London’s best pop-ups

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!’

Soho beer palace Albert’s Schloss is going all out for Oktoberfest this year, serving Bavarian themed revelries to central London crowds. The Alpine-themed beer hall and ‘cook haus’ is offering three weeks of worth of festivities including a traditional keg tapping ceremony, a sausage eating contest, oompah brass band performances, a best Lederhosen competition, loads of games and all the usual daily performances from the resident Haus band. Entry is free, just turn up and get ready to fröhlich.

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.

Housed inside a Grade II-listed building that was once home to the first purpose-built gymnasium in the UK, King’s Cross bier hall German Gymnasium is a great option if you’d like to line your stomach with some proper Bavarian delicacies before necking all those Oktoberfest steins. As well as partnering with global brewing experts James Clay and Sons to bring some of Germany’s best pours to London for the festival, it’ll be offering a special menu curated by head chef Alexander Thiel, including Schweinebraten, a roast pork collar with red cabbage and dark beer sauce, and Halbes Hendl, a roast half chicken with warm potato salad. Head down on Friday evenings throughout the festival to hear a live Oompah band playing traditional Bavarian ditties from 5.30pm, and be sure to don your best lederhosen or dirndl for a stein on the haus. Prost!

   

Flat Iron Square are getting in on the Oktoberfest action, serving up fun and rustic atmos every Saturday this October. Inside the beer tent, you’ll find a whole host of German beers and food, from soft pretzels, bratwurst, currywurst and so much more. Entertainment will come from The Chapel Brass Band and a selection of DJs. There’ll also be games and fun hosted by Flat Iron quizmaster Gary 'The German' Lee.

It’s been three years since Boxpark gave its venues a Bavarian makeover for its lively Oktoberfest celebrations, but this year the shipping container hangout has partnered with pilsner peddlers Staropramen again for another selection of themed brunches and parties. The Croydon, Wembley, Shoreditch, Camden, and City branches of Boxpark will be filled with frothy steins, traditional Deutsch snackage and all sorts of fun and games. Shoreditch and City will host special Oktoberfest bottomless brunches, with bottomless Staropramen, German food and games and prizes. While Croydon, Wembley and Camden will deliver the full beer hall experience. Word to the wise: Boxpark might be famous for those scenes of pints being thrown skyward during the footie, but we’d advise against lobbing an entire stein in the air, unless you want to literally drown yourself in Staropramen. - Croydon & Wembley: Tables of 8: £120, or general admission: £14- Camden: Tables of 6: £90, or general admission: £14- Shoreditch brunch: £39 - Boxhall City Brunch: £50- VIP Beer Hall Experience: Exclusive table packages available, including steins, reserved seating, and special perks.