What’s On in London – November 2015

Many experts think that this year’s round robin contest between the top eight male tennis players is a chance for Novak Djokovic to underline his greatness. His old rivals will all be trying to knock him of his perch but Novak seems the most focused. Andy Murray has a momentous Davis Cup final to prepare for while Rafa Nadal is struggling with injury. Roger Federer is still a force and Stan Warwinka is breaking into the top four, but Djokovic seems to have the measure of them.

It may be the end of the season but the top guns of tennis are still pulling out all the stops. The O2 indoor arena is the ideal venue for all their high octane brilliance and crowd-pleasing shots. The competitiveness is always there and no one will want to give any quarter. Expect dazzling stroke play from Djokovic, blazing returns from Murray and deft touches from Federer as the tennis world prepares to crown its king for 2015.

Speciality cooking comes to the fine Victorian arches of Tobacco Dock as some of the hottest chefs in London demonstrate just why their restaurants are packed out every day. This Taste of London mini-festival is an off-shoot of a bigger event held earlier this year in Regent’s Park, but it’s by no means less important. The focus is on innovation, quality and personality as bright new chefs team up with established pioneers to showcase just how far you can go when creating a menu.

Mark Hix, Marcus Waring and Monica Galetti will be talking, advising and cooking up a storm while new concepts like the Mole Taco Bar, Kurobuta and Daily Special will be reinventing ethnic menus. There will be interactive sessions and a chance for visitors to taste and work with a variety of exotic ingredients. Live music will be geared to give the event a festive air in the run-up to Christmas

www.London.tastefestivals.com

A musical about finding tolerance and acceptance in the most unlikely of places, Kinky Boots is written by Harvey Fierstein with songs by Cindi Lauper. Lauper once wrote and performed a pop song called True Colours and there’s definitely a riot of colour going on as a young man inherits a respectable shoe factory and turns it into a fetish footwear emporium.

Charlie is a reluctant businessman who is struggling to make a profit making quality shoes that no one wants. Along comes Lola, a transvestite performer who requires sturdy, yet glamorous boots for her backing singers. Lola and her “angels” take over production at the factory just as Charlie enters a prestigious fashion competition in Milan. Can the boots win in Italy? Will the factory be saved? Will Charlie find true love? These questions are all answered in a rip-roaring finale that features some of Lauper’s catchiest numbers.

www.kinkybootsthemusical.co.uk

Operas that are as universally loved as this are often resistant to change, but Carmen has a long history of reinterpretation and refocus. The one thing that adaptations dare not touch, however, is the personality of the central character. The eponymous heroine of Carmen is always sultry, headstrong and intoxicating to her male admirers. Elena Maximova plays her with maximum oomph, teasing and scolding the men and disregarding the women.

The supporting cast duly follow Maximova’s lead and the staging is a riot of gypsy colour with live animals and tumbling kids – a sight you don’t often see at the opera. Bizet’s score is, as always, bulletproof. The big numbers are huge and the intimate moments are almost unbearably poignant which is what everyone wants and expects from any version of this passionate work.

www.roh.org.uk

Jazz was once memorably described as “The Sound Of Surprise” and visitors to the EFG London Jazz Festival can expect plenty of eclecticism to go with the usual instrumental wizardry. Established virtuosos like Hiromi and Manu Katché will be bringing their full bands to various venues around London and there will be an incredible solo bass concert from former Miles Davis sideman, Dave Holland. Numerous breakthrough acts, who will probably end up headlining in a couple of years time, include saxophonist Nubya Garcia and the Matt Roberts Bigish Band.

