Next year is a big one for South London, with yet another of its boroughs taking the coveted title of London Borough of Culture.
The holder of this year’s crown, Lewisham, hands the baton to Croydon, birthplace of, among others, Kate Moss and Stormzy, during the early part of 2023.
Croydon is getting ready to shine, as was evidenced by last weekend’s Croydon Food and Music Festival, which saw 45 vendors plot up on a closed South End, Croydon.
One of these is The Store, which has a restaurant at the top of a stretch known as the Restaurant Quarter.
Renovation of the restaurant revealed its former existence as a Sainsbury’s store, with beautiful ceramic tiles discovered.
The Store has brought a contemporary edge to a well-established dining area, embracing industrial chic with touches of urban living thrown in for good measure.
All-day dining sees the customer catered for from breakfast, through to lunch and dinner.
The restaurant actively encourages people to use it as a co-working space, offering hot-desking space daily from noon until 5pm.
And following the work hard and play hard mindset, 5pm from Wednesday to Friday is Martini Hour, a chance to sample some fine cocktails, offering two martinis for £12.
Bottomless Brunch is back from tomorrow (July 2).
Enjoy 90 minutes of free-flowing cocktails or fizz for £25pp alongside the brunch menu (charged separately) every Saturday from 11am until 4pm.
www.thestorecroydon.com.
Summertime in London is event season.
Here are a few of our favourites:
Limin’ Beach Club at Gabriel’s Wharf is back with its Bottomless Brunch.
Soak up the city beach life with a Caribbean brunch dish like no other.
Home-made sweet potato waffles, with chargrilled jerk chicken or banana blossom drizzled with Scotch bonnet maple syrup and jerk butter.
The dish is then topped with rum flambéed caramelised pineapple and a light dusting of Demerara brown sugar and Grenadian cinnamon.
Bottomless rum punch, beer or Prosecco will be served for 90 mins. Bottomless brunch is £40 per person.
www.limin.co.uk
The most sensational Caribbean festival hits London in a few weeks’ time.
Jerk & Beyond is back from Friday, July 8 until Sunday, July 10 at The Oval Space in East London.
The three-day extravaganza promises an explosion of Caribbean culture and flavours that will expand horizons and take taste buds on an unforgettable journey of discovery.
This event will feature some of your favourite dishes from all over the Caribbean – Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, including some French-Caribbean and Latin American cuisines.
Expect to try a variety of exquisite dishes such as Doubles and Jerk Chicken.
There’s also entertainment available throughout the weekend, including Caribbean and Latin American DJs, face painters/glitter artists, carnival dancers, food challenges, bouncy castles, raffles, workshops, limbo, and magicians.
More than 1,000 tickets are available for each day.
Jerk & Beyond, a Caribbean Taste Sensation: Tickets from July 8 at noon from Eventbrite
Royal Hospital Chelsea plays host to Savour Food Festival on July 30 and 31, bringing food, drinks and the party from some of the most sought-after restaurants and bars the UK has to offer in one stunning venue.
Expect to see revered culinary icons such as Covent Garden’s Frenchie, the renowned Polpo Restaurants as well as the esteemed Salt Yard Group alongside the likes of the legendary Sumosan Twiga and the award-winning Chicken George ready to offer a truly exquisite and eclectic culinary experience.
For two sun soaked, oyster shucking, cocktail shaking days, Savour will be lowering the curtain on five-star dining to give you an exclusive chance to try never before tasted dishes crafted right in front of you by London’s legendary masters and talented up-and-comers.
Alongside their scintillating menus, Savour has challenged their incredible chefs to create a £3 signature dish, giving festival-goers the chance to vote for their favourite throughout the weekend to crown the very first Savour Signature champion.
There will be exclusive wine tastings hosted by Vinoteca, a Maison Mirabeau Rosé Station and a series of magnificent botanical tents, to London’s Chelsea Embankment alongside the exciting new names taking the industry by storm to ensure your plates are paired with the perfect beverage.
Whether it’s how to fillet or flambe, foodies looking for tips and tricks can head over to the Gozney stage for a series of live-fire cooking demonstrations with some of the UK’s hottest chefs including Thomas Straker, MasterChef Finalist Philli Armitage Matten and Hopper’s Karan Gokani.
Savour will host a range of live bands, from the iconic Royal British Legion to carry you to each of the festival’s food and drink chalets, stages, chef masterclasses, workshops, the picnic lawn and Bloody Mary Buses as you feast on the finest tastes London has to savour.
www.savourfestival.com
Picture: Croydon Food and Music Festival Paloma Lacy
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