck & egg, followed by truffled chicken and then strawberries & champagne to finish (vegetarian and vegan options available). Dinner is afoot.

Immersive dining gurus Gingerline were a major cultural force in London throughout the ’10s but seemingly vanished during the pandemic. As it turns out, the company – the brainchild of producers Suz Mountford and Kerry Adamson – had relocated to Asia for a stretch and simply chosen not to bang on about it to folks back home. Now they’re back, and it’s very much as if they’d never been away: ‘The Grand Expedition’ is literally a remount of their last full show.  A reworked one, mind. The conceit behind the Laura Partridge-directed piece is that we (the audience) are Phileas Fogg-style Victorian explorers, travelling the globe by hot air balloon. The ‘tour’ is to the countries our wind-blown dirigibles land in – which we then sample the cuisines of. It’s a flexible idea: this incarnation of the show simply visits different countries to the original one.  Spoilering the menu or locations visited is frowned upon, but in essence we sit in our balloon gondolas (stylised tables of six) and proceed to ‘travel the world’, which we do via Fred Campbell’s gorgeous projected animations that wrap around the walls of the large room the show takes place in. It’s probably fine to reveal that we start off in London, but it’s very much not our London; rather a twinkling fantasy of an idyllic mediaeval-slash-Victorian city, surrounded by mountains and monoliths. Campbell’s illustrations – beautifully animated by Greenaway & Greenaway – are definitely the show’s most delightful aspect. When our

Way back in 1980, the first ever Laithwaites Wine Festival was held at Olympia in Kensington, and for 2024 it’s returning to its OG venue, for the biggest wine show in its history. This show features more than 350 wines from the 100 winemakers set to make an appearance, so there’s plenty to fill your glass and the 4 hours tasting time with. For a mini-masterclass (which will be included in your ticket price), head to the Taste Theatre, and for a little extra, there’s a Fine Wine Room upgrade as well.

Whether you’re a fan of mega sourdough sandwiches crammed with burrata and prosciutto or a lover of the classic jam between some budget white bread, pretty much everybody has their idea of a perfect sarnie. And here to slice up the sandwich scene this spring is Sarnie Party, a sumptuous celebration of all things between bread. It’s set to take over Camden Town Brewery Bar for a weekend in May, with 20 chefs creating 20 unique sarnies. London heavyweights like Doms Subs and Mondo Sando as well as UK kitchens like Picnic Margate and Big Deal Bodega are on the roster, and your ticket will get you three servings plus a Camden Town beer on entry. Yum. 

We’re blessed with Spanish restaurants in London, whether you’re after just a couple of tapas plates or an entire vat of paella. But making a comeback this spring, to bring us even more Iberican, Basque, Catalan and Andalusian delicacies (and everything in between), is Estrella Galicia Gastronomy Month. There are 21 events happening across the UK, plenty of which are in London. The Tapas Tours are a smorgasbord of mouthwatering food and (you guessed it) Estrella beer, all soundtracked by some cracking live entertainment, but there’s also Pour & Pair sessions, Tasting Menus and full-on Fiestas (such as at Boca a Boca in Fitzrovia). For more information on dates and events going ahead in London, have a look at the website.

Presented by Michelin-starred chef and longtime ‘Great British Menu’ judge Tom Kerridge, Pub in the Park is a touring food and music festival that aims to bring a convivial public house atmosphere to the great outdoors with loads of delicious pub grub and equally enticing live performances. This year, it’s back for four weekends in and around London throughout the summer: Marlow (May 16-19), Chiswick (June 28-30), Reigate (July 12-14), St Albans (September 6-8).  So, what’s on the menu? There’s an exciting roster of new chefs, including the likes of Mary Berry, former judge on the Great British Bake Off, Jeremy Chan of Ikoyi, a fine-dining restaurant on The Strand, and Becky Excell aka ‘Queen of Gluten Free’. Michel Roux Junior, Simon Rimmer and Andi Oliver are just some previous celebrity chef guests who’ll be back this year, and popular kitchens such as Kerridge’s own The Hand & Flowers, Angela Hartnett’s Cafe Murano and Riwaz by Atul Kochhar are returning by popular demand, too.  Now for the music. The programme at each weekend includes a cracking line-up with stars such as Scouting for Girls, Paloma Faith, Jools Holland, McFly and Olly Murs. Van Morrison is on the programme, too (check out the full line-ups here!).

Munch your way through dishes from the great and the good of the capital’s restaurant scene at this sprawling culinary festival in the picturesque surroundings of central London’s Regent’s Park. Korean rabata (barbecue) restaurant Roka, South American fusion from YOPO and Big Mamma’s quintet of maximalist Italian joints (that’s Gloria, Circolo Popolare, Ave Mario, Jacuzzi and Carlotta) are among the line-up of restaurants peddling plates to celebrate the event’s 20th anniversary. If you’re not in a food coma by the end, there’ll also be kitchen masterclasses, chef talks and tastings to get involved with. Our advice? Have some Rennies on hand. 

Little handfuls of flavour that are dangerously moreish, taco fever has well and truly taken over London, we just can’t get enough of the bite-size tortillas. Good job then that the latest installment of the Tacover is back in London to satisfy our cravings. Signature Brew is hosting a whopping taco festival with 10 sizzling vendors from across the UK offering up three different tacos each (including vegan options) which are all capped at £4. Los Gordos, Proper Tacos, Birria Taco, Mex Club, Carne Mexican Street Food, Nopalito, Death By Tacos, Pretty Boy Tacos, Masa Tacos and Pako Tacos are all on the line-up. The taproom on Blackhorse Road will see Signature Brew's brilliant beers flowing and between snacks you can enjoy DJ sets, competitions (from tortilla slaps to speed eating), raffles and a specialist margarita bar serving up tequila.   Choose from family-friendly day sessions and 18-plus evening sessions.