From pop-ups to special guest chefs, here are seven restaurants or bars in North London exciting us with their summer plans
1 Brazilian magic at The Well
A magic wand has been waved over Clerkenwell’s favourite gastropub, The Well, transforming its subterranean bar into exotic Brazilian beach pop-up, AbraCachaca. From 28 May until the end of September, The Well and premium Brazilian cachaca brand Ypioca invite guests to get in touch with their inner Brazilian with a magical beach retreat and pop-up party. Bountiful bar snacks, tropical tipples and Latin American beats will ensure the Brazilian party never stops, come rain or shine.
180 St John Street EC1V 4JY; 020 7251 93636; downthewell.co.uk
2 The Good Year at Attendant Café
On 21 May, The Good Year will launch as a month long pop-up bar at the Attendant Café on Great Eastern Street. By night, from Thursday to Saturday, The Good Year will offer a unique opportunity for wine lovers to feed their curiosity and discover new pours. The pop-up will have a frequently-changing menu of wines by the glass, simply explained with descriptive yet informal notes to how the wines actually taste. The Good Year concept is born out of a desire to forego the tradition of wine menus that are just a ‘list of names’. Creators, Mumtaz Lalani and David Payne, aim to make good wine accessible to modern urban wine lovers who may not necessarily have encyclopaedic knowledge of varietals and regions to comprehend a regular wine list.
74 Great Eastern StreetEC2A 3JL; thegoodyear.co.uk
3 Beach Hut at York & Albany
Sunglasses, flip-flops and beach balls at the ready: the York & Albany’s Beach Hut has launched. Be transported from London to the sunny coast of Cornwall as the former coaching inn’s courtyard has been transformed into a cool shoreline scene. The tunes and tastes of lazy days by the sea will bring the whole experience to life as guests enjoy seaweed Martinis and Bacardi rum slushies served in mini buckets with spades for spoons. Banish the thought of overcast days on the dunes eating sand-filled sandwiches and soggy chips whilst enjoying traditional treats with a twist. A selection of tempting savouries include mini fish ‘n’ chips, fun-sized Cumberland sausage rolls and pots of pickled seafood – and those looking for a more substantial feast can opt for the Beach BBQ menu consisting of freshly grilled burgers and veggie kebabs.
127-129 Parkway NW1 7PS; yorkandalbany.com
4 Krug & Chips
Coming later in the summer, in July, Maison Krug will be launching a gourmet chip shop in collaboration with Michelin starred chef Tom Sellers. Following the fantastic success of Krug Kreperie and Krug Krustacean, Krug is transforming the traditional British favourite, the chippy, and elevating it to an unforgettable rough luxury culinary experience for us to enjoy. Every year Krug chooses a raw and unexpected ingredient to explore and 2015 is the year of the potato, which Tom Sellers creatively brings to life through culinary offerings such as ‘Fish in Chips’, a potato ravioli with fish in tartar sauce, and fried monkfish cheeks with sweet curry. Krug & Chips will run in Covent Garden from 8-12 July.
Tickets and information on krug.com/krugandchips from 9 June
5 Lucky Chip at The Old Queens Head
We were delighted to hear that Lucky Chip have begun a kitchen residency at one of our favourite Islington boozers, The Old Queens Head. Since Lucky Chip’s inception in 2012, founder Ben Denner has built up an enviable reputation as having the best burger joint in London. He takes a playful approach to his culinary creations, with names like the Kevin Bacon, the Woody Harrelson and the John Belushi all starring on the menu. But for all the light-hearted Hollywood references, Ben’s burgers also have the taste to back them up, with their 28-day aged patties packing a hefty punch.
44 Essex Road N1 8LN; 020 7354 9993; theoldqueenshead.com
6 Check On and The Cat and Mutton
Bringing together one of the area’s best-loved pubs and most successful pop-ups, The Cat and Mutton will host a month-long residency from Check On during June. The popular duo of musician George Craig and Michelin-trained chef, Terry Edwards, will be taking over the kitchen seven days a week, offering their clever twist on British classics. Check On have created the final menu after holding a series of preview dinners at The Cat and Mutton in the weeks leading up the residency, with the most popular dishes making it on to the final line-up: Check On black pudding with duck egg and brown sauce; duck breast with salt baked carrots, turnips, and Check On’s signature dessert of ‘eggs and soldiers’ – vanilla cream with mango and shortbread.
76 Broadway Market E8 4QJ; 020 7249 6555; catandmutton.com
7 Jason Atherton’s Social Sunday
On Sunday 7 June, Jason Atherton and The Social Company will host Social Sunday; a series of collaborative lunches and restaurant previews in aid of Hospitality Action, the hospitality industry benevolent organisation. All six of Jason’s established restaurants will participate, welcoming top chefs from the UK’s dining scene at Pollen Street Social, Little Social, Social Eating House, Berners Tavern at Edition Hotel, City Social and Typing Room. Social Wine & Tapas will be offering guests a ‘first look’ before it opens to the public, and an exclusive preview of Sosharu, Jason’s upcoming Japanese restaurant, will also be hosted at City Social.
jasonatherton.co.uk/socialsunday
Words: Mark Kebble
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