Halloween at The Midnight Apothecary Pop-up Garden Cocktail Bar in Rotherhithe

Photo by Eleanor Salter Thorn

The Midnight Apothecary which ran as an as an open air cocktail bar in the summer, is back for Halloween in collaboration with The Cocktail Gardener - if you dare...

"The Cocktail Gardener – the creative force behind one of London’s hottest pop-up cocktail bars – is delighted to announce two very special Midnight Apothecary events to mark the end of summer and prepare for winter.
In a unique Halloween collaboration on Saturday 27 October, Julie Friend, winner of BBC MasterChef and The Perfume Mistress, Tanya Moulding will join The Cocktail Gardener to turn Midnight Apothecary into an autumnal feast for the senses.   Hot gourmet delights to warm the cockles, renowned alcoholic potions to drive out evil spirits and season-inspired natural fragrances will make for a magical evening.  A cosy firepit, flares, bats, jack 'o lanterns, marshmallows, hot mulled concoctions, live music – and perhaps even apple bobbing, complete the picture.
The venue for both events is the Brunel Museum rooftop garden that has recently been transformed by The Cocktail Gardener into a secluded rural idyll teeming with flowers, herbs and vegetables.  It is set in the charmingly cobbled riverside area of historic Rotherhithe Village on the Thames Path, close to the Mayflower Pub and Sands Films – and only one minute from Rotherhithe Overground station.
Admission is free. There is a cash bar for food and drinks. For those brave enough, a guided tour of the Brunel Tunnel Grand Entrance Hall, a vast underground amphitheatre, is an optional extra (£5)."

When - Saturday 27th October 5pm - 10pm

Where - Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, SE16 4LF

Map

Link 1 - The Brunel Museum

Link 2 - The Brunel Museum on Twitter

Link 3 - The Cocktail Gardener

The 'I Fancy You' Pop-up Halloween Fancy Dress Shop off Brick Lane

I always wondered why no one had done a pop-up fancy dress shop.  It's clearly a pretty seasonal market (Halloween especially) and it makes sense to only trade at certain times of the year.  Apparently I missed the I Fancy You shop last year, but now it's back, it's off Brick Lane, and it looks like lots of fun.  Oh - and they're doing hair & make-up by appointment if you take your fancy dress really seriously!

"I Fancy You are hosting their annual Halloween Pop up shop in Trendy East London again. From Thursday 25th October-Sat 3rd November. 28 Cheshire Street, off Brick Lane. Let's get spooky!!!!
That SPOOKTSASTIC time of year is nearly upon us again and I Fancy You Ltd are hosting a Fantastical Fancy Dress POP UP shop for all your Halloween fancy dress needs. A fabulous boutique, personalised fancy dress service for people of all ages.
Located in the heart of trendy East London on Brick Lane, I FANCY YOU is back again to get you looking your scariest best for Halloween!!! 
Come on down for many great deals and discounts on all our fancy dress items."

When - 25th October - 3rd November

Where - 28 Cheshire Street, E2 6EH

Map

Link 1 - I Fancy You

Link 2 - Facebook

Halloween Hell Night with Noshable at Ben's Canteen in Battersea

Ben's Canteen is getting a bit of a reputation for great one-night-only events:  Following on from the Independence Day and the American Road Trip nights, Ben's Canteen has teamed up with Noshable again for another night, this time for Halloween.  Be afraid, be very afraid!

"Halloween is fast approaching and we’ve once again teamed up with our favourite food blogger, Noshable (the brains behind our awesome Independence Day and Road Trip parties), to bring you a Halloween ‘Hell Night’ food based party on the 31st October.
£30 Per Head Set Menu 
Sipsmith ‘Swamp Water’
Free cup of a Sipsmith‘s gin based ‘Swamp Water’ punch.
‘Suicide Wings’
Buffalo chicken wings with celery and ranch dip. Are you brave enough to have it with The Rib Man’s ‘Judas It’s Scary Hot’ sauce or will you opt for regular buffalo sauce?
Antidote
You may need one if you wish to live…
Zombie Clothes
Ropa Vieja. Cuban stew of shredded beef, carrots, peppers, onions and ‘spiked’ sherry. Served with rice and plantain.
Gelupo Halloween Ice Cream
An amuse bouche of Pumpkin and Cinnamon ice cream from the brilliant Gelupo
‘Damned’ Pumpkin Pie
Classic American diner style pumpkin pie with whipped cream."

When - Wednesday 31st October, with two sittings, one at 7pm and one at 9pm

Where - Ben's Canteen, 140 St John’s Hill, SW11 1SL

Cost - £30 per head from here (7pm) & here (9pm)

Map

Link 1 - Ben's Canteen

Link 2 - Noshable

Link 3 - My interview with Adam Layton of Noshable

Pancake Pictures Presents: Horror in Hoxton Halloween Film Screenings

The Breakfast Club are turning their cafe in Hoxton into a cinema for 3 days over Halloween, showing 3 chilling films, with a burger and a beer provided, and a dedicated waiter to serve you drinks during the film.  They promise you'll have a 'frightfully' good time...

