Arts & Culture
Originally published on Tuesday, 30th June 2015
The Culturist: July
The sun is finally shining on London – so we’re making the most of it. From a rooftop restaurant to a rooftop party and well, just a new rooftop watering hole – we’re seeing July from up high. Looking for some shade? There’s a music-film festival to catch and a new whiskey den in town. But if you’re looking for a city escape, we have a 'dam good idea.
LAST CHANCE: EVERYMAN MUSIC FILM FESTIVAL
24th June - 4th July From £14.50
This is your last week to catch Everyman Cinema’s first ever Music-Film Festival. Hip hop kids should check out the Hip Hop in the Holy Land premiere, followed by a Q&A with director Mike Skinner (The Streets); while jazz enthusiast’s should get tickets to Whiplash, which includes a live performance from the score; and Winehouse fans make sure to see Amy, the documentary about the artist, if only for the performance by soul singer Dionne Bromfield, whose debut album was released by Amy Winehouse's Lioness Records label.
DO: PLAYGROUND & PROOF
Playground: Saturday & Sunday: 10am to 6PM. Proof: Thursdays to Sunday: 6PM 'til 11PM. The Hothouse Building, Martello Street, E8 3QW
For those looking to rooftop hop during the heatwave, here’s another for the list: Proof. The all year round bar and roof terrace, overlooking London Fields, above the Hothouse building, will be serving up drinks from a range of stalls such as mezcal specialists Quiquiriqui, The Cider Box, 5 Points brewery and Fentimans. Plus, there’ll be a weekend market (Playground) alongside the bar with a roster of food, craft and arts curators.
EAT: BROOKSBY’S WALK
Brooksby’s Walk, E9 6DA
Fans of Upstairs at the Ten Bells should be thrilled by the news that boys Jarrod Cooke and Chef Giorgio Ravelli have opened a new bar and rooftop restaurant. Cuisine wise, dine on similar northern Italian flavours to those at the Ten Bells such as beef carpaccio with smoked Sicilian prawns, goat ravioli with tomato and ricotta and razor clams in grapefruit vierge. As for us, we’ll be heading in for the weekly Sunday BBQ, if only for the ginger glazed pork ribs.
SEE II: THE JAMESON WORKS X GALVIN BROTHERS WHISKEY DEN
July 1 - mid-August 32 Goodge St W1T 2QJ
This month, furniture designers Galvin Brothers have joined forces with Jameson (part of The Jameson Works project) to transform the downstairs of JW Simpson Reverend into a whiskey den, working to the brief “Form & Function” with the whiskey drinker in mind. And, if you like what you see, it’s all up for grabs. A bar/furniture shop…why did it take so long?
EAT II: KRUG & CHIPS
July 8-12 From £35 per person East Piazza, Covent Garden, WC2E
Speaking of things that should have been invented earlier, posh fish and chips - it’s finally happening. The new pop up Krug & Chips, inspired by Madonna’s guilty pleasure, will be popping up for a three-day stint, pairing Krug Grand Cuvee and chip-inspired dishes, created by the Michelin starred chef Tom Sellers. Expect inventive takes on the classic from potato white bait sandwiches to lobster claws, wrapped in potato ‘spaghetti’, served with spicy yuzu mayonnaise. Fancy.
INTERNATIONAL: THE HOXTON, AMSTERDAM
Opens July 6 Herengracht 255, 1016 BJ Amsterdam
No doubt, Amsterdam is having a moment, thanks to The Hoxton Amsterdam. It's the first European hotel in their series and, like its London counterparts, don’t expect just a place to rest your head. Set over five canal houses – also expect an apartment, a restaurant (Lotti's by Soho House) with, of course the chilled-out but considered touches.
PARTY: 4TH OF JULY AT THE MONDRIAN
July 4 Rumpus Room day party: £45 20 Upper Ground SE1 9PD
If you're planning to get involved in 4th of July festivities, do so at the Mondrian’s ‘house party’. Start the day in the hotel’s rooftop Rumpus Room for the Hamptons-style takeover, complete with Champagne, cocktails, a central American-inspired buffet and ‘merican tunes. Then, it’s downstairs for an all out transatlantic BBQ-style menu at Sea Containers restaurant courtesy of New York chef Seamus Mullen and British sisters Hemsley + Hemsley. God Bless America!
