Bloom Gin's Pop-up Pick Your Own Strawberries (& bar) in Soho

Head down to Soho next week to pick your own strawberries at this pop-up, and enjoy a Bloom's gin cocktail.  Lots of imagination at work here!

"Many would consider the opportunity to Pick Your Own strawberries a rural idyll and one far removed from the urban metropolis of London. However this summer, BLOOM London Dry Gin will bring the uncomplicated charm of the British countryside to Central London for three days only. From Wednesday 11 July – Friday 13 July 2012 BLOOM London Dry Gin will launch a pop-­‐up Pick Your Own experience amidst the bustle of Soho and bring a sense of calm for an afternoon of strawberry picking.
Inspired by the classic aromas of England’s country gardens and wildflower fields, BLOOM London Dry Gin is enriched by the natural botanicals of the British countryside, including honeysuckle, chamomile and pomelo, to create a delicate and floral Gin.
BLOOM is best served with one of summer’s finest fruits, the strawberry. The floral notes of chamomile, subtle candied notes of honeysuckle and light citrus notes of pomelo is complimented perfectly by the sweetness of fresh strawberries. Simply add tonic for a twist on this classic British Gin and Tonic serve."

When - 11th - 13th July - 12pm - 8pm

Where - 47 Beak Street, W1F 9SE

Map

Link 1 - Bloom Gin

Link 2 - Facebook

Saturday Night Fever Screening & Experience at The Old Vic Tunnels

Next week, and for ten days only, The Old Vic Tunnels in Waterloo will be transforming into Brooklyn in 1977 to provide the setting for an experiential screening of Saturday Night Fever, complete with New York Style street food.

"This summer, in the shade of Waterloo be transported back to 1977 Brooklyn as Everyman Cinemas and The Old Vic Tunnels celebrate cinemas most iconic disco classic, Saturday Night Fever.
Combining film with live music and a custom built set, experience an immersive cinematic event like no other.
With disco dancers, authentic food and drink vendors and late night dancing on Friday and Saturday, come and immerse your senses in our underground city.
Please note this event is 18+ only and customers may be asked for proof of age."

When -
Wed 11 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Thu 12 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Fri 13 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Sat 14 – 3pm, 7pm, 9.30pm
Sun 15 – 3.30pm
Tue 17 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Wed 18 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Thu 19 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Fri 20 – 7pm, 9.30pm
Sat 21 – 3pm, 7pm, 9.30pm

Where - The Old Vic Tunnels, Leake St, SE1 8SW
(It's not particularly clear on the map, but Leake St runs between Station Approach and York Road)

Map

Cost - various rates - book here

Standard (Zone B) Tickets – £25
Premier (Zone A) Tickets – £30 includes raised seating and a footstool
Standard (Zone B) plus after party – £40
Premier (Zone A) plus after party – £45
After party only (doors 11pm) – £15

See seating plan here

Link 1 - Saturday Night Fever at The Old Vic Tunnels
Link 2 - Booking page

Guest Post - Card payments made easy with iZettle

The is the first guest post I've featured on the site.  I first heard of iZettle a few months ago, though my job and interest in mobile technology.  It's a card reader that you put into the bottom of your phone (iPhone only at the moment).  You can then take payments from people's credit cards.  I've been to lots of events, for example the 'Circus' event at Christmas, where you've had to go to a central point to make card payments.  iZettle is a system that will allow traders to take payments themselves.

Over to iZettle:


Are you tired of turning cashless customers away at the door? Or of missing out on extra sales because visitors only carry the exact amount of cash required to make do for the evening? Then iZettle might be the solution for you. iZettle lets anyone take card payments, anywhere, anytime, using nothing but a free app for iPhone or iPad, and a free mini chip-card reader.

No merchant account is required, and you only pay for successful transactions. For now it is 2.75% for MasterCard or Diners Club payments, and 2.95% for American Express payments, but we’re of course working on letting you take more cards, including Visa. It only takes a few minutes to get an account set up, and you automatically receive daily deposits to your regular bank account.
Does it sound interesting? This is how it works:


Simply take out your iPhone or iPad, and insert the card reader. The iZettle app automatically launches. Insert your buyer's credit card, press "Pay" and ask them to sign on the screen to confirm the purchase. The payment is cleared, and you'll have the money in your account a few days later.
iZettle is EMV approved, and adheres to all the requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, PCI DSS. No sensitive data is ever stored on the card reader or mobile device, and all data traffic is encrypted.


