JOSH BERGER
“There’s no city in the world like London, and the West End is its beating heart. My father and I recently co- produced Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations which opened at the Prince Edward Theatre at the end of April. Perfectly situated a step away from Kettner’s (that’s historically attracted the likes of Oscar Wilde and Winston Churchill, amongst others), and opposite Café Boheme, (quite simply the perfect place to sit and watch the world go by), in this very special part of London you will find yourself immersed in the intoxicating energy of the diverse throngs who are drawn to it. When I’m not in Soho my home-from-home is The River Café, owned and run by my best friend Ruthie Rogers. This iconic restaurant is a very special place to me and countless others. Over the years it has provided the perfect backdrop for some cherished memories, and it will doubtless continue to do so. Ruthie also has a podcast ‘Ruthie’s Table 4’ where she talks to invited guests and friends about how food impacts every aspect of our lives. I would highly recommend that you take a seat at this intimate table and have a listen.”
Josh Berger, Chairperson of the British Film Institute
Restaurant: Oak and Poppy, Hampstead
Oak and Poppy is a brand new bar & kitchen located in the heart of Hampstead. Oak and Poppy has an emphasis on seasonal nutritious dishes, served within a striking retractable glass roof conservatory in the main dining room - launching just in time to soak up the mid-summer rays. The newest jewel in Hampstead’s crown, the restaurant is a stone’s throw away from Hampstead Heath, and provides the perfect pit stop for casual grazing with family and loved ones from breakfast through to dinner. The interiors have been imagined by Creative Director Meredith Winston and feature a bespoke hand-crafted wooden tree at the centre, complemented by lush accents dotted across the space, from the entrance, to the bar and tables, as a nod to this vibrant centrepoint. Dishes on the all day menu will be perfect for sharing and range from Fish Tacos with Pickled Slaw & Chipotle Mayo and Lemon Sole with a vibrant Fennel Salad, Crushed Potatoes & Green Salsa and Maple, Soy & Lime Glazed Salmon with Egg Noodles, Pak Choy, Shiitake Mushrooms & Sesame Seeds to a Duo Beef Burgers with Cheddar, Pickles & Kimchi Mayo. Drinks wise we can indulge in creative cocktails including the refreshing Poppy’s Orchard with gin, drambuie, fresh apple juice and lemon.
Music: Live at the Palace
Live at the Palace is a two-day dance music extravaganza at the stunning grounds of Fulham Palace this month. On the 27th and 28th of May you can head to the lush surroundings of the Palace grounds and dance the night away to electronic music giants Ministry of Sound Classical, the titanic DJ duo Groove Armada, Shape Shifters, Tall Paul, Raw Silk, Ashley Beedle and many more special guests to be announced soon. It’s the ultimate summer kick-off party )(provided the weather ever does decide to warm up…!) and Live at the Palace will be bringing the summer vibes with street food, cocktail bars, activities and stalls. Tickets start at £55 right through to more premium VIP options if you want to really make a weekend of it. The garden themselves are one of the most important botanical gardens since the 16th century and the second oldest in London. Imagine back when it was first curated if you'd told them hundreds of good time Londoners would be dancing the night away to Groove Armada all these years later! It’s what they would have wanted we are sure…
Exhibition: Polar Silk Road
Temperatures in the Arctic are rising at three times the global average. Soon, the once permanent sea ice will have retreated enough to open up a shorter sea route though the Arctic, exposing the area to increased travel, research and exploitation. Gregor Sailer's brand new photography exhibition at the Natural History Museum, The Polar Silk Road, explores the existing, potential, and unexpected impacts of this new global trade route and documents this fast-changing region at a pivotal moment in its history. His images highlight human-made marks on the otherwise pristine landscape and question the possibilities of widespread environmental, economic and social impacts that further exploitation might cause. Sailer’s works have won multiple awards and have been shown nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions, including in New York, Arles, Milan, Vienna, Prague, Berlin and Budapest. He lives and works in Tyrol, Austria, and this is the first time his photographs have been shown in the UK.
Pop-Up Experience: Disney, Wonder of Friendship
For a century, Disney has shown us that nothing is impossible with friends by your side. To mark 100 years of dynamic duos, unlikely pals and inseparable friends, Disney are opening the doors to a stunning multi-sensory pop-up experience here in London- Disney, Wonder of Friendship. This recommended 18+ experience (those younger than 18 can go but only with an adult) brings you into a world of beautiful and enchanting installations where we can venture through immersive spaces celebrating iconic Disney characters, stories and friendships. At 180 The Strand from the 12th - 21st May the 1,000 square metres of installations are all themed around classics such as ‘Alice in Wonderland’, ‘Lilo & Stitch’, ‘The Lion King’ and Mickey and Friends. Visitors will be able to trip down Alice's rabbit hole, smell the scents of Lilo & Stitch’s Ohana Bay, and dance with Donald and Goofy. Through their partnership with Snapchat, the Disney characters and stories come to life in Augmented Reality by scanning QR codes in each exhibition room. Tickets are priced at £17.50 and the whole experience lasts around an hour.
