1. The Gin T Garden at the York & Albany
Having wowed us previously with their cosy winter cocktail cabin, Gordon Ramsay’s Parkway outpost, York & Albany, have just opened a thoroughly summery concept in their diminutive back garden. The schtick is a boozy twist on the traditional English tea, so forget limp cucumber sandwiches and worthy cups of Darjeeling, instead, say hello to Tanqueray-infused, ice cold sharing teapots and towering racks groaning with gin-themed treats. We dropped by yesterday and enjoyed the Earl Grey and grapefruit sour, dangerously quaffable and served in seriously beautiful glassware. Gin and juniper-cured salmon nibbles, chocs laced with Tanqueray Ten and even some incongruous but fun scones were among the inventive food selection. Who said teatime was too early to start?
Gin T Garden at York & Albany, 127-129 Parkway, NW1 daily between 2-7pm from July 4th Afternoon Gin Tea £24, with teapot cocktails £31. Booking in advance is a very good idea.
2. Camden Lock Live, next Friday
Returning for a second balmy year, Camden Lock goes ‘Live’ on July 11th, when food and drink, live music and dancing all brim over into one giant urban festival, on the banks of the canal. Last year’s event was a hoot, and this time around we’re looking forward to the Wray & Nephew cocktails in the Reggae Roast tent, a special sun-kissed Brewdog beer bar, the return of the Fashion Meets Music collective with their hip recyclyed clobber and boat-loads of live music all day on the outdoor stage in West Yard. There’s also the promise to “learn hip hop moves to use in social situations” from interactive dance troupe Big Dance Company, so you know where you’ll find us, bustin’ a move or two. Probably.
10am – 10pm, West Yard, NW1. Friday July 11th, Free
3. Our Bodies Speak: performance training
The Theatre Making Place kicks off a summer of workshops in Camden on 28th July with a week-long intensive session for pro and trainee and curious theatre performers. They’ll be exploring character, ensemble, physicality, rhythm, choreography, sound, scale, perspective and space in a demanding, but always playful way. Then from 4th-8th August the focus switches to kids, with 4-7, 14-16 and 16-18 age groups cater for by workshops for the next generation. If you our your sprogs fancy treading the boards, this could be the best way to blow your mind for a week this summer.
The London Irish Centre, 50-52 Camden Square, London, NW1 9XB. More info
