Hello July, my favourite month of the year - school鈥檚 out, which means it costs an arm and a leg to go abroad, but who needs to when it鈥檚 officially festival season, Wimbledon is well underway, and the forecast is guaranteed sunshine!? 馃槑
Most importantly, it鈥檚 my birth-month, which means I鈥檓 in a good mood and am bringing you some hot Experiences for July. Our first fitness Experience has arrived in time for that #summershred plus some tasty new eateries at a lower point-value so you can try my recommendations for less.
Oh, and keep your eyes peeled for another bitesize Experience drop aka 海角社区 Treats. The Coffee Experience was a serious hit, so you鈥檒l be seeing more of these type: low-point Experiences rewarding you more regularly for the things you likely do anyway.
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Introducing July鈥檚 Local Experiences
Crust Bros
Location: Waterloo and Wandsworth
Experience: 1000 points gets you 拢30 worth of pizza and drinks
We all know there鈥檚 too much choice when it comes to going out for pizza in London, but trust us when we say we鈥檝e found the place that does it better than anyone. Founder Joe travelled round Italy for 40 days and 40 nights, consuming dough, tomato, mozzarella and inspiration for his own creation back home, cue Crust Bros. You can find Joe鈥檚 thick crusts and tasty toppings in their permanent home in Waterloo and Sambrook鈥檚 Brewery in Wandsworth.
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1Rebel
Location: 10 locations across London
Experience: 1500 points gets you the intro to 1Rebel package (or 拢39 towards another package for the Rebels amongst you)
Known as 鈥楾he King of Gyms鈥, 1Rebel鈥檚 five concepts will put you through your paces. Reformer (pilates), Reshape, Ride (spin), Rumble (boxing) and Rig have all been designed to make fitness 鈥榝un鈥 - think dark rooms, big tunes and loud trainers (people, not footwear). So if you鈥檙e bored of your current exercise routine and have been thinking about mixing it up for a while, here鈥檚 that kick up the backside you needed.
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Korean Dinner Party
Location: Soho
Experience: 2500 points gets you 拢60 worth of food and drinks
Inspired by LA鈥檚 Koreatown, expect East-meets-West dishes, kitsch cocktails, craft sake and Korean hip-hop playing into the night on the top floor of Soho鈥檚 Kingly Court. The restaurant takes influence from Korea, the US, Mexico and Japan, resulting in unique fusions of textures and flavours served up American diner-style. Try the kimchi pancake and Korean Fried Cauliflower tacos.
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Friends of Ours
鈥Location: Hoxton
Experience: 2000 points gets you 拢45 worth of food and drink
Serving Dark Arts coffee and Dusty Knuckle pastries, Friends of Ours is East London鈥檚 sunny slice of Down Under. You can鈥檛 book this hotspot so get there in good time at the weekend to bag a table outside. And they鈥檙e shaking things up next Friday (8th July) by hosting the duo from for an evening of seafood sharing plates, speciality cocktails and natural wines + beers. Two sittings available (5.30-8pm; 6.15-10.30pm). Book your ticket and pay a 拢5 deposit which will be deducted from the bill on the night.
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Kudu
Location: Peckham
Experience: 3000 points gets you 拢80 worth of food and drink
Kudu is one of a family-run group of two restaurants and a cocktail-wine bar in Peckham. Serving menus shaped by the seasons and influenced by the chef-owner鈥檚 South African roots, Kudu鈥檚 reputation for exquisite food and enthusiastic service goes far beyond its neighbourhood, making it a well-worth trip to SE15.
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Pidgin
Location: Hackney
Experience: 9500 points gets you 拢270 worth of food and drink*
*the value of their tasting menu + wine pairings for 2 people
Likely you鈥檝e never been before, but if you have, I bet my bottom-dollar you won鈥檛 get the same food. That鈥檚 because this unique gem of a restaurant serves a weekly changing menu, meaning that since opening in 2015 they鈥檝e never repeated a dish. Ever. So I can鈥檛 tell you what to order (they decide for you) but I can guarantee that whatever you eat will be stunning, both in presentation and taste.
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Officina 00
鈥Location: Old Street
Experience: 3000 points gets you 拢80 worth of food and drink
Literally translates into Workshop 00, an Italian nudge at the type of flour used to make pasta (00) and their pasta workshops. If you haven鈥檛 guessed it already, Officina 00 serves up some of the best pasta in the city, certainly in Shoreditch. Watch as the pasta is made and cooked in the open plan kitchen, as you nibble on snacks of fried cacio & pepe ravioli and aubergine & nduja croquettes. Yes, my mouth is watering too. P.s. order an Italian Margarita - their amaretto take on a classic.
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The Shed
Location: Notting Hill
Experience: 3000 points get you 拢80 worth of food and drink
Want to travel to the countryside without leaving the city? Look no further than the Gladwin Brother鈥檚 Shed off a quaint corner in Notting Hill. Okay, it鈥檚 not really a shed, but its rustic interiors instantly transport you to a little village in rural Sussex. The Shed鈥檚 menu champions hyper-seasonal produce, using wild, foraged and locally grown ingredients, including sustainable livestock from the brother鈥檚 own farm. They also serve award-winning English wines from their own vineyard, because 鈥渨hat grows together, goes together鈥, naturally.
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Secret Cinema presents Dirty Dancing
Location: Undisclosed location in London
Experience: 4000 points get you 拢100 worth of tickets to Secret Cinema鈥檚 Dirty Dancing
This one鈥檚 been a long time coming (I had tickets in 2020!) so you better be ready to have the time of your life (I hope you get that reference). For 3 weeks only this July, Secret Cinema presents Dirty Dancing in a secret London Location, so dust off your dancing shoes and 60s frocks and prepare yourself for this epic outdoor summer festival experience. There鈥檒l be cha-cha lessons, dance contests, arts & crafts, plenty of cocktails, all wrapped up with a screening of the movie under the stars - pray for sunshine!
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