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.

If a trip to Hampton Court has been on your to-do list, why not time your visit to coincide with this foodie extravaganza? Over the August Bank Holiday weekend entrance tickets to Henry VIII’s former gaff give you access to more than 150 speciality food stalls, so you can feast like like a Tudor king in the palace's gorgeous green spaces. There's also pop-up bars, kids’ activities, and an array of local musicians taking to the bandstand to soundtrack your culinary adventure. 

London’s a global city when it comes to the cuisines on offer, but it can feel like there’s just too many to choose from. Thankfully, Café KOKO has launched a dining experience battle between two of our favourites, to make your decision about where to eat a little easier. Every Friday night, Don KOKO will feature limited edition Mexican and Italian dishes from rotating guest chefs, all curated by KOKO Electronic’s DJ roster. Opening night will see singer and producer SG Lewis’s pepperoni, hot honey, burrata and red onion pizza slice battle food content creator @whatwillycook’s shredded chicken and crushed scampi fries taco, but the reasonable menu is jam-packed with juicy options, plus margaritas, spritzes and palomas, too.

Fancy yourself as bit of a sommelier? Crystal Palace Wine Club is hosting its annual wine fair in August, taking over the ‘laptop stage’ of Crystal Palace Bowl with an array of delicious wines. There’ll be over 100 types to sample, all lovingly made by an abundance of winemakers and importers. Grab your wristband and glass when you arrive and take a trip around the world via the exhibitors’ vino selections. A private outdoor area will provide other refreshing bevs and snacks for after you're done tasting, so sit and sip for as long as you like.  

The first weekend of the summer series of this classy boozathon takes place in Bloomsbury’s Bedford Square Gardens, where 20 of the city's best bars will be on hand to serve up the makings of a great weekend. Enjoy a complimentary welcome drink on arrival, then start exploring creative concoctions from a star-studded roster of top mixologists.Cafe Pacifico, Courvoisier, Florattica, Hacha, Alma By Sucre and Bourne & Hollingsworth are just a handful of the celebrated London bars on the line-up, while guests will also be able to check out live music, street food, ice carvings, and masterclasses within the picturesque private gardens. 

Feeling thirsty? Desperate for a funky sour, cheeky saison or a fruity IPA? You’re in luck. The Capital’s biggest beer celebration is back for 2024, taking place across both floors of London’s Tobacco Docks, for four hours of non-stop-beer-drinking bliss. Set over two days, you’ll get to sample London’s best beers as well as some international standouts, including our faves Gipsy Hill, Orbit, Queer Brewing and more. Hungry? The food line up is pretty serious too, this year featuring Flesh & Buns, Bone Daddies and Chick N’ Sours. A £54.50 ticket gets you a four-hour session drinking every beer you can possibly image, and there are group discounts available too. Happy drinking, folks. 

Three weeks of Bavarian joy are coming up at Munich Cricket Club, taking 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. Wear your best Oktoberfest ‘fit and you could also be in the chance of winning the title of Mr/Mrs Oktoberfest, while games held throughout the night will throw up the chance to win more prizes.

Foodies, pay attention – the culinary hotspots of Regent Street and St James’s will play host to the Future Of Food Festival in September, with a range of events to tickle your tastebuds. 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. There’ll be the opportunity to try dishes by 2-Michelin-starred chef Alex Dilling and feast on sustainable treats at Bentley’s Oyster Bar & Grill and Wilton’s. Across the whole of September, the area will be a treasure trove of promotions, with select restaurants offering £10 dishes and other 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.