Looking for somewhere special to sink an eggnog with friends over the festive season? Try one of these Christmas pop-ups. For the large majority, you'll need to book ahead. Merry Hic-Mas! 🍸☃️
Miracle at Henrietta hotel
Travel back to the gaudy Christmasses of decades past, with Miracle's spec-tacky-ular pop-up at The Henrietta hotel. Slurp OTT mulled wine and eggnogs from ludicrous mugs (including a t-rex-shaped number), while admiring white plastic Christmas trees bespewed with gaudy tinsel. Our fave (and yes we have tried a few) is the Jingle Balls Nog, sloshed together with cognac, cream sherry, almond milk, cream, egg, vanilla and nutmeg. You'll want some of those lamb and cumin skewers to soak that bad boy up.
Miracle at Henrietta, Covent Garden, until 23 December
Queen Of The Slopes winter rooftop @ Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch
The Queen of Hoxton sure gets some mileage out of its east London rooftop, and for the festive season this year it's riffing on an apres-ski theme — fire pits, s'mores for toasting, and the wigwam transformed into a gingham-bedecked chalet. Drinks-wise, you're spoilt for choice, with gluhwein, hot buttered rum and blackberry punch among the chrimbo slurps.
Queen of the Slopes at Queen of Hoxton, Shoreditch, throughout the winter
The Igloos at Coppa Club, Tower of London
We all know the true meaning of Christmas: getting sick on Celebrations, watching Home Alone for the millionth time... and plastic igloos mushrooming across London. The igloos at Coppa Club are possibly London's most famous incarnation — in no small part thanks to their position overlooking Tower Bridge. Classic and sparkling cocktails are the order of the day, or you can nosh a full Christmas dinner from 16 November.
We've done an entire article on igloos/snow globes for 2022 (told you there were a lot).
The Igloos at Coppa Club, Lower Thames Street, throughout the winter
Fire and Fromage at Southbank Centre
While dining in one of the private 'snow globes' at this year's Jimmy's Pop-Up will set you back between £450-£650 for a group (ruddy hell, Jimmy's going to have a good Christmas), there is an option for casual drinkers to pull up a pew at the Alpine Bar. Here, you can bask in the collective warmth of patio heaters, hot toddies and fellow Londoners who've sensibly jacked in the Christmas shopping, and decided to get squiffy instead.
Fire and Fromage, Southbank Centre, until 8 January 2023
Skylight Rooftop at Tobacco Dock, Wapping
Skylight at Tobacco Dock takes Christmas almost as seriously as Santa does — what with its Après Ski Lodge and igloos dishing up mulled gin and boozy hot chocolate. There's also a rooftop ice rink, which we suggest you make use of before hitting those festive bevvies.
Skylight Rooftop at Tobacco Dock, Wapping, until first week of January
Winterland, Fulham
A white Christmas is guaranteed at Winterland Fulham — a veritable village of festivities, including an Alpine lodge, 'ski lift bubble', forest chalet, Bavarian tent, 'moose cabins' and the general demeanour of the set of a Wham! music video. Hot cocktails, mulled wine flasks and special concoctions, such as a Haig orange hot chocolate, will further warm the cockles — and there are various brunches and bingo nights to keep you entertained through to the new year.
Winterland Fulham, until the end of January 2023
The Montague Ski Lodge, Bloomsbury
The Montague Ski Lodge transports you to a wintry mountaintop, by way of a mock-up ski lodge ensconced in pine trees and given a liberal dusting of fake snow. There are lanterns, fairy lights, snuggly woollen blankets, ski equipment on the walls — plus a menu of festive drinks featuring spiced cider and hot chocolate cocktails. Look out for the random snowmen too. But here's the rub: the Ski Lodge is for exclusive hire or hotel residents only, ALTHOUGH they occasionally accept walk-ins. If you happen to be in Bloomsbury and fancy a festive snifter, it's worth popping your head round the door, and asking nicely.
The Montague Ski Lodge, Bloomsbury, until 2023
Pergola on the Piste, Paddington
Pergola Paddington becomes one giant ski lodge this Christmas, with its Pergola on the Piste pop-up (see what they did there?) Expect ski-style partying throughout the winter, with DJs and various festive events, plus gut-busting grub like pigs in blankets, whole-baked camembert and chocolate fondue. There's also demi-peche, gingerbread fizz, and various other bevvies to give you that authentic Alps light-headedness.
Pergola on the Piste, until early spring
It's Showtime, The Savoy
The Savoy wants to wish you a merry fizzmas, with its seasonal It's Showtime pop-up. The hotel's Thames Foyer is bedecked in red velvet swags and mirrored baubles, creating a festively theatrical theme, with the gazebo decorated with baubles, designed to give it distinctly effervescent overtones. Champagne is wheeled around on trolleys — and in particular, they'll be pushing glasses of pink fizz, from which you're invited to pop a giant bubble and make a wish. However, if you'd prefer to challenge the barperson to make you a really posh Snowball instead, that's your Christmas prerogative.
It's Showtime, The Savoy, until January 2023
God's Garden, Marylebone
Secreted away in the grounds of Marylebone Church, God's Garden is an outdoor winter pop-up with more than enough heaters, fairy lights and booze to keep you toasty. A Moët Hennessy bar serves signature cocktails, plus a 'Hot Angel', their own take on mulled wine. Various apres-ski brunches, World Cup screenings and live music shows take place too — and there's snacky food in the way of tacos and quesadillas.
God's Garden, Marylebone, until spring 2023
Cities of the Future winter terrace @ Yauatcha City, Liverpool Street
Fancy partying like it's 2220? Yauatcha City in Broadgate Circle (next to Liverpool Street station) is doing a winter bar with a sci-fi twist. Cocktails served up in 'futuristic glassware' include a 23rd Century Sour, Metropolis Manhattan and 2220 Royale. (In the future, apparently, we'll all be drinking Johnny Walker Blue Label, as this is the base spirit in all of these drinks and more.) Still, the terrace — featuring blue LED lights and projections — sounds rather fun, and there are heaters and blankets aplenty to stave off the nippy air.
Cities of the Future winter terrace @ Yauatcha City, Liverpool Street, until 6 January
Lucky Club winter terrace, Camden Market
Open fire pits, festive foliage, blankets and hot water bottles greet you at The Lucky Club winter pop-up, which, judging from the promo pictures, has something of a Narnia vibe going on — plus a truckload of pine cones scattered about for good measure. Unctuous hot chocolate and Christmassy cocktails — including hibiscus, and chocolate, margaritas — await. As do pigs in blankets tacos and roast turkey quesadillas. Apologies in advance to Mexico.
Lucky Club winter terrace, Camden Market, until end January