Comedy: The Queer Comedy Club
The Queer Comedy Club officially launches on the 11th May and it’s set to be a queer comedy destination presenting “stand-up comedy that is relevant, relatable, and, most importantly, rib-ticklingly funny, reflecting their own lives.” Comedians will range from established acts to up-and-coming comics. They’ll even offer up opportunities for newbies to the scene to try their hand at the craft. Many of the events are free to boot, making it as accessible as possible. Just 5 minutes walk from Archway & Tufnell Park tube stations, every week they’ll have a different mix of comedians for you to enjoy – you can see big name TV regulars alongside circuit regulars and rising stars. With a full bar and cocktail list, make a full night of it and take all your friends!
Bar: These Days
The 11th May sees the opening of These Days in Bemondsey, a brand new aperitivo bar on Druid Street serving up Spritze’s till we pop. These Days is a ready to drink cocktail brand and thanks to them we can sip on delicious cocktails like the Venetian Spritz (white peach, honey and organic white wine) and the Sundown Spritz (which swaps in blood orange and chinotto) both on tap and by the bottle. For the peckish you can tuck into snacks from the best of Borough with bread from St John Bakery, cheeses from Neal's Yard, and moreish charcuterie and olives. Indoor and outdoor seating will make this a hot spot for the warmer summer days because we all know you need some Vitamin D to sup on a Spritz properly. The chaps behind the brand said of the new bar “Since we started These Days we’ve always been about the importance that drinking has as a social moment, as something that brings people together and we’re passionate about showing that aperitivo as a category can be so amazing for that.” We are happy to be your willing customers to prove you right! So head to the Bermondsey Beer Mile to find These Days and stay tuned to their insta or website for more updates.
Book: Happy Place by Emily Henry
Two exes. One pact. Could this holiday change everything? Happy Place is the brand-new novel from superstar author Emily Henry. She has sold 2.4 million books to date and has spent a collective 145 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. Happy Place tells the story of Harriet and Wyn who are the perfect couple - they go together like bread and butter, gin and tonic, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds. Except, now they don't. They broke up six months ago. And they still haven't told anyone. Which is how they end up sharing a bedroom at the cottage that has been their yearly getaway with their best friends for the past decade. For one glorious week they leave behind their lives, drink far too much wine and soak up the sea air with their favourite people. Only this year, Harriet and Wyn are lying through their teeth. The cottage is for sale so this is the last time they'll all be together here and they can't bear to break their friends' hearts. So, they'll fake it for one more week. It's a flawless plan (if you look at it through a pair of sunscreen-smeared sunglasses). But how can you pretend to be in love with someone - and get away with it - in front of the people who know you best?
Charity of the Month: Mental Health Awareness
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is from 15th to 21st May and running on the theme of anxiety. Anxiety is a normal emotion in us all, but sometimes it can get out of control and become a mental health problem. Lots of things can lead to feelings of anxiety, including exam pressures, relationships, starting a new job (or losing one) or other big life events. We can also get anxious when it comes to things to do with money and not being able to meet our basic needs, like heating our home or buying food. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health problems we can face. In a recent mental health survey carried out by Mental Health Awareness, a quarter of adults said they felt so anxious that it stopped them from doing the things they want to do some or all of the time. Six in ten adults feel this way, at least some of the time. On a positive note, anxiety can be made easier to manage. Focusing on anxiety for this year's Mental Health Awareness Week will increase people's awareness and understanding of anxiety by providing information on the things that can help prevent it from becoming a problem. At the same time, they will keep up the pressure to demand change - making sure that improving mental health is a key priority for the government and society as a whole.
App of the month: Headway, Daily Book Summaries
We all lead very busy lives and sometimes, despite best intentions, we simply don’t have the literal time, mental bandwidth or physical energy to read all the non-fiction books we’d like to. Headway is an app that summarises and visualises key ideas from the world’s nonfiction bestsellers so you can get essential knowledge to crush your goals. It’s bite-sized learning for fun and easy growth. You can basically find out the main insights from any nonfiction title in less than 15 minutes. Whether you want to listen, read, or watch, Headway, has us covered with concise summaries and visual explainers. Every piece of content is picked according to your goals and needs. This means you can boost your life areas and skills with challenges on Success, Wealth, Healthy Relationships, Modern Parenting, Self-Confidence, Emotional Intelligence, and more.