Vocal jazz enthusiasts will enjoy concerts by Cassandra Wilson, Melody Gardot and Claire Martin while the irrepressible Maceo Parker will be mixing jazz with the infectious grooves that made him so indispensable to James Brown. There’ll be plenty of workshops and interactive lessons for the kids and parents can even join in and learn how to sing jazz standards with help from Nia Lynn and Joe Stilgoe.

www.efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk

It may come as a surprise to some, but the diary that Pepys is famous for covered only ten years of his eventful life. A large part of what we know about London in the 1600s is down to the journal that he kept during a particular tumultuous time that include a deadly plague and a devastating fire. These two massive disasters, in particular helped to reform and reshape the Capital and Pepys was in the forefront of this change.

Excerpts from his diary form an important part of this exhibition, but so do artefacts, paintings and other curiosities. Pepys was a well-placed influence on the Royal Family and was party to a lot of the gossip and indiscretions that went on in court. He was also, however, an excellent administrator who helped to modernise the British Navy. It is fitting, therefore, that this exhibition is housed in the venue that he helped to shape.

www.rmg.co.uk

This barnstorming stage adaptation of the 2004 top selling album by punk protagonists Green Day has picked up awards on Broadway and toured the UK to sell out crowds. Now it has touched down in the West End for a rowdy residence at the Arts Theatre. The musical is set in a post twin towers America where politicians wrap themselves in the flag in order to say the most stupidly xenophobic things imaginable. Three young men have had enough, but take totally different routes as they bid to escape the madness.

Tunny perversely joins the military while Will turns to drink and premature fatherhood. Johnny grabs his guitar and heads to the big city where his dreams of rock rebellion get ambushed by drugs, delusion and darkness. The action is relentless as the actors slam and mosh their way through a series of thrash-metal anthems. It’s the kind of music that grabs situations by the throat and doesn’t let go until hope shines through.

www.artstheatrewestend.co.uk

When it comes to the West End musical, Maria Friedman has absolutely nothing left to prove onstage, so it’s a joy to see her take the director’s chair in this rollicking revival of the famous Hollywood star vehicle. Other stories have love triangles, but High Society has a “love quadrilateral” as three suitors attempt to woo the frivolous Tracy Lord all to the incomparable backdrop of Cole Porter’s greatest hits. Kate Fleetwood plays Tracy with a surprising depth and energy that brings the best out of the supporting cast who are also expert song and dance practitioners.

Extra songs have been added from Porter’s impeccable back catalogue and they’ve been distributed around the cast so as to not turn the event into some kind of Rat Pack throwback. Staging the production in the round is an inspired idea as well, because allows for more intimacy with the audience. In the 1956 movie, Louis Armstrong served as a memorable narrator for the twists and turns of the madcap plot, but Friedman (a skilful narrator herself – remember “Joseph”?) has in pianist Joe Stilgoe, her own joker in the pack. Stilgoe improvises around the action, warms up the audience and still manages to hit his lines. That’s jazz!

www.oldvictheatre.com

This already hugely popular attraction has now added a new permanent extension that is bound to wow first-time visitors as well as Potter veterans. Here, the famous starting point for so many Harry Potter adventures, platform 9¾ has been meticulously recreated, complete with the original Hogwarts Express steam engine. The same craftsmen who worked on the films have returned to build this 20,000 sq ft marvel using original props and special effects.

The remainder of the tour is still a marvellous day out for all the family with the Great Hall centrepiece still evoking memories of the young wizards as they embarked on their magical education. All the fantastic monsters and supernatural wonders of the movie series are dotted throughout the rest of the converted aircraft hanger. A fully stocked gift shop and snack bar serving delicious meals are on site selling themed treats and mementos.

www.wbstudiotours.co.uk

Wheelers is the venerable fish restaurant brand that top chef Marco Pierre White took over some years ago. After establishing a solid presence in the Home Counties, White is now ready for a London relaunch and has teamed up with the Threadneedles Hotel near the Bank of England. Whitstable rock oysters, grilled Dover sole and fish pie are all old favourites that will appeal to lovers of traditional British seafood.