"For the first time EVER, The Breakfast Club will be showing films in our cosy snug room at our Hoxton cafe.
Snuggle up (or hide behind your mate!) on our comfy armchairs and sofas and watch the best of Halloween Cinema.
29th October: The Birds
30th October: Carrie
31st October: Halloween
Tickets cost £18 per evening and include a beer and burger. Movies start at 8pm but arrive early to enjoy your food and drink. Popcorn will be served when the film begins. 
PS: We've even arranged for you to have a dedicated waiter who will fetch you drinks throughout the film!"

When - 29th - 31st October; movies start at 8pm

Where - 2-4 Rufus Street, N1 6PE

Tickets - £18 from tickets@lovetbc.com with your name, what film you want to see, how many tickets you would like and your telephone number and they will call you back to arrange all of the finer details

Map

Link - Event on Facebook

Halloween Events at Wood Street Indoor Market in Walthamstow

Wood Street Indoor Market is holding some special Halloween events.  I'm a bit late on this one (because I was on holiday, then away for work) so you've missed the first Costume Clinic, but there's lots more going on this Wednesday and next Saturday:

"Wood Street Indoor Market in East London is a unique historical market, and is only a 10 minute walk from Walthamstow Village in E17 or a 2 minute walk from Wood Street overground Station.
This is the place to find cheap second hand furniture, antiques, vintage clothing, and an amazing collection of retro & vintage music, vinyl and shellacs. There is also picture framing, cake decoration and various other Arts and Craft shops, even a shop called "Mothers Ruin" selling artisan liqueurs, that take a year of steeping in gin or vodka...In all there are about 50 units to walk around, and a great little café that does a good old fashioned fry up!
The market has recently begun to find interest from artists and makers who are seeing the potential in the niche retail spaces and in the community of collectors and antique dealers. The quirky indoor markets were originally built as a cinema, but now they have a reputation among shoppers and antique and record collectors as one of London’s secret gems!
Saturday 20th October
Significant Seams will be  hosting special "Halloween Costume Clinics",  3-5pm to get you ready for ghoulish goings-on! 
Wednesday 24th October
NUT will be running a special childrens' Halloween class on the 24th October, 4 – 5pm, making scary halloween spiders. 
Saturday 27th Octoboer
Indoor trick or treating, meet our Halloween characters and have your picture taken , Bat Boys and Ghoulish Girls – come dressed up and join in the fun with more  "Halloween Costume Clinics",  3-5pm"

When - 20th - 27th October

Where - 98-100 Wood Street, Walthamstow, E17 3HX

Map

Link - Wood Street Indoor Market

Edible Cinema presents Beetlejuice in Shoreditch

Edible Cinema is a film experience where you eat specially created food while you watch.  Previous screenings have included Spirited Away; now it's back for Halloween, with Tim Burton's Beetlejuice.  The last one they held sold out amazingly quickly; if you want to go book now from the email address below!

"Edible Cinema and Bombay Sapphire have once again teamed up with The Aubin Cinema in Shoreditch for two multi sensory Halloween screenings of Beetlejuice, on Sunday 28th and Wednesday 31st October 2012. Tim Burton’s much loved comedy horror will be  enhanced by Edible Cinema, providing an unearthly and unique experience in a comfortable and stylish location.
Following Secret Cinema, scratch and sniff cinema and film scores re-imagined by DJs and musicians, Edible Cinema truly enhances the  film with an integrated tasting experience; a collaboration between the Soho House Group, renowned experience organiser Polly Betton, experimental food designers Andrew Stellitano and David Bradley (aka The Curious Confectioner) and Bombay Sapphire mixologist Sam Carter.
The audience is provided with a series of numbered ‘packages’ before the start of the film, each of which contains a mystery food. At specific points during the film, large placards with corresponding numbers will be shown to the audience instructing them to consume the contents of the packages. On arrival, guests will also be served a Bombay Beetle Juice cocktail, inspired by the film and created by Bombay Sapphire.  The cocktail’s devilishly fruity, rooty, spicy and citrus notes incorporate Bombay Sapphire, bright beetroot, tangy lemon juice and sweet Chambord black raspberry liqueur, all topped with fiery ginger beer.
The Edible Cinema experience is not just about eating; the smell, texture, even the way the mouth feels after eating the contents of the ‘packages’ will correspond to what’s happening on screen and heighten  the viewers’ sensory experience of the film.
Director Tim Burton’s outlandish horror comedy Beetlejuice sees newly-deads Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis hire "bio-exorcist" Michael Keaton to keep their home from human habitation.  Guests can eat their way through the film's surreal landscapes and inhabitants - slice of sandworm anyone? - as the flavours, smells and textures underscore the action on screen, from eye popping head shrinking powder to the essence of Beetlejuice himself (not for the feint of stomach). Food designer David Bradley has more dastardly and delicious tricks up his sleeve to bring a whole new dimension to this kitsch cult horror classic.
The Aubin Cinema is run in conjunction with Shoreditch House private members’ club and forms part of the first Aubin & Wills destination store together with The Aubin Gallery, a collaboration with leading British artist and curator Stuart Semple.  The cinema provides an unrivalled level of comfort for up to 45 viewers with velvet chairs and sofas."

