BOOK AHEAD FOR: Meatopia Festival  

If you haven’t secured a ticket for Meatopia, now’s the time to book a pass for Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th September. Tickets holders will be able to eat their way around the legendary food festival at east London’s Tobacco Dock. There’ll be grill cooking demos, as well as live music and DJs. Expect stalls from Adriana Cavita, From The Ashes, Rytis Rukuiza (of Hawksmoor fame), Will Bowlby (Kricket), The Little Chartroom, Sam Grainger (Belzan) and the Original Patty Men. In total there will be over 50 dishes to choose from, including flame-grilled burgers, pulled meats and barbecued fish, all ready to be washed down by craft beers from the TAPtopia hall. Tickets start from £15.

Tobacco Quay, Wapping Lane, Wapping, E1W 2SF

Visit Meatopia.co.uk

VISIT THIS EXHIBITION: Paula Rego At Tate Britain

Tate Britain has just unveiled the UK’s largest and most comprehensive exhibition yet of Portuguese artist Paula Rego. Rego, who revolutionised the way in which women are represented in art during the 50s, is famous for her huge body of work, which includes everything from comic strips to history paintings. The exhibition tells the story of her life, highlighting the personal nature of her work and the socio-political context in which it came from. Featuring over 100 works including collage, paintings, large-scale pastels, drawings and etchings, the show spans Rego’s early work in the 1950s to her richly layered, staged scenes from the 2000s. Look out for one of her most famous paintings – The Devil and the Devil’s Wife in Bed. The exhibition will run until Sunday 24th October; tickets cost £18.

Millbank, Pimlico, SW1P 4RG

Visit Tate.org.uk

WATCH THIS TRUE CRIME DOC: The Nilsen Tapes

This new feature-length doc drops on Netflix today. Britain’s most notorious serial killer, Dennis Nilsen confessed to killing 15 people in 1983. Over a five-year period, he picked up vulnerable young men, lured them back to his home and strangled them, before hiding their bodies under the floorboards. With access to the personal archive Nilsen left in his cell after his death – including over 250 hours of never-before-published cassette tapes of his private recordings – this film takes viewers into his world. Weaving together interviews from police, journalists, survivors and bereaved families, with – for the first time – the killer’s own voice, The Nilsen Tapes explores how Nilsen was able to get away with multiple murders and attacks for half a decade.

Visit Netflix.com

GET THE BEERS IN: The Lord Napier

The Lord Napier in Hackney Wick has just reopened its doors with a new look. The famous pub, known for its graffiti exterior, has an 80-seater roof terrace with panoramic views across the area, as well as two function rooms that can be hired out for parties and events. On evenings and weekends, expect old-school R&B, soul, funk, disco and vocal house music, plus zingy Thai flavours from KraPow in the kitchen. Get the local craft beers in, or enjoy a classic cocktail from the extensive drinks list.

Hepscott Road, Hackney Wick, E9 5ER

Visit LordNapierStar.co.uk

SEE COOL INSTALLATIONS: The Piccadilly Art Takeover

Head to Piccadilly Circus this weekend to see an art installation commissioned by the RA. Five artists – Michael Armitage, Vanessa Jackson, Isaac Julien, Farshid Moussavi and Yinka Shonibare – have designed 30 flags to hang over the streets, and transformed 13 pedestrian crossings with colourful artwork. Once the installation comes down at the end of August, there will be regular takeovers in Piccadilly Circus, so keep your eyes peeled in coming months.

Visit ArtOfLondon.co.uk

TAKE ON THE HEAT: Hot Sauce Festival

After a year’s hiatus, Hot Sauce Festival returns to Copeland Park in Peckham. Taking place from 11am to 7pm on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August, diners can choose from over 40 independent hot sauce makers from around the world, as well as tasty dishes from street food vendors. South London’s own Only Jerkin’ will be selling its OJ Hot Sauce with extra spicy jerk BBQ chicken wings, while Pat and Pinky’s, Vicky’s Kitchen, Condimaniac, Wiltshire Chilli Farm, Saucy Bitch and Brighton Hot Sauces will also be on hand with some hot stuff. Grab a pint of Dishoom’s IPA from the bar, then try the festival’s exclusive beer by Mondo Brewing Company. Tickets cost £12.

Copeland Park, 133 Copeland Road, Peckham, SE15 3SN

Visit HotSauceSociety.co.uk

DITCH THE WEEKEND PAPERS FOR THIS: Chaise Longue By Baxter Dury

Indie musician Baxter Dury released his memoir last week. Left in the care of a roadie while his punk rock star dad Ian Dury went off on tour, Baxter’s youth was packed with jaw-dropping escapades both hilarious and shocking. That roadie we mentioned wasn’t any old roadie: it was the Sulphate Strangler, a drug dealer notorious for dropping copious amounts of LSD in the 60s. What could possibly go wrong? Chaise Longue takes the reader back to a bohemian west London populated with grubby characters, and a child who was simply trying to make it out alive.

Visit Waterstones.com 

TUNE INTO THIS NEW PODCAST: Football Is Nice With Russell Brand 

Russell Brand returns to the airwaves with a new podcast discussing all things football and football culture from his trademark humorous yet philosophical perspective. As well as Brand’s sidekicks Gareth Roy and Jenny May Finn, you can expect to hear from football legends and players, including West Ham captain Mark Noble. Episodes are 90 minutes, so the chat goes deep and football fans are in for a real treat.

Visit Apple.com 

WATCH THIS NEW DOUSERIES: Untold, Netflix

Episode one of this five-part docuseries landed on Netflix last week. Untold brings fresh eyes to tales from the world of sports. From tennis to boxing to basketball, these stories aren’t the ones you’ve heard before, even if you think you have. The first episode recounts the basketball game between the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons which took place on 19th November 2004, also known as ‘Malice at the Palace’ due to the mass brawl that erupted between the players. In the coming episodes, expect to hear from Olympian Caitlyn Jenner on her journey to winning gold, boxer Christy Martin in the fight of her life outside the ring, professional tennis player Mardy Fish opening up about his struggles with mental health, and the misfit band of hockey players known as the Trashers. A must-watch for sport fans.

Visit Netflix.com