We're currently running a closed beta programme in the UK, and would love to hear your feedback on the service. If you'd like to try us out, please request an invite at www.izettle.com/GB.


You can also visit our website for inspiration on how to use iZettle for your business. For example, bag and accessory designer Larissa Hadjio uses iZettle for her pop-up shops in order to avoid having to hire a mobile card terminal. Read more about her and other users at http://www.izettle.com/GB/stories. 

Pop-ups in London 6th July - 13th July

Food & Drink

The Barn Pop-up Supper Club in Islington - Lunch & Dinner - Friday - Sunday
The Big Smoke BBQ in Fulham
Chase And Country Tails Terrace at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge
The Cube by Electrolux Pop-up Restaurant at the Royal Festival Hall
The Dead Dolls Club's Summer Affair in London Fields - Saturday & Sunday
* Fat Cheeks Summer Sunday Lunch in Broadway Market - Sunday 8th
Frank's Cafe Supper Rooftop Pop-up in Peckham - Thursday - Sunday
The Last Days of Pisco Pop-up Bar & Restaurant in Dalston - Finishes 7th
The National Theatre's Propstore Pop-up Cafe-Bar on the South Bank
* Niko B's 'Taste of Independence' Chocolate Supper Club in Dalston - Saturday 7th
Pizza Pilgrims' Forza Win Rooftop Pizza off Brick Lane - Thursday - Sunday
The Seagrass Restaurant in Islington - Thursday - Saturday
Street Feast Night Market in Dalston - Friday nights
Street Food Pops Up at The Imperial Arms in Chelsea - Tuesday - Saturday
Sugarhouse Studios' Supper Club with Film in Stratford - Sundays
Ugly Fish Friday Pop Up in Whitecross Street Market near Moorgate 
Urban Feasts Street Food Market in Canning Town

Shopping

The Barn Pop-up Farm Shop in Islington
Bombay Duck Pop-up Shop in Westfield - Opens 12th
Boxpark Pop-up Retail Mall in Shoreditch
* Dezeen's Summer Pop-up Shop in Seven Dials *
Fourth & Main Pop-up Shop in Soho
The Merchant 24 Pop-up Boutique in Chelsea
Peter Werth Pop-up Store near Russell Square
Pop-up Shopping Parade in Willesden Green
SABEL Saddlery Pop-up Shop at Penny Fielding in Walthamstow - Saturdays
TOMS Pop-up Shop in Seven Dials
* Zeena's Textiles & Homeware Pop-up Shop & Screen Printing Workshop in Hampstead - 11th - 15th

Events & Markets

Bea's Pop-up 'Block Party'-Style Film Screenings & Food in London Bridge - Tuesdays
* Great Western Studios Open Weekend Near Westbourne Park - 7th - 8th 
* July Pop-up Vintage Fair in Hampstead - Sunday 8th
* 'Letters From America' Pop-up Exhibition of LA Street Art in Shoreditch *
* Project X Immersive Theatre Show in Covent Garden - Saturdays & Sundays
The Big Rooftop Tea & Golf Party at Selfridges
Pop-up Contemporary Art Exhibition in Hampstead
Rooftop Film Club Open Air Screenings in Shoreditch, London Fields & Kensington
The Royal Court Theatre's Theatre Local in Peckham
* Saturday Night Fever Screening & Experience at The Old Vic Tunnels - Starts Wednesday 11th
Street Pianos Pop up Around London

NOTE - PLEASE CHECK WITH THE ORGANISERS OR POP-UPS FOR OPENING TIMES & AVAILABILITY OF TICKETS BEFORE YOU GO!

Want something further into the future?  The look at the Booking Ahead page

Brunch and Supper at Sclater Street Kitchen in East London

The Sclater Street kitchen has just announced two new events - a Sunday Brunch, and a Supper Club.