When - Sunday 28th & Weds 31st October

Where - The Aubin Cinema, 64-66 Redchurch Street, Shoreditch, London E2 7DP

Tickets - Tickets are priced as follows:
Armchair seats £23pp
Sofa seats £50 (£25pp)
Deluxe sofa £52 (£26pp)
Angled seats £20pp

Available from ediblecinema@aubincinema.com

Map

Link - The Aubin Cinema

Halloween Film 'Screamings' in Hackney

Experience Cinema, from the creators of the Rooftop Film Club, has announced a short series is scary films for Halloween, screened in the very atmospheric Round Chapel in Hackney.  Two of the films (ET and Ghostbusters) are available for kids at a reduced price; the other two (Shaun of the Dead and The Lost Boys) are for the grown ups only.  Oh - and fancy dress is encouraged!

"From the creators of the Rooftop Film Club comes a brand new film experience especially for Halloween. On Tuesday 30th October, the eve of Halloween, we bring you two spook-tacular screenings in association with Universal Pictures, the studio that pioneered the horror genre.
Our fang-tastic film fest commences with a special family matinee screening of Steven Spielberg's unforgettable adventure 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial'. This timeless classic celebrates its 30th Anniversary with its first-ever release on Blu-ray™ on 22nd October and we are proud to bring it to you on the big screen in this unrivalled location. The Halloween scene with E.T. under a bed sheet as he goes trick or treating will certainly get you and your little gremlins in the mood for knocking on doors and scaring the neighbours.
As darkness falls we present the hilarious 'Shaun of the Dead'. This much loved zombie themed romantic comedy starring Simon Pegg became an instant cult classic upon its release in 2004. Watch Shaun face a full scale ZOMBIE EPIDEMIC armed with just a cricket bat and spade as the dead return to life and attempt to eat the living. It's a good job they've got the local pub to hide in...or is it?!
The scares don't stop there as on Halloween itself we bring you two more classic movies to get your horror loving fangs into! It's another one for your little monsters with a matinee screening of the paranormal pleasing 'Ghostbusters'. Starring comedy giants Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray, this supernatural classic is loved as much now as it was when it was released in 1984.
Don't miss your chance to see classic Halloween horror films on the BIG SCREAM (sorry we meant screen!) in this completely unique environment.
Fancy dress is not enforced but encouraged. Please note that Experience Cinema does not accept responsibility for any lost limbs, teeth, or fingers!"

E.T.: THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982) - Tue 30th Oct, 2012, 4pm. Screening: 5pm
SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004) - Tue 30th Oct, 2012, 7.15pm. Screening: 8.30pm
GHOSTBUSTERS (1984) - Wed 31st Oct, 2012, 4pm. Screening: 5pm
THE LOST BOYS (1987) - Wed 31st Oct, 2012, 7.15pm. Screening: 8.30pm

When - 30th - 31st October

Where - The Round Chapel, Powerscroft Rd, London, E5 0PU

Map

Tickets - Book here

Link - Experience Cinema

The Wonder Hill Halloween Monster Mash in Tooting

Wonder Hill Market are back in their new home at the Tooting Tram and Social for a very special Halloween event during the daytime on Sunday 28th October, with handmade and vintage traders.  There's also going to be a market on Saturday 17th November

"October brings halloween and a whole host of reasons (well, just one big one) to be as silly as we can be, dress up, eat sweets and have an excuse to eat and drink things that resemble body parts, vampires and blood. Uh hum, well thats how we imagine it to be anyhow! 
So, we're putting on a halloween special for you. We will have a whole host of handmade and vintage traders ready and waiting to see you and sell you their devilishly wonderful wares, hopefully looking a bit more zombified than after the usual night out on a Saturday! 
We will also have live music AND GET THIS!!! - someone lovely to teach you how to do Michael Jackson's THRILLER dance! how cool?! 
There will be a fancy dress competition and prizes for the best dressed.
There will also be a workshop - stitching body parts with The Stitch Clinic - upstairs on the mazzanine, along with our wonderful tea parlour serving spooky treats, tea and goolishly delicious cake. 
What more could you ask for from a Sunday Social? Come join us, mmmwaaghahahahaaaaaaa!"

