On Sunday 30th October, Robin Gill’s Brixton Village restaurant Bottle & Rye will host a bourbon masterclass with Kentucky brand Four Roses. From 5pm, guests can taste four bourbons from the Four Roses collection, showcased by mixologist and brand ambassador Gergo Murath. Each bourbon will be paired with a selection of Bottle & Rye’s small plates – think trout pastrami, lamb rump with charred peppers and salsa verde, and anchovies on toast. Tickets cost £15pp, which includes a bourbon cocktail on arrival. 

406 Market Row, Ground Floor, Brixton Village, Brixton, SW9 8LD

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Doc’n Roll Film Festival kick off its nationwide tour this weekend. Featuring music documentary premieres, live Q&As with directors and musicians, special DJ sets, after-parties and post-screening gigs, there’s something for everyone. This year, there are 22 feature-length documentaries to choose from, as well as nine short films – both at the cinema and online – showcasing stories from the worlds of electronic, folk, punk, soul, psychedelia and jazz music. Highlights include A Film About Studio Electrophonique, a documentary about Sheffield’s golden era of pop and the council estate where bands like The Human League, ABC, Heaven 17, Def Leppard, Clock DVA and Pulp were made; God Said Give ’Em Drum Machines: Detroit Techno, a film about Black musicians in Detroit; and Lee Fields: Faithful Man, a biopic about the American soul singer. London’s showcase starts on Thursday 27th October and continues until Sunday 13th November. 

Various sites

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On Saturday 29th October, Signature Brew in Walthamstow is teaming up with American brewery Dogfish Head for an evening of beer tastings and live music. The all-day party will kick off at 12pm when guests can try the new ‘Piercing Pils’ created by the two brands – a crisp 5.7% ABV pear-infused pilsner. At 6.30pm, there’s a 60-minute tasting session with the breweries’ head brewers, followed by a panel chat at 7pm on the history of punk and craft beer. At 8pm punk band Haggard Cat will take to the stage, followed by 70s band The Mekons. Tickets cost £22pp which includes the beer tasting, Q&A and a 440ml can of Piercing Pils to take home. 

Unit 15, Uplands Business Park, Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow, E17 5QJ



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Sneakerheads, this one’s for you. Specialist French brand OP2.0 sells some of the freshest limited-edition sneakers – and it’s just opened its first pop-up in the UK at Bicester Village. Until Wednesday 2nd November, shoppers can browse a range of rare and sought-after kicks, including Nike Jordan High OG Seafoams, Yeezy 350 Bones, and Nike Dunk Low Off-Whites. You can also shop re-conditioned sneakers, and browse exclusive drops you won’t find elsewhere. Run, don’t walk.

50 Pingle Drive, Bicester, OX26 6WD

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Tickets have just gone on sale for a special candlelit performance of Hans Zimmer's music at Central Hall Westminster. Perfect for a romantic date night, guests can listen to a range of songs by the German composer on Saturday 5th November, performed by a live string quartet. Expect to hear soundtracks and songs from Hollywood films like Pirates of the Caribbean, The Holiday, Inception and The Da Vinci Code, as well as other well-known classics. If you can’t make it next week, there are also performances in December and January. Tickets start from £25pp.

Storey's Gate, Westminster, SW1H 9NH

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Ditch your Friday night takeaway and head to London’s Chinese Food Festival from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th October at Bedford Square Gardens in Fitzrovia. Visitors can try a selection of Chinese street food and beers, watch live cooking demos, and stop at the market to stock up on Asian condiments. Expect a diverse selection of cuisines from different regions of China, with ten stalls from brands like Master Wei, Jianghu and Rice Coming. Stop at the Journey to the West stall to try fresh dim sum and momos, before washing it down with a glass of wine from Gu Yue Long Shan. Tickets start from £20pp which includes a welcome drink. 

Bedford Square Gardens, Bloomsbury, WC1B 3DP

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It’s hard to keep up with Southbank Centre’s continuous roster of events, but the London Literature Festival, now in its 15th edition, is not to be missed. From today until Sunday 30th October, visitors can hear from actors, authors and comedians in various shows, discussing everything from their upcoming books to climate change. Highlights include a talk from Nick Cave who will discuss his new biography (Thursday 27th October), an evening with writers Jeffrey Boakye and Nova Reid on tackling systemic racism (Friday 28th October), and a talk on parenting hell from comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe (Sunday 30th October). Tickets start from £20pp. 

Belvedere Road, Southbank, SE1 8XX

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Bonfire Night is next weekend, so book ahead to see London’s best fireworks display at Alexandra Palace. On Saturday 5th November, the venue will host its annual display at its 196-acre park. Before the main show of fireworks and lasers, visitors can take a tour of the palace, hit the ice rink, and order beers at the Great Hall which has been transformed into the UK’s largest German bierkeller. Kids can catch a film on the big indoor screens and watch the family friendly fire show, while adults will appreciate the after-party DJ sets at the indoor Street Life Village, where Ibiza’s legendary nightclub Amnesia and Gok Wan will take to the decks for soul, techno and house music. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be a huge bonfire and street food pop-ups. Tickets start from £16. 

Alexandra Palace Way, Alexandra Palace, N22 7AY



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