Hyper local eating and drinking
Many of this year’s trends dovetail with each other. In addition to a boom in zero waste restaurants we’ll also see the rise of hyper local eating and drinking, as consumers look to lower their carbon footprints. In London we’ll witness a renewed enthusiasm for neighbourhood restaurants, particularly in the east, where lower rents have led to a flurry of exciting ventures that may have previously looked to launch in Mayfair or Soho.
Diners will no longer feel like they have to schlep into central London at the weekend for a good feed. On the drinks front, we’ll see more craft operations with tap rooms attached popping up, inspired by the likes of London’s first meadery, Gosnell’s in Peckham, urban wineries London Cru in Earl’s Court and Blackbook in Battersea, and newcomer Kanpai – London’s first saké brewery in Peckham. Founded by Lucy and Tom Wilson, the brewery and bar has already attracted a cult following of fans keen to try its £12 saké flights and Japanese-inspired cocktails.
Peckham seems to be at the epicentre of this hyper local drinking trend, while Bermondsey remains the hub for craft beer, being home to The Kernel, Fourpure and Hiver to name but three. When it comes to gin, it doesn’t get more hyper local than The Distillery in Notting Hill, billed as London’s first gin hotel, where guests can enjoy a Portobello Star G&T or three then roll into bed at one of the three guest lodgings next to the distillery. Last year BrewDog announced plans to open its first beer hotel in the capital, but a launch date has yet to be confirmed.
