Ugh, July. What a depressing collection of grey, rainy days you saved up for us. Good thing I’m going to Edinburgh soon, I hear it’s always sunny there. Anyway, regardless of the weather, I dragged myself around London to various events and new openings, drank a lot of coffee, and sunk a few IPAs along the way. There was a fun evening around Bermondsey, tasting new brews from Anspach & Hobday and Brew By Numbers (N.B. BBNo have opened a new tasting room down the road). The guys from Burnt Mill Brewery were also at The Bottle Shop releasing their beers to the public for the first time.
On the caffeine front, I’ve been all over. Cable Cafe and their new bakery round the corner in Oval; Fowlds Cafe in Camberwell; Beany Green in Broadgate; Workshop‘s new space in the White Collar Factory by Old Street, plus an older one by Bond Street; Saint Espresso in Baker Street; Association Coffee, Black Sheep Leadenhall and a friendly branch of Department of Coffee and Social Affairs by Aldgate; Rapha in Soho; Sourced Market in Marylebone; BRWD inside French Connection on Oxford Street; and La Moka in Battersea on an almost daily basis. Nitro cold brew is finally starting to appear in more cafés, and even on the shelves thanks to Sandows cute new cans. It’s safe to say, I haven’t got much sleep. Keep an eye on London’s Best Coffee as I do for the latest openings in your hood.
What else? Oh yes – there was a noodle fest at Murger Hanhan in Piccadilly with the London Cheap Eats crew followed by that caramelised banana waffle at the new Duck & Waffle Local on Haymarket. There was all sorts of musical cucumber based nonsense with Hendrick’s Gin at their P.L.A.N.T. popup at the RHS Summer Garden Party. And there was questionable bowling at the launch of the newly refurbished Queens Skate Dine Bowl accompanied by Meat Liquor burgers and chased with beers at the impressive Mall Tavern in Notting Hill.
A particularly productive day started by Battersea Power Station at the launch of Mother where they tried to give away free pizza and wine to far too many people. I returned for a calmer lunch a couple of days later. From there, we walked to Mondo Brewing Company‘s cosy taproom for some excellent seasonal IPAs. A bus then took us to Brixton where we had an outstanding meal at Smoke & Salt in Pop Brixton, followed by more beers at Ghost Whale, and a sobering showing of Dunkirk at the Ritzy.
I’ve also posted separately about Chik’n, Sub Cult, Mother Kelly’s, The Barbary, Renegade London Wine, Coupette and a wonderful evening of Bissell Bros beers at The Hop Locker. All in all, a soggy but productive month. Bring on August. P.S. If you are heading up to Edinburgh for the festival this month, check out my newsletter filled with food, drink and comedy recommendations.
