May is summer, right? Which means London is about to become a hive of activity with things to do, see – and eat. There is a culinary theme to our May events in Battersea and beyond, but with mouth-watering options that include tapas in Tooting and ball-shaped food in Balham (yes, really), how could we resist?
Pelican Canteen does Malaysian, Clapham Junction
What’s your idea of a good dinner? Because if it’s a microwave meal in front of Grand Designs then supper clubs probably aren’t for you. No bother – there’ll be more room for the rest of us.
The Malaysian-themed, five-course tasting menu from Pelican Club includes spiced pork scotched egg, blackened rending short rib and sweet coffee ice cream in a milk bun sandwich. You’ll be dining with strangers, so be prepared to make conversation, but then again it’s BYO, so you should be fine. Tickets for the Friday are almost gone, so book fast.
5-6 May, eventbrite.co.uk/e/pelican-canteen-does-malaysian-tickets-33444139321
Curveball, Balham
All of London’s trendiest eateries have a niche and Balham’s latest addition has thought so far outside of the box that they are thinking in spheres. Curveball serves all its dishes in balls, and very tasty they sound too: there’s potato rosti balls, lamb balls, prawn balls and croquette balls all doing the rounds (…sorry).
The menu has a South East Asian vibe with ingredients like harissa and pomegranate seeds and you’ll find a cocktail bar down in the basement. They were meant to open a week ago, so punters will get 50% off their food bill over the opening weekend.
Opening 6-7 May, curveballrestaurants.co.uk
The Tapas Room, Tooting
Tapas and Tooting: it’s a match made in heaven. Or at least we’ll be hoping for some divine inspiration as this former pop-up settles into its permanent home in Tooting’s Broadway Market. When it opens at the beginning of May, this bijou venue will serve small dishes at the counter, along with a carefully considered drinks list sourced directly from the Basque region. The deli section means you can take home a little of what you fancy.
Opening in early May, facebook.com/thetapasroom/
Wandsworth Arts Fringe, Wandsworth
With over 140 events taking place over 16 days, Wandsworth’s annual arts fringe festival promises more culture than you can shake a hand-carved, organically-sourced stick at.
Like poetry? Check out Putney’s very own bard, Eddie Forde, as he reads his own work. Love to laugh? Don’t miss the Lobster Quadrille Cabaret, or Joe Palermo’s Memoirs of an Italian Stallion (about his experience as a male stripper). Got kids? Well, don’t take them to see Joe. Try Mischief Makers’ dance production Metamorphosis, featuring giant, colourful puppets, instead. The fringe runs until the 21 May so you have plenty of time to choose.
5-21 May, http://www.wandsworthfringe.com
An evening with basement orchestra, Clapham Junction
This is classical music as you’ve never heard it before. The Basement Orchestra plays everything from music hall to dance hall, and plenty in between, switching from Sibelius to Gershwin in a semi-crotchet, all for your aural pleasure. There’s finger food to snack on and the Clapham Grand’s well-stocked house bar to wet your whistle. 6th May, https://www.designmynight.com/london/clubs/clapham/the-clapham-grand/an-evening-with-basement-orchestra
Clowns Are Not Funny, Clapham
Coulrophobes beware: the clue is in the title at this wild and wacky show from theatre company Third Person. Juxtaposing themes of mystery and ennui, playfulness and humour, the play, In the Moment, will form in front of the audiences’ eyes – which means it will be unpredictable, exciting and possibly not very funny. Sounds like they have clowns down to a T.
7 May, breadandrosestheatre.co.uk/clowns-are-not-funny.html
Streatham Common Kite Day
Let’s go fly a kite – or at least watch as the Streatham skies burst into colour with a fleet of colourful kites. We’re not talking your run of the mill kite-flying either; expect aerial acrobatics including pairs kite flying and human lift powerkites, which sound so intriguing, they have to be good. Demos, refreshments and kite stalls make this a family-friendly way to get high.
14 May , http://www.streathamkiteday.org.uk
Dine in the Dark, Brixton
Following in the unsteady footsteps of iconic, pitch-black restaurant Dans Le Noir in Covent Garden, Brixton gets its own blind tasting experience this summer. London Beer Club is the venue for this unique supper club that sees diners blindfolded from the moment they arrive before they tuck into a delectable, but mysterious, six course meal. The dress code? All black, of course. 6 May, designmynight.com/london/whats-on/food-drink/dine-in-the-dark
Cultural Cabaret, Battersea
Battersea Barge has to be one of London’s most innovative events spaces, hosting cabaret, cultural events and old fashioned knees ups on the capital’s most iconic river. This May, we’ll be finding our sea legs for Femmes by the Thames, a night of comedy from the likes of Jen Brister, Harriet Braine and Lynn Ruth Miller who, at 83, puts comics half her age to shame.
18 May, http://www.batterseabarge.com/bbevents/
Brixton Beach, Brixton
If you’re planning a stay-cation this summer, may we suggest Brixton’s rooftop beach as your first port of call. Taking inspiration from the colourful culture of Cuba, this sky-high oasis will be dishing up cocktails and street food and a variety of entertainment, including sunset yoga, bespoke HIIT sessions and open-air film screenings. Flip-flops at the ready.
From 27 May, https://www.brixtonrooftop.com
