TONIGHT
Sanderson Predicts: Gaggle

A herd of cows, an implausibility of gnus (yes really) and a gaggle of..... indie girls? Whatever the correct collective description, tonight, London’s SANDERSON will be hosting an extra special performance by dynamic 20 girl strong alternative indie choir, Gaggle. The fourth instalment of Sanderson Predicts sees the girls bring their music ‘a response to boring man bands, bad burlesque and an alternative place for women’ to Sanderson’s summery courtyard space, to perform a series of songs including their brand new single, Guardian Guide Single of the Week ‘I Hear Flies.' RSVP is essential.

SHOP
ACNE Launch

Today sees the opening of Swedish label ACNE’s flagship space in London – all four whopping floors of it. Sat in a townhouse on Dover Street it’s their biggest store worldwide, complete with all the mens and womenswear favourites, accessories and homeware, as well as an art gallery, roof terrace and garden. As if it wasn’t already hard enough to resist, now they’re offering up sunshine in a carrier bag – we surrender.

13 Dover Street, W1S 4LN.

COMPETITION
Win Port Eliot Festival Tickets and Zubrowka Goodies

Fancy winning a couple of tickets to the coolest boutique festival of the year courtesy of The Frisky Bison Cocktail Bar? This year’s lovely literary event features the likes of Jarvis Cocker, Anna Sui, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Luella Bartley, and will play host to Zubrowka’s first ever Frisky Bison Cocktail bar. The lucky winners will also get wristbands for complimentary Zubrowka throughout the festival from the bar, and a jam-packed 'frisky picnic' set – to be in with a chance of winning, simply tell us: What kind of vodka is Zubrowka?

LOVEBOX
UJ’s Line-Up Picks

Lovebox’s line-up is its most impressive yet. UJ’s David Waters selects the acts that makes London’s greatest music festival worth every penny, from Dizzee Rascal to Grace Jones with a little Grandmaster Flash in between. We truly are not worthy.

WEEKEND BAR PICK
UJ Scouts Out Viajante’s Bar

So we’ve told you about Nuno Mendes of El Bulli fame enticing you with a delectable menu at his restaurant in the urban gem of Town Hall Hotel. Well now there’s a funky new bar to add to the Viajante name. Click through to find out more.

RESERVED
This week’s hottest foodie destination

Dishoom
Old-style Bombay cafe comes to London .

12 Upper St Martins Lane, WC2H - 020 7420 9320
www.dishoom.com

Location
As any restaurant-loving insider will know, Covent Garden is on the brink of a revival with steak supremo Hawksmoor opening its second venue here in October and, rumour has it, even NY’s favourite all-day diner and people-watching venue Balthazar opening on the site of the old Theatre Museum in the not too distant future. So, all in all, a clever move for this quirky newcomer.

Vibe
Throughout the first half of the 20th century Bombay’s brasserie-like cafes (opened originally by Persian immigrants), with their slow-turning ceiling fans and mottled mirrors, were the chosen meeting places for businessmen and students, taxi-wallahs and writers – who were all welcome, as long as they refrained from ‘fighting, cheating, spitting’ and other rules that were commonly laid down by the owners.

Flavours
Following on from the success of Mooli’s in Soho, Dishoom disregards the usual kormas and vindaloos in favour of zingier street food, grills, rotis and the like. Catch up on The Times of India with a glass of proper chai tea and
a bacon naan roll for breakfast or enjoy a bangh lassi (traditionally spiked with rum) or a Bombalada (an Indian version of a pina colada) with chili cheese toast or spicy lamb chops.

Décor
Marble-topped tables, wood panelling scattered with sepia photos and vintage posters, black and white tiled floors and an open grill kitchen make for a relaxed yet stylish venue. The ground floor is naturally well-lit during the day and downstairs is a little cosier, all the better for cocktail-consuming in the evening.

Upshot
Bringing vintage Bombay sexy back, so far this brasserie with a twist seems to be making all the right moves. The proof, of course, is in the kulfi (served here on sticks), but we’re loving its old-school charm and anything-goes feel.