After Christmas dinner, it’s fun watching someone else do the running. Fresh off the success of its hit series Receiver – which followed five of the NFL’s top pass-catchers through the 2023 season – Netflix has landed the global rights to stream the NFL’s two Christmas Day marquee games. This year, it’s the Super Bowl LVIII-winning Kansas City Chiefs versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, followed by the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Houston Texans. If the rest of the house aren’t NFL fans, no problem – Beyoncé is headlining the halftime show during the Ravens-Texans clash, with plenty of rumours swirling about surprise guests.

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If you’re planning to go out this New Year’s Eve, 12th Knot’s bash might just be worth that Uber surcharge. Expect drinks, dancing and great views of the Thames and city skyline, all soundtracked by Shy One (NTS Radio, Balamii) and Jamz Supernova (BBC 1Xtra). The bar’s expert mixologists will be on hand to keep the good times flowing too. A general entry ticket (£90) gets you a welcome Grey Goose cocktail, but if you’re in the mood to go big, the open bar ticket (£225) offers unlimited spirits, beer, wine and bubbly all night long.

20 Upper Ground, South Bank, SE1 9PD

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Last week, golden-boy chef Jackson Boxer took to Instagram to announce the closure of his critically acclaimed, much-loved restaurant Orasay after five successful years. But it’s not all bad news – on 7th January, he’s opening a new spot, Dove, in the very same location. The menu reads like a greatest hits: deep-fried taleggio with Wiltshire truffle, lasagne; lemon and ricotta dumplings with lobster cream and lime leaf; roast chicken with fennel and blood orange; and to finish, fior di latte soft serve. For anyone who hasn’t made it to Orasay yet, you have until New Year’s Eve before it closes its doors for good.

31 Kensington Park Road, Notting Hill, W11 2EU

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Since leaving Kiln last year, Tom Geoffrey has been making waves with his Cambodian-inspired cuisine, popping up under the banner of Barang in kitchens across the UK and beyond. His culinary journey has taken him to London (Oranj, Hill & Szrok, South London Louie), Bristol (The Scrandit), New York (Winona’s), and Sweden (Holy Smoke BBQ). Now, he’s back in London for a four-night stint at Mambow, serving up dishes like kampot pepper curry with venison and fig, king prawns with prahok butter on toast, pomelo and lemongrass salad and stir-fried clams in tuk trey koh kong.

78 Lower Clapton Road, London E5 0RN; until 21st December 2024

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Luke Jerram’s art-y, science-y exhibitions are well-worth the visit. He’s already suspended the Moon (Museum of the Moon) and the Earth (Gaia) within the grand, gothic-baroque splendour of the Painted Hall at the Old Royal Naval College. Now, Luke Jerram is set to complete his celestial trilogy with Mars. This awe-inspiring seven-metre model of the red planet, crafted using ultra-detailed NASA imagery, captures every crater, valley and mountain at a scale of 1:1 million. The exhibition is accompanied by a cosmic soundtrack featuring audio from NASA’s Mars missions – composed by BAFTA and Ivor Novello award-winner Dan Jones.

College Way, Greenwich, SE10 9NN; until 28th January

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Perfect for the Boxing Day slump, the long-awaited second series of Squid Game is finally here. Three years after the Korean-export phenomenon took the world by storm, the new season picks up where the explosive finale left off. A hardened Gi-Hun (Lee Jung-jae) – Player 456 – returns to the deadly arena with one goal: to bring down Squid Game for good. But standing in his way is the enigmatic Front Man (Lee Byung-hun), whose true motives remain as murky as ever.

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Gagosian’s Grosvenor Hill gallery is hosting Japanese Art History à la Takashi Murakami, a showcase of fresh works from the legendary artist himself. Blending traditional Japanese painting with sci-fi, anime and the global art market, Murakami’s world is a riot of recurring motifs and ever-evolving characters. His latest pieces reimagine historical Japanese artworks, weaving in his signature icons like Mr. DOB, to explore Japan’s rich past and its aesthetic shift following the end of the Edo period in 1868. It’s pop culture, history and fine art colliding in technicolour brilliance.

20 Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3QB; until 8th March

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Celebrate the new year with Close Ties, the anti-supper club collective from Joshua Bratt (Carousel) and Jake Norman (Trullo), at a two-part bash kicking off at All My Friends in Hackney Wick. The night begins with a three-course dinner by chef Diarmuid Goodwin (Sager + Wilde, Murano), followed by a party with DJs Soft Touch, Sonder, Jonny Rock, Loose Legs, Sunni D and Close Ties residents. After midnight, the vibe shifts as All My Friends hands over to its headliner, keeping the energy high till 4am. Tickets (£55) include dinner, a welcome drink and access to the party from 10.30pm. Then, for those wanting a big blow out, the celebration continues at The Blue Posts and The Mulwray in Soho, with DJs across two floors, a curated wine list from The Mulwray Cellars and Moët & Hennessy cocktails.

28 Rupert Street, Hackney Wick, W1D 6DJ; 31st December

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Ring in the New Year with style at Il Gattopardo, Mayfair’s chic 1960s Italy-inspired gem. Exec chef Massimo Pasquarelli has created two menus for the occasion, showcasing the restaurant’s signature dishes. For an early celebration, the early evening menu (£115, 5-7pm) features family style dishes like black angus tartare with truffles and 24-month parmesan and wild turbot fillet with smoked mussels and roasted pumpkin. For those celebrating later, the New Year’s Eve menu (£225, from 8pm) adds indulgent options such as smoked salmon pizzetta with Oscietra caviar and Il Gattopardo’s famous lobster linguine. Both menus end with a festive panettone to share. A live Italian band will set the mood from 7.30pm, with a DJ taking over post-midnight for dancing under the restaurant’s giant disco ball. 

27 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, W1S 4HZ; 31st December

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This month, Bellamy’s in Mayfair – known as London’s most ‘civilised restaurant’ – is celebrating 20 years of elegance, exceptional food and incredible value. Since 2004, it’s remained a staple, with patron Gavin Rankin, chef Stéphane Pacoud and manager Luigi Borgio at the helm for the entire time. Famous for classics like smoked eel mousse and iced lobster soufflé (a must-order), and with an all-French wine list at the centre of its drinks offering, Bellamy’s delivers luxury without the hefty price tag. If you haven’t experienced it yet, we’d recommend booking a table for lunch over the festive break – its weekly Table d'Hôte menu offers two courses for just £30.50. Ideal if you’ve accidentally bought a couple of Christmas presents for yourself this year…

18 Bruton Place, Mayfair, W1J 6LY; weekdays only

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If you’re looking to up your hosting game for NYE, you’re in luck – Mr Lyan has launched his ‘Three Families’ cocktail seasonings exclusively on Delli, with a collection inspired by his Sri Lankan heritage. The new bitters – Ceylon Sour, Verdant Sinhaya and Pettah Market – offer unique, flavourful twists for cocktails. The ‘Get The Party Started’ box brings together everything you need to mix up memorable drinks, with three cocktail recipes included, as well as snacks like Sicilian olives, fennel and white pepper salami, and drinks such as Amie sparkling cremant and 40ft Brewery Disco Pils. 

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