Dall-E: friendly supper club with guests in their 20s & 30s all sitting around a table enjoying regional Indian food |
What is a Supper Club?
Definitions can vary, but essentially it is a pre-booked, often pre-paid, set menu meal, sometimes in the chef's home, and often with communal seating. Guests go along and enjoy a meal, and often meet new people. Guests are usually young, and it is usually a memorable night out.
It is very different from the restaurant experience (people are all served at the same time, no bill arrives at the end of the meal), and also from the 'pop-up' experience (supper clubs are almost always for one night only).
It is easy to join as a single, a couple, or a group of friends. You generally get to meet the chef, hear about the cuisine, and sometimes see the food being cooked. Most chefs are also open to arranging private events if you have a big group.
Regular Providers -
EatWith - Eat with others, often in the chef's home. Eat With has chefs in many cities around the world, and they probably have the best 'stable' of London chefs.
There is also a map
Design My Night - The ticketing platform has quite a few supper clubs and immersive dining experiences
Regular supper clubs - In the chef's home
Eleven 98 - A very popular seasonal, sustainable British supper club at chef Aidan's home in East London - several times a month
Jay's Fengzhen Supper Club - A Chinese supper club held at the chef's home in Crystal Palace - several times a month
Smoke & Lime - Regular Indian supper clubs, often at chef Sohini's home in South London - small groups around the family table
That Hungry Chef - Regular supper clubs from Indian chef Pratap in his home (& sometimes his garden)
Regular Supper Clubs - in bars and restaurants
Lots of bars and restaurants also host events - or are open to hosting events - often on quiet nights of the week, e.g. Tuesdays
The Adobros - Regular Filipino supper clubs, either at independent venues, or the chef’s own home
Bon Mange - Food from St Lucia, with regular supper clubs and events
Brown Butter Dining - Chef Omar Foster & Jack Wilkinson host regular supper clubs, often in Homerton, E9
Drink The Dressing - Regular supper clubs by chef Eleni, focussing on seasonal ingredients
Drunken Prawn - Chef Andrew regularly hosts Asian supper clubs at independent venues
The Duke of Cambridge in Islington - The organic pub regularly hosts a vegan organic supper club
Empress Market - London-Lahori chef Numra hosts regular supper clubs in different venues
Gilvic - Regular supper clubs in Hackney either in their own venue, or in other places like galleries
GweiLo - Occasional Asian supper clubs & pre-booked, fixed menu events, held in venues in East London
Jack Lury - Regular set menu nights at cafes and restaurants in South London
Little Sambol - Chef Gabriella holds regular Sri Lankan supper clubs in venues all around London
Laam - Regular Thai supper clubs and set price menu nights around London
La Lot - Vietnamese chef Eric Wan (ex Dinner by Heston Blumenthal) is holding regular set price dinners at venues around London - often several times a month
Linda de Melo - Goan supper clubs often at Great Guns Social in Borough
Loca Brandelli - The ‘Canape Heaven’ supper club with 10 courses of canapes, held at St Peter’s Church in Dalston, N1
Magic Momo - Private chef Daisy’s supper clubs draw on her Indian and Asian heritage
My Neighbours The Dumplings - Organise regular supper club collaboration nights with guest chefs
Paisan - Chef Tiberio is hosting regular set price Italian dinners at independent venues around London
Palm Greens - Plant-based chef @kalicooking hosts supper club supper clubs every few months in venues often in Hackney or London Fields
Pav’s Polska Kitchen - Regular set-price Polish dinners at venues across the capital
Seeds of Wild - A regular vegan supper club held in venues all around London
SMCO - Chef & baker Safiyah Mariyah regularly hosts Caribbean supper clubs around the capital
Sunday Social Summer Club - A new supper club generally taking place on Sunday lunchtimes
Swilipino - Regular Swedish/Filipino supper clubs across London
Tapari - Regular Nepalese supper clubs with chefs Anna and Swapnil held in venues around London
Toum & Tahini - Regular Middle Eastern supper clubs and set price menu nights around London
T&J’s Supper Club - A new African-inspired supper club from Tash & Josh - taking place in East London
Unwined in Tooting - Fortnightly Thursday supper clubs featuring a set menu from another trader in Tooting market and paired wines
Frequently used venues -
These are potentially available for hire/collaboration either for supper clubs or short term a la carte menu takeovers
(There is also a lot to be said for going for a walk and approaching your own favourite local spots - lots of events happen this way.)
Dina - E11 - The wine shop and bar in Leytonsteone, E11 often hosts guest chefs
E5 Bakehouse - E8 - Regular supper club nights in their bakery & cafe
Greensmith's Deli & Grocery - SE1 - Host events, supper clubs and more
Hatch - Homerton, E9 - Regular supper clubs take place at this event space in E9
Hill Station Cafe - SE14 - Regular supper club nights in Telegraph Hill
Klose and Soan - SE8 - Often host events at their restaurant in Deptford, with guest chefs on some Tuesdays
Ken's - EC1R - This deli, wine shop and restaurant has held a few guest chef and ticketed events
Kentish Town Stores - NW5 - Occasional supper club nights, featuring guest chefs
Palm2 - E5 - A bookable restaurant space about this east London deli
Social Pantry - SW11 - A cafe with a good kitchen; fewer events these days but they are open to private hire for supper clubs
South London Louie - SE5 - The cafe at the South London Gallery in Camberwell; great for supper clubs
Studio Z, Brixton - SW9 - Regular supper clubs and ticketed food events
Tuck Shop - E3 - A deli and coffee shop in Hackney Wick; open to chef take-overs and supper clubs
WeinoBib - N1 - Chef takeovers and ticketed supper clubs
You can also find some spaces for hire on