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Summer in London is winding down, but it’s not time to go into hibernation just yet. Venue experts Hire Space have picked out five top new venues to help you make the most of the month.
Hoppers (pictured above)
Soho favourite Hoppers is opening a second site on September 12 in St. Christopher’s Place. Designed to suit group-dining, the restaurant will be spread over two floors, including a terrace with capacity for 85 people. The new spot will take reservations for groups (no queuing, yay!) and there’ll be four ‘vaults’ for parties of up to eight for private dining. They’ll be serving up set feasting menus in the private dining vaults, while the main restaurant will be focused around the crispy Sri Lankan pancake that the venue is named after. There will also be a number of ‘rice’ and ‘roast’ dishes, plus feast cocktails, which are ideal for sharing.
Pickled Fred
Ben Lusty and Can Turker took their love of travel, food and cocktails and turned it into Pickled Fred, a new restaurant and bar in Shoreditch. Focusing on Asian cuisine and interesting cocktails – with a big emphasis on pickles – the restaurant is named after a pickle-stealing monkey called Fred, who the pair encountered in the Philippines. Snacks, small plates and flatbreads (many of which are gluten-free and vegan) available include a jackfruit scotch egg with masala mayonnaise, grilled octopus with harissa-marinated chickpeas, and a chickpea pancake with mustard broccoli and pickled cauliflower. The interior is relaxed and intimate, filled with trinkets that conjure up images of Ben and Can’s travels. The space fits up to 50 diners and is perfect for an informal dinner or party.
Brick & Liquor Clapham
After the success of the first Brick & Liquor in Tooting, the team have now opened a second site, just down the road, in Clapham South. With exposed brickwork, reclaimed wood panelling and brass fixtures and fittings, the bar is stylish and laid-back. There’s a big focus on drinks here, with food in the form of ‘social eats’ – sharing plates designed to bring people together and accompany the extensive cocktail list. The bars were founded by former hospitality professional, David Layton, so they don’t just look great, there’s also a big emphasis on service, too – making it an ideal spot for your next event.
No 29 Power Station West
As the Battersea Power Station development progresses, a number of new restaurants and bars are popping up. One of the latest venues is No 29 Power Station West (also the only pub currently on the site), from the group behind, No 11 Pimlico Road and No 32 The Old Town. The venue draws on the industrial feel of the Power Station and boasts a minimal, utilitarian vibe. There’s plenty of variety in the drinks offerings, from cocktails to craft beer, and food is served from brunch until dinner, with a delicious roast dinner available on a Sunday. There are also a variety of spaces on offer, from private dining rooms to the riverside bar and even screening rooms; No 29 is a versatile and stylish new venue for any event.
Evans and Peel Pharmacy
It started with a ‘detective agency’, now Evans and Peel have diversified with a new immersive 1920s ‘pharmacy’ in Chiswick. You enter the speakeasy-style venue through a secret entrance – with a password, of course. Inside, you’ll find ‘pharmacists’ wearing lab coats, who’ll be on-hand to serve you drinks, of the ‘medicinal’ variety, we assume. The windows are blacked-out and the antique furniture creates a cosy, dimly-lit venue that contrasts starkly with the section you entered through. Ideal for more creative events, it’s worth making an appointment at this Pharmacy.
For more awesome London venues, head to hirespace.com.