The rib room will specialise in the finest British steaks – all dry-aged for 28 days. Rib (serves two), sirloin and fillet are all served with hand cut chips plus a choice of side dishes. The old-school vibe continues in the dessert menu. Sherry trifle, Eton mess and chocolate brownies may seem safe choices, but in the hands of Marco’s team, they are set to reach new heights.

www.mpwrestaurants.co.uk

Between the Cityboy-induced inflation of Shoreditch and the experimental pop-ups of Dalston lies Haggerston and a strip of very good restaurants. Trip Kitchen stands out with its Turkish Cypriot roots that nevertheless steers clear of an over-emphasis on protein. Decked out in industrial chic and offering unpretentious service, this is an eatery that is both adventurous and honest. Well-balanced small plates include lamb with pomegranate and grilled sardines with a quite delicious Turkish tapenade. An intriguing pesto made out of pistachio nuts leaves you scratching your head – what would it go with? The answer comes in the form of a wonderfully sea-fresh bowl of clams and the combination at once makes perfect sense.

Hipsters love this place. It’s got just enough ethnicity and just enough quirkiness. It’s also housed in a railway arch which earns it extra cool points as trains rumbling overhead becomes the trendy East London equivalent of background “Dinner Jazz”.

www.tripspace.co.uk

Most restaurants that are associated with bastions of high culture are situated in plain view so that guests may look out over the fine examples of sculpture/paintings/literature that they’ve come to see. Keeper’s House differs in that it is sequestered away from the main building of the Royal Academy across the courtyard in a renovated townhouse.

Run by restaurant mogul, Oliver Peyton, the Keeper’s House is smart, professional and confident. Chef Ivan Simeoli is determined to use the beast seasonal ingredients, but without the helping of smugness that seems to be added to the menu these days.The relaxed and cultured atmosphere is just the right antidote to all the seasonal hoopla of last month and the staff are switched on enough to know when to enquire and when to retire. Main courses feature exquisitely prepared roast lamb, fillets of brill and delicate sea bass with kale, chard and heritage carrots being complimented by bold sauces. A dessert of clementine flavoured rice pudding is incredibly light and refreshingly tangy while still being the comfort food we all know and love.

www.royalacademy.org.uk

The London nightclub scene is as varied as the seemingly endless dance genres that keep proliferating in the charts. This means that venues can differ wildly in terms of size, taste and location with a good chance of the discovery of some hidden gems. The idea behind Blagclub is simple and that is the creation of a space that resembles your friend’s house on a Saturday night get together. Getting through the doors, you can’t help but feel like you’re walking into someone’s flat. The bar, DJ booth, dancefloor and lounge take up an extended loft space guaranteed to put everybody at ease. The decor is simple with a splash of ethnic chic, including some interesting statues and wall art.

The eclectic crowd are a fairly tolerant bunch and the music ranges from pop-dance hits to more the urban variants of dubstep and grime. All in all the music policy is designed so as to keep the clientele dancing, laughing and drinking the premium cocktails on offer. Midweek nights host live acoustic music and jam sessions.

www.royalacademy.org.uk

Forge is a new bar/grill founded on the site of the infamous Abacus dive bar near Bank station. Once a notorious hangout for City boys bent on excess, the new owners have decided to target a more thoughtful demographic and the refurbishment reflects this. Dancing space has thankfully been sacrificed for dining space and a state-of-the-art kitchen installed.

It was once rumoured that back in the Abacus days, tables had to be specially reinforced because of the amount of dancing that was performed on them. This might still be the case, but instead of inebriated bankers, the tables will have to withstand the weight of the awesome selection of sharing platters that are available. Forge obviously looks to nearby Barbacoa for inspiration and the steaks, ribs and skewers on offer are as big and as bold as the resumes of its clientele.

www.forgedinlondon.com

When the owner of LA celebrity hangout Chateau Marmont opens a restaurant in London, it’s a given that A-listers will come flocking. Andre Balazs has enlisted the design expertise of Paris based Studio KO to convert a former fire station into a temple of gastronomic excellence. High-end restaurants all over London must be on a recruitment drive as it seems that a large chunk of culinary talent has been poached by the Chiltern Firehouse and the results are predictably spectacular. From the bar snacks to the coffee; every course is cooked with artistry and presented with panache.