Sunday Brunch

"We are pleased to announce that on the 22nd of July Sclater Street Kitchens will be hosting a Sunday brunch to coincide the the bricklane market and your weekend hangover. We will be serving a three course brunch, sclater street kitchens style, along with flowing bloody marys & our infamous bloody bastards to wash it down. The meal will be £20 a head and will start at 12pm, the seats are limited and are on a first come first serve basis, so book now to avoid dissapointment"

When - Sunday 22nd July 12pm

Where  - Secret location, revealed on booking

Link - Sunday Brunch Booking

Supper Club

"After the success of the last event we will be hosting another Sclater Street Supper Club on the 26th July. The meal will consist of four fine dinning courses and will cost £30 per head. The seats are limited and and are on a first come first serve basis so book now to avoid disappointment."

When - Thursday 26th July - 7pm

Where  - Secret location, revealed on booking

Cost - £30

Link - Supper Club Booking

Great Western Studios Open Weekend Near Westbourne Park

I love studio open weekends!  You get to meet the artists in their studios, buy some amazing, unique items, and generally eat lots of great food too!  Great Western Studios are the latest to have an open weekend - see below for full details.

"Now in its 18th year, our renowned Open Studios weekend presents a thriving community of established and emerging artists and creatives from all disciplines including architecture, drawing, digital media, fashion, jewellery, music, painting, photography, sculpture and much more.
We support talented designer-makers and present a rare opportunity for the public to see and shop behind the scenes. With over a 100 creative studios showcasing exceptional work, there is something for everyone.
There's also a full events program throughout the weekend. Fashion designers - Orlebar Brown, ilovegorgeous and Froufrou Boudoir amongst others - will be holding exclusive sample sales. In the courtyard, a delicious food fest including a selection of cuisine from around the world served form vintage vans.
Artist Richard Wentworth will present a silent auction of 67 prints by sculpture students of the Royal College of Art.
In-house & guest jewellery designers will fill the atrium - an ideal gift for a friend, family or just a treat for yourself!
As part of London Festival of Architecture - Innovation Imperative, Light Architecture, Pitman Tozer, Moxon and Threefold will also be doing their Architects' Surgery.
Mark Lutyens will be holding an Open Garden Surgery and there'll also be interior design consultations.
Artist demonstrations will include screenprinting, traditional methods of oil colour mixing and working with mosaic.
For children there'll be a new multicoloured children’s art trail that leads them on an interactive quest around the building - and back by popular demand -  Health Cuts will show them how to create a 3D hand print.
Under the Westway, invited exhibitors will be showing their wares in the Arts Market and to round it all off the increasingly popular Annual Open Dog Show takes place on the Sunday evening - all shapes and sizes welcome!
‘Excellent display of talent, will definitely recommend it to all of my friends.’ Visitor at the Christmas Open Studios 2011."

When - Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th July

Where - 65 Alfred Road, London, W2 5EU

Map

Link 1 - Great Western Studios
Link 2 - Invite & more info

Project X Immersive Theatre Show in Covent Garden

Project X is a new venture from the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden, running from July to November.  It sounds like a lot of fun - a theatrical walking tour around the area with a story and some puzzles built in.



"A new pop-up immersive theatrical adventure launches on Saturday 7 July 2012.
A killer concoction of time travel, murder and cryptic clues combine as the audience meet mysterious characters at various locations around Covent Garden. During the two hour performance and tour they will unravel the secrets of Project X, and encounter a world full of impossibilities – including a mysterious future where things aren’t what they appear to be.
Project X starts in Covent Garden Piazza and continues on foot around the neighbouring area. The audience will be in two groups of a maximum of 15 people.
Shows run at 11am, 1pm and 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 July and last approximately two hours. Tickets are £30.00 (£25.00 concessions) and include a return ticket to London Transport Museum which can be used within one month of performance."

When - Saturday & Sunday from 7th July until November

Where - Start at The London Transport Museum, Covent Garden, WC2E 8

Cost - £30.00 (£25.00 concessions).  Tickets can be booked at www.projectx-london.co.uk

Map

Link - Project X