When - Sunday 28th October & Saturday 17th November

Where - Tooting Tram and Social, 46-48 Mitcham Road, London SW17 9NA

Map

Link - Wonder Hill

The Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer Festival

The fourth annual Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer Festival takes place in late October (not Halloween itself sadly) at Le Gothique.  There's a special preview night on Wednesday 24th which looks like it's going to be fun - free beer etc.

"A FESTIVAL OF DARK, AUTUMNAL, MILD, BARLEY WINE, PORTER AND STOUT FROM THE 4 CORNERS OF BRITAIN
Every year at Halloween time Le Gothique hosts an annual beer festival. The Wandsworth Common Halloween Beer Festival showcases regional and micro breweries from around the country.
100+ differnt real ales plus 25 ciders and 20 wines by the glass!
FEATURED BREWERIES INCLUDE:
BALLARDS
DARK STAR
BREW DOG
SARAH HUGHES
SHEPHERD NEAM
Plus a special 666 ale collaboration between Shepherd Neame and Le Gothique (6 hops, 6 malts and 6% abv!)
And many many more!!!
LIVE MUSIC FRIDAY: JOHN CRAMPTON
LIVE MUSIC SATURDAY: THE JO BURT EXPERIENCE"

When - Weds 24th - Sat 27th October.  1pm - 11pm (Weds 7.30pm - 11pm)

Where - Le Goithique, John Archer Way, Off Windmill Road, Wandsworth Common, London SW18 3SX

Cost - £25 on Weds (Special preview night with free beer) from here, then £4 entry on the door for other nights

Map

Link 1 - Booking page

Link 2 - Le Gothique

'Eat Your Heart Out' Cakes & Cocktails in Smithfield

I like to think that I cover some pretty unusual and interesting things on this site, but every so often something comes along that looks and sounds totally insanely good.  One such is Miss Cupcake's Eat Your Heart Out adults only cake shop, with anatomically correct cakes, and with specially designed cocktails, held in a pathology museum.  What could be better?  It's open for 3 days in late October; put it in your diaries now.

Cakes
"Salutations, you fine young cake-eaters, and welcome to The Evil Cake Shop; brain, heart and spleen-child of Miss Cakehead, Freelance Creative Director and Pqrt-Time Curator of Cakes. Make yourselves comfortable, have a nosey around and get your fingers sticky as you sample some of the naughtiest wares never to grace a common bakery.
The Evil Cake Shop has been shock-chocking the innocent and not-so-innocent since 2010, when Miss Cakehead and her team of reprobate bakers fashioned the world’s first 18+ cake shop, Eat your Heart Out & The PRETOX Potion (supported by Alibi PRETOX). It followed our summer event Cake Britain, a 100% edible art exhibition (supported by Tate & Lyle).
We coordinated pop ups throughout the UK, taking pride in a precise anatomical approach to cake that meant realistically filthy sugar-spun gashes of flesh, gruesome gouged-out eyes and fearsome vagina dentata. These cakes were literally to die for.
And now Eat Your Heart Out is back for 2012, more devilish and decadent than ever. Exhibits and exhibitionism will be documented for your titillation and salivation; every naughty little DD cup-cake, every dirty little tart will be blogged here to keep you a-breast of events and the ridiculously talented people we meet along the way.
Ever keen for the taste of something new, we’re also on the look-out for cake bakers who have the heart and, indeed, the stomach to bake up more sick treats. If your cakes are more carnal than carnival, please do get in touch."

Cocktails

"We are so excited at being able to have a bar in the Eat Your Heart Out space this year which leads me to this… A variety of disturbing medically inspired cocktails will be on sale at Miss Cakehead’s Eat Your Heart Out being held from the 26th – 29th October. Stool samples, stomach contents of a suicide victim and charred remains of a suicide bomber just some of the inspiration for the range of cocktails.

The cocktails are being created by James Dance of Loading, a Falmouth based internet café and games arcade and go way beyond anything seen before.   For example the flavoured vodka in ‘Stomach Contents’ hasn’t been skimmed to purposefully ensure it will visibly contain the perfect teenage diet of chocolate pieces and skittles, the drink garnished with empty pill casings. A shot of absinthe on the top will be reflective of the green hue of stomach bile."

When - 26th - 28th October

Where - The Pathology Museum, 3rd Floor Robin Brook Centre (outpatients entrance), (Bart’s Hospital site), West Smithfield, London EC1M 6BQ

OK - that's pretty confusing.  What you need to do is to go to the pub The Butcher's Hook & Cleaver, 60-63 West Smithfield, EC1A 9DY, and it's the entrance to St Bart's nearest that.  

Map

Link 1 - Eat Your Heart Out

Link 2 - Facebook

Link 3 - Twitter