Crab-stuffed doughnuts are a tasty accompaniment to the drinks menu; indeed, all fish dishes are imaginative and generously proportioned. Sea trout is cooked ceviche style and Cod comes with leek hearts and romaine lettuce.Slow-roasted short rib with hazelnut purée and bone marrow is bound to become a firm favourite together with the pristine chargrilled Iberico pork. Frozen apple panna cotta is one of the highlights of the dessert menu.

www.chilternfirehouse.com

This is musical where the artistic merit was almost eclipsed by its impressive props but where the sheer intensity of the subject matter still got through. Music and words are by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg who struck gold with Les Misérables and this adaptation of Madame Butterfly focuses on the big themes of love, loss and redemption. The doomed love-affair between a Vietnamese prostitute and a US marine isn’t very sympathetic to American foreign policy but a Western audience should be able to stomach that in these post Iraqi war time.

The evacuation of Saigon and the appearance of the famous life-size helicopter get the biggest cheer of the night and there is no doubting that the heroism of the soldiers is a counter to the abandoned mother and child. The beautifully sung message that Miss Saigon brings back to London after fifteen years is that the casualties of war are not restricted to the battlefield and that true love does not always prevail.

www.miss-saigon.com

There’s something fishy going on in the Square Mile and this time it doesn’t involve insider dealing! Diners in the City have plenty of culinary options but The Mercer understands that good ingredients, served simply, will always keep the customers coming back. This theory applies to both comfort food favourites and lighter, seafood-based dishes. Pan-fried seabass and salt-baked sea bream are delicious alternatives to their signature pies and steaks. Popular starters include rock oysters, crab on sourdough toast and potted shrimps.

This exploration of classic English dishes by chef-proprietor, Warren Lee has unearthed some mouth-watering specials with both skate and hake regularly making appearances.

www.themercer.co.uk

There won’t be a dodgem ride in sight when you rock up to this converted warehouse in the ultra hip Dalston/Shoreditch area. Instead what you’ll experience is the latest mash-up event that London seems to excel at: namely, a club weekender which is themed around high-end street food. Walk into any kitchen in a top London eatery and you’ll find clue- up young chefs who are as knowledgable about chilled breakbeats as they are about chilled gazpacho and Fairground is their collective vision made flesh.

Spread over three floors, the venue contains a mega bar run by Strange Hill on the first level. DJs from dance labels Hot Natured and Black Butter will host a fashion show by the Love Bullets collective. The second floor takes the form of a chill-out and knowledge space with talks and seminars by such trend-surfing luminaries as English Disco Lovers on the power of social media. The top tier is where everybody hopes to end up. This is where a deliciously unpredictable selection of pop-up restaurants will hold court. The opening of Fairground coincides with Thai New Year and Jude Sangsida from Busaba Eatha will be on hand to demonstrate the incredible levels to which mere “street food” can rise.

www.fairgroundlondon.com

Clean-cut Mormon missionaries meet with poverty-oppressed Africans with hilarious results. It sounds implausible, even offensive but this musical from the creators of South Park has been a runaway smash on both sides of the Atlantic and shows no sign of wearing out its welcome in the West End. The script is subversive and darkly comic but importantly never patronises its targets and is helped along by some of the cleverest, catchiest and downright scandalous tunes ever performed on stage.

