London’s best pop-ups

There’ll be burgers on burgers on burgers at Walthamstow’s Signature Brew this September. We’re not exaggerating – the brewery is hosting the first ever Burger Fest UK, which will be London’s first burger festival in more than five years.  Arrive ravenous. Each ticket holder will be summoned upon to vote for which burger they think should be named the People’s Champion, so it’s only right that you taste test as many as you possibly can. Each trader will serve up an OG classic burger and a more creative (read: absolutely filthy) chef’s special. Contenders will come from the likes of Strip Club Street Food, originators of the controversial Biscoff burger; 7Bone, inventors of the wotsit-topped Donny J Trump burger; and Baggio Burger, creators of Italian inspired burgers like the Zola, which is stuffed with beef, gorgonzola, mozzeralla, parmesan, fig jam and rocket. There’ll be an array of craft beers and cocktails to help you wash things down. 

Its been nine long years since Brick Lane last hosted its Curry Festival, but E1’s curry houses are once again coming together for this free festival taking over Brick Lane and nearby streets this September, with the aim of reestablishing this East End neighbourhood as the curry capital of the UK. The main event is on Sunday 21, when visitors can expect street food stalls and chef demonstrations outside the stretch of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani restaurants on the corner of Brick Lane and Hanbury Street, alongside a host of family-friendly fun including DJs, stilt walkers, magicians and live graffiti presentations, plus some opportunities to get stuck in at henna and bangla dancing workshops. You can also get 20% off your bill at a host of participating restaurants all weekend by reserving a free ticket here.  Very tasty indeed.

Looking to get your fix of Irish culture in the city? Irish pub Nancy Spains is hosting a massive shindig this September to celebrate the halfway point to St Paddy’s Day, promising live trad music, flowing pints of Murphy’s (split the M, anyone?) and spice bags. Irish snacks will be provided by Emerald Eats, sustaining the masses with the salty bags of chips and fried chicken, as well as chicken fillet rolls, and chips with curry sauce. Booze will be in abundance, with Beamish stout, more than 100 irish whiskies and signature cocktails on offer. Throughout the day 12 live bands will perform, including folk rock outfit The Peppered Aces, and the licence runs ‘till 5am. Tickets are only a tenner, so snap one up before they’re gone. It’s gonna be great craic. 

Forget the same old, same old. The annual Future Of Food Festival, hosted by the culinary hotspots of Regent Street and St James’s, has got events galore that are all about the newest, most exciting, and most sustainable bits of the restaurant industry. Join panel talks with industry experts to get some insight into where food is heading in the coming years, tuck into some unique dining experiences and meet some of the most innovative chefs, restaurateurs and suppliers in the country. This year, there’ll be exclusive dining experiences from chefs including Alex Dilling and Rafael Cagali, an 11-course seafood fiesta at Bentley’s Ocean’s Eleven, masterclasses from sustainable booze brands including Sapling Spirits, and On-Street Feasts where you can dine outdoors, enjoying dishes from four different restaurants at the same time. Across the whole of September, the area will be a treasure trove of promotions, with select restaurants offering discounts, while the Discovery Zone will take you on a journey via taste, smell and touch to find out what the future of food is.

It feels a bit like Oktoberfest all year round at Munich Cricket Club, but it really takes the Bavarian joy up a notch as the season approaches. From mid September til the end of October, the spirit of the fest will take over its Canary Wharf, Tower Hill and Victoria locations. Expect foaming steins, platters of sausage and a live oompah band to get the vibes flying. Dancing on tabletops is encouraged – just be careful not to slip on any saus. The festivities also include the ceremonial tapping of the Oktober barrel, straight from Munich, plus games, silliness and surprises. There's also a bottomless cheese fondue brunch for anyone looking to test their digestive system to its very limits. 

   

At Between the Bridges, you'll find a campy spin on Oktoberfest tradition, hosted by drag queen Miss Leigh Ding. Over four weekends of boozy fun, you’ll be entertained by the tweed-clad ten-piece brass crew Old Dirty Brasstards, blasting out covers of 00s pop hits and 80s classics,  and more DJs on the decks. Meanwhile the kitchen and bar will be pumping out the goods to line your stomach with. We’re talking two-pint steins of delicious beer and street food so good it’ll make you say, ‘Hell ja!’

Do you spend your time in London seeking out the best dirty martini? Or judging every barman by their daquri-making skills? Then get yourself to London Cocktail Week where the city’s inventive and innovative cocktail makers will be shaking up exciting and unusual concoctions to sink back. Over 200 bars across the capital will take part, including Nipperkin, Seed Library and Swift. Pick up a wristband in advance, or at any participating bar, and sip your way around London, tasting tried-and-trusted classics and new recipes. The event is all not-for-profit, with funds being redirected back to the bars involved, helping support the people behind the drinks.