Most people who live in London don't take advantage of living in one of the most diverse and exciting cities in the world. And sure, often that's because things are just too expensive. But if you find yourself spending each weekend in the same pub, getting takeaway from the same place, then perhaps you could do with branching out, just a little.
Supper clubs are a really great way to do this. For starters, you have no idea who you'll be sharing a meal with. They are a fantastic place to meet new people. Fingers crossed (in a nice way) that you're seated next to someone outside your bubble – someone older, with different views on life, someone who could open your eyes to a different approach to living. Secondly, the food is always stunning. What maniac would start a supper club if they didn't have huge confidence in cooking for strangers? Thirdly, they're nearly always held in places you wouldn't usually get access to: other people's homes, abandoned Tube trains, secret locations... Wherever they are, it's probably somewhere cool enough to whet your nosey appetite.
Click through to find out our favourites...
The Literary Hour
If you want your food with a fictional twist, take a look at The Literary Hour, a novel-themed supper club that draws ideas for themes from some of your favourite books. Coming up, they've got Around The World In 80 Days, which should give the chefs plenty of global inspiration. Past events have been called A Banquet In Toad Hall, Sherlock Holmes and the Scandalous Supper Club, and A (Brothers) Grimm Supper.
The Literary Hour's Around The World In 80 Days, 15th Feb-4th March. Zone 2. Click here for more information.
Secret Sunday Lunch Club
With news that the humble Sunday roast is dying out, show your support by heading along to the long-running Secret Sunday Lunch Club in Notting Hill, which was born after a bunch of hungover friends failed to find the roast they desired at their local pub.
Now it's grown into a twice-monthly event and welcomes couples, friends and singles looking to have a lovely afternoon (and maybe stave off that hangover).
The Secret Sunday Lunch Club's Proper Sunday Lunch, various dates. Notting Hill. Click here for more information.
Basement Galley
Head here for a two-fingers-up to everyone who's ever tutted at you for eating your dinner on the Tube. This supper club is actually set in an old Tube carriage (decommissioned, obvs) in Walthamstow. They also hold a couple of events in Leytonstone under the name Elmore Jam (Elmore is currently on tour around London).
Basement Galley Underground Supper Club and Elmore Jam, Walthamstow and Leytonstone. Click here for more information.
Everything But The Ham
A supper club that makes you think, Everything But The Ham is a pop-up experiential dining company that aims to raise awareness and money for specific causes and leave you feeling "satisfied and puzzled" at the same time.
Their next event is called Love and Conflict and is a collab between EBTH's Palestinian-inspired chef from Gaza and a conceptual artist from Leeds. Inspired by the love and conflict elements of Romeo & Juliet and how they relate to modern-day Gaza, this event is raising money for Love Palestine by PennyAppeal.org.
Love & Conflict from Everything But The Ham, Feb 22. More information here.
Passports & Spices
Jorge Baumhauer da Silva used to be head chef at (beyond delicious) Ceviche. Now he splits his time between being head chef at the Brazilian embassy and hosting this supper club in his "modest" east London flat. There, guests are served what is likely to be the most deliciously Instagrammable dishes they've ever had the pleasure of laying eyes on.
Passport & Spices from Jorge Baumhauer da Silva, various dates. More information here.
Gooce Supper Club
One for people looking for love. Gooce (run by friends Gabi and Luce) brings together 8-10 single people looking for partners to get to know each other over three delicious courses. The women came up with the idea after experiencing the mindless London dating scene for themselves. Oh, one is trained in wine and one in food, so even if you leave dateless, you should leave satisfied. They usually host one a month but beware, they book up fast.
Gooce Supper Club, more information here.
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