Pop-up this and pop-up that, so many pop-ups so little time! On this occasion though, we’d recommend you make time for a Kitchen Party party. On the scene a little too late, we missed half of the culinary program of June, but so, so glad we finally caught it just in time. Curated by Bourne & Hollingsworth, the happenings aim for fully immersive dining, drinking and entertainment experiences that are currently rolling out throughout July.
Just behind EC1’s Exmouth Market, the events are varied and exciting. We managed to secure seats for several cocktails at The Fourth Wall, an attempt to replicate the Rathbone Place watering hole. Rough and ready with an element of theatrical backstageness, we lapped up the mightily attractive libations. Notable was the Margarinha, a mix of tequila, mandarin liqueur and brown sugar – as was the Rose 75, a take on the classic with fruity syrups, fizz and gin. Set to a mix of ’80s and ’90s hip-hop there was a notable element of Baz Luhrmann about it all.
Before we knew it, we were in the next room, with an aesthetic transformation. The Rack & Ruin experience is a take on the increasingly popular firepit BBQ, a nostalgic way of sharing tables, meat, and good times. The tiny room only sits 16, due to the gargantuan spaceship-like BBQ. The circular flying saucer has enigmatic chef ‘Hippo’ in command, who will grill you up some mean ribs, steak, chorizo, bird… frankly what ever you like, and just how you like it. A kind of tres cool ‘eat as much as you like’ – with lashings of bread and homemade condiments you can really have your fill here! Pretty ‘ruined’ by the rack of ribs and all the booze, we left heartily satisfied. Easy on the eye, relatively easy on the pocket, tremendously hard going on the body; get on down to The Kitchen Party before it disappears for good.
Photo © The Kitchen Party
Photo © The Kitchen Party
Photo © The Kitchen Party
Photo © The Kitchen Party
Photography © We Heart
unless otherwise stated.
