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London’s top 10 Christmas events to get you in the holiday spirit
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, when the Christmas lights make city streets glow and we all have one-too-many glasses of eggnog. To spark some festive joy, here is db‘s list of top 10 Christmas events happening in London this December.
1. Afternoon tea at London Hilton on Park Lane
Celebrate the most wonderful time of the year with a festive afternoon tea full of Yuletide favourites at the iconic London Hilton on Park Lane. The menu has been crafted by executive head chef Anthony Marshall and head of pastry Sam Leatherby the winner of television’s Bake Off: The Professionals 2018. The afternoon teas are one of the most popular treats at the hotel, with over 3,000 served in 2021.
The Winter Wonderland Afternoon Tea is being served daily from Thursday 1 December to Tuesday 3 January from 12.30pm – 6.00pm, last seating 4.30pm.
Afternoon Tea is £39 per person or £49 if served with a glass of Pommery Champagne.
2. Doña’s queer take on the Nativity
Stoke Newington cocktail bar Doña is bringing the festive queer this winter with a new winter mezcal cocktail list, festive party packages, and its own Christmas production — Doña’s Christmess Cocktail Parlour presents: ‘A Nativitaaaay Spectacular’.
Mary and Joseph are behind the bar serving shots, two Brokeback Cowboys are necking out back and Three Wise Witches are concocting festive potions whilst the Star of Bethle-them is trying their best to show everyone to their places. This is Doña’s Christmess Cocktail Parlour debut, ‘A Nativitaaaay Spectacular’.
Adding a little sauce to the traditional Christmas panto, Doña will transform its bar every evening from 19-23 December into a theatre where you can drink, eat and be merry as the show of the season splays out in the biblical sense.
Tickets are priced at £56.50, and the ticket price includes entry to the bar, a drink and a taco, plus the self-proclaimed “show of the season”.
3. NoMad’s six week Holiday Spectacular pop up
NoMad London has launched a six-week festive pop-up at its newest cocktail bar Common Decency.
Holiday Spectacular will feature dazzling Christmas decor, DJs and a menu of cocktails created by the bartenders Leo Robitschek and Liana Oster. The list of cocktails on offer has been described by its makers as “liquid art” and presented with a festive flourish.
The drinks menu features a limited-time selection of cocktails split into three sections. Naughty is composed of riffs on spirit-focused classics; Nice features a number of easy drinking and lower ABV offerings; and Cocktail Explosions is a list of oversized, shareable concoctions.
4. It’s Showtime at The Savoy
This Christmas, The Savoy and Champagne Laurent-Perrier are forming a double-act in order to put on a show, as the hotel celebrates the world of theatre with a festive activation entitled ‘It’s Showtime’.
Décor has been designed in a distinctly dramatic theme, with red velvet swags, mirrored baubles and a little stage where guests can become the stars of the show and create fun festive images.
Champagne Laurent-Perrier is adding theatrical flair to the charm of Thames Foyer. A choice of Champagnes will flow from trolleys holding up mini theatre sets, while the gazebo as a centrepiece will be decorated with glistening baubles reminiscent of sparkling Champagne bubbles.
5. An Alpine Chalet at Number One Park Lane
The Alpine Chalet, in partnership with Moët & Chandon, launched at Number One Park Lane on 17 November. This festive pop-up sees the terrace restaurant transformed into a Swiss-inspired winter chalet, perfect for cosy al fresco dinner and drinks in Mayfair this festive season.
Cocktails from Moët & Chandon incorporate the Champagne brand’s limited-edition holiday collection: Effervescence. Signature serves include the Fireside Royale — with Briottet rhubarbe liqueur, Cocchi rosa vermouth, blackberry, apple, vanilla and Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne — and Golden Candlelight, which incorporates Regal Rogue wild rosé vermouth, passion fruit, pineapple andMoët & Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne.
The food menu showcases warming Alpine-inspired dishes, including Raclette, new potatoes, and pickled gherkins; Tartiflette with potato, bacon and Reblochon; Alpine truffled macaroni cheese with Gruyère, caramelised onion, apple sauce and shaved truffle; and Champagne fondue with Comté, Beaufort, Reblochon, sourdough and new potatoes.
6. Balthazar’s transformation into a Parisian Chocolatier for Christmas
This festive period, Balthazar will encapsulate a traditional French Christmas by transforming into ‘La Chocolaterie Balthazar’. The all-day dining brasserie in the heart of Covent Garden has created cocktails in partnership with Masion Courvoisier to celebrate the holidays.
Tipple highlights include the First Fall (£14.25), served with Courvoisier VSOP Cognac, Lillet Blanc, DOM Bénédictine & Absinthe; and the Midnight Snack (£14.00), featuring Courvoisier VSOP Cognac, Tosolini Espresso Liqueur, Chocolate Milk, Cacao Nib Distillate, Buck Spice, Chocolate & Cardamom Bitter.
7. Snuggle up on a cozy winter terrace in Shoreditch
Laurel’s On The Roof at the Mondrian Shoreditch is set to transform into a cosy winter terrace from December. The Hollywood inspired rooftop at the Mondrian Shoreditch has been reimagined as a winter chalet by Grey Goose vodka, referencing California’s renowned ski resorts including Mammoth Mountain.
A Winter haven awaits both in the lead up to Christmas and in to early 2023 when there will be new seasonal additions to the Californian inspired a la carte menu.
8. A feast for the senses at The Ivy Chelsea Garden
The Ivy Chelsea Garden has announced the launch of its Christmas Campaign this year. The brasserie will be serving an array of joyful treats, including a limited-edition festive cocktail menu created in collaboration with Veuve Clicquot, a la carte dishes, afternoon tea and lavish set menus designed for larger parties and an external install taking pride of place on the King’s Road.
9. A winter terrace from the future
Yauatcha City has joined forces with Johnnie Walker on its Cities of the Future winter terrace.
The futuristic terrace takes inspiration from the launch of the ‘Cities of Future’ limited-edition Blue Label bottles that honour Johnnie Walker’s 200 years in whisky.
Designer Luke Hall’s Studio has reimagined a selection of the world’s leading cities, forecasting how they might look in two hundred years time. For Yauatcha’s immersive terrace, design inspiration has been taken from Hall’s predictions for London and Hainan, transporting guests to how they might appear in two centuries’ time.
Open until 6th January 2023, guests can enjoy Yauatcha’s dim sum and wok dishes alongside four limited-edition collaboration cocktails: the 23rd Century Sour, Metropolis Manhattan, 2220 Royale and Hot Maple Toddy.
10. A family-friendly Christmas Grotto
If you’re looking to bring Christmas cheer to some little ones, Cadogan has partnered with events organiser Underbelly to create a winter terrace under the twinkling lights in London’s Sloane Square, featuring a traditional Grotto, al fresco seating, festive food and drink along with a Bavarian Curling rink to enjoy one of the world’s oldest winter sports.
Open until Christmas Eve, each child visiting Cadogan’s Chelsea Christmas Grotto will experience the magic of this time of year with a meeting and story time with Santa, and be given a small gift by his elves. The Grotto will also be scented by renowned parfumerie Diptyque to ensure there are delights available for parents and children alike.