Reports have suggested that inquiries about the Mormon faith have gone up by 50% since the musical started and it certainly didn’t deter Mitt Romney from running for president (he lost but that was because his party was unpopular not because he was a Mormon). As the production pokes fun at some of the stranger beliefs of the Latter Day Saints, the underlying sentiment is that anybody can pick holes in religion but the hope that springs from it is undeniable and even transferable: deeds, not creeds if you will.

www.bookofmormonlondon.com

Adventurous Italian cooking in the heart of Soho is what the recently relocated Polpetto is all about. Commitment to the very best ingredients is the hallmark of any fine cuisine but it seems that it is even more essential in Italian dishes. This may have something to do with the fact that the regional food characteristics are so strong in that part of the world. Polpetto know all this by heart so you get green winter tomatoes from Sardinia, simply sliced and served with oil. This might sound rudimentary but the taste is indescribably good. Chef/owner Florence Knight is famous for her Baccala mantecato and happily it remains on the menu. A garlicky paste of salt cod on grilled bread is the ideal snack and comforts the stomach.

Polpetto also make the best scallops in town. Rather than swamp the delicate shellfish under a blanket of low-grade pork, they use lardons and cauliflower cream to elevate an already sublime dish. Desserts are sensibly palate cleansing, particularly the zesty blood orange sorbet and the Italian wine list is well chosen and reasonably priced.

We are continuously being told by health gurus that salads are not only necessary, but incredibly tasty when you put the right ingredients together. However, no matter our good intentions, we tend to neglect them when we eat out and opt for something that excites and intrigues us more; we are eating out after all. Salad still tends to be an afterthought that springs to mind when we are guiltily looking for a light lunch after a previous night’s blowout and this is the mindset that Christian Honor seems to be debunking on a daily basis. Christian is no rabbit food merchant. He has worked for Gordon Ramsay and run the kitchens in the Dorchester so he brings quality, precision and passion to his task.

Salmon smoked over Chinese tea and feta lasagne are great main courses but you could lunch on the salads alone, such is the attention to detail coupled with top-notch ingredients on show. Three bean salad with cinnamon shouldn’t work but it does. Apple and fennel with quinoa reads like a yummy mummy posted it into the suggestion box; yet it is so nuanced and well-presented that you wonder why other chefs aren’t doing the same. With a range of wonderful cakes and tea infusions, Kitch looks and feels like a local deli which is probably a good thing as it makes the treasures within even more exciting.

With cheery economic news an almost daily occurrence, London’s restaurant scene has seen the return of the super-size eaterie. In the noughties, this sector was ruled by the Conrad empire as Quaglino’s and Mezzo fed the city’s foodies to much acclaim. In 2013, new faces have arrived in the West End to satisfy London’s seemingly never-ending hunger for new places to eat. Chotto Matte is split into several levels and can comfortably seat over 200 guests. The food is a deliciously fresh take on the Nikkei style of Japanese cooking with dedicated areas for sushi lovers and a Japanese barbecue.

The atmosphere is gregarious and fun with a DJ and live music in selected rooms; perfect for the after-theatre or pre-clubbing crowd. Entrepreneur and owner, Kurt Zdesar has a solid track record in London having launched the first Nobu restaraunt here and he seems to have judged this opening perfectly. So as a raft of new shows hit the West End, expect to find the cast, crew and audience toasting one another at Chotto Matte.

www.chotto-matte.com

High-rise dining is becoming a more common occurrence in the capital, thanks to the recent proliferation of downtown skyscrapers. The views tend to affect the prices which, in turn, affect expectations. Oblix unapologetically go for the City-boy pound by offering such favourites as crab cakes, scallops, rib-eye steak and lobster cerviche. These are all tried and trusted meals so beloved by the transatlantic suits and suitesses who frequent Oblix by day.

In the evening, the lights dim and the views become even more entrancing. From this vantage point, you can actually track the progress of underground trains by the way their lights leak through cracks in the ground. A lounge menu, along with an extensive cocktail list, gives  Oblix the same kind of ambience that can be found in the New York Grill in Tokyo’s Park Hyatt hotel immortalised in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation movie. It’s no surprise, then, to discover that these two high-flyers share the same origins. Both have been conceived by Rainer Becker, who with Arjun Waney launched Zuma and Roka.

www.oblixrestaurant.com