Do · 15 May 2026
Yellowjackets and Paul Cornish at Ronnie's, three near-perfect cinema picks at the Phoenix and Picturehouse, Dave Harris's Tender at Soho Theatre, a free street comedy party in Islington, and six Nudge picks led by a brand-new beach club in Walthamstow. Warm and dry Friday and Saturday peaking at 26°C; drizzle setting in Sunday afternoon.
Music
Russell Ferrante on piano, Bob Mintzer on saxophones, Will Kennedy on drums, Dane Alderson on bass — nine-time Grammy nominees, two-time winners, original material throughout. Lyrical contemporary jazz that sits alongside the Metheny Group / Brubeck axis already in heavy rotation at home. First set 18:30 — home well before 22:00.
Music
LA-based pianist on the Blue Note roster, with Jermaine Paul on bass and Jonathan Pinson on drums. Post-bop trio jazz — original compositions inspired by the three musicians' contrasting upbringings and the friendship that's grown out of them. Lyrical and unhurried, taste-tier-three sweet spot.
Cinema
Norwegian family-reconciliation drama from the Worst Person in the World team. A film director makes a film about his estranged daughters; structurally clever, warm, intelligent. Won the Cannes Grand Prix and the 2026 Best International Feature Oscar. Stellan Skarsgård leads. Sits in Amit's Eternal Sunshine / Roma register.
Cinema
Biographical sports drama of 1950s table-tennis hustler Marty Reisman. Timothée Chalamet's Golden Globe / Critics' Choice Best Actor turn; Gwyneth Paltrow co-stars; A24's highest-grossing film ever; AFI / NBR Top 10 of 2025. Long at 150 min — flagged — but the ambition-and-greatness arc earns the runtime.
Cinema
Italian-language philosophical political drama. Outgoing Catholic president (Toni Servillo, Best Actor at Venice 2025) wrestling with a euthanasia bill and a personal moral crisis. Sorrentino's most restrained, mature work — fits the foreign-language / philosophical-thriller register without the indulgence some Sorrentino films suffer.
Theatre
Critic anchors: Andrzej Lukowski (Time Out, ★★★★) — "the Tambo & Bones team hit gold again with this bonkers story of male strippers having a meltdown"; The Stage (★★★★) — "riotously subversive… horny, high-energy comedy incisively exploring masculinity, performance and vulnerability"; The Guardian (★★★★). Sharp dialogue, character-driven, no interval — home easily by 22:00.
Comedy
Critic anchors: Brian Logan (Guardian, ★★★★) on Flo & Joan's One Man Musical — "the funniest show of 2024"; Bruce Dessau (Beyond the Joke, ★★★★) on Chloe Petts's Big Naturals at Edinburgh 2025 — "When it comes to comedy Petts is very much Premier League." Outdoor rooftop / street gig over the bank-holiday afternoon, also featuring Barry Ferns and Paddy Young. Sharp musical satire and muscular Kentish observational wit, no slapstick anywhere near it.
Nudge · Outdoor food
Twenty street-food traders ranging from lobster rolls to vegan Buddha bowls, plus craft beer and live music, on Ally Pally's huge terrace overlooking the city. Two-day window only, free, and the view is the second course.
Nudge · Pop-up
Tons of imported sand, beach huts, deckchairs, fish and chips, a gelateria, a spritz bar and beach volleyball land in the alfresco yard outside Walthamstow's vast Big Penny Social beer hall. The bank holiday weekend is the launch salvo — first crack at it before it settles in for the summer.
Nudge · Arts season
The anniversary edition turns the upper floors of a Peckham multi-storey into a sprawling creative playground: orchestras, dance, talks, and large-scale installations. Frank's Cafe (the original rooftop bar that started it all) is a built-in nightcap on the same level.
Nudge · Pop-up
After a decade of South Bank BBQ pop-ups, Jimmy Garcia's new venture puts burnished rotisserie chickens at the centre. Sides include chicken-dripping potatoes and an Oxford-blue cheese dip; cauliflower stands in for the veggies. Riverside views included.
Nudge · Member perk
One of Borough Market's oldest restaurants has just brought in a hot new chef, and Nudge members get a dedicated tasting menu through the bank holiday window. Fish-and-seafood pedigree of the room remains the spine, with a sharper modern edge from the new kitchen team.
Nudge · Pop-up final week
Phed Mark's Bangkok original spawned so many London Thai copycats that the real-deal pop-up at Platapian feels overdue. Pad kaprow with minced beef, chicken or veg, plus a London special of mama noodles with holy basil and grilled lobster tail. Final weekend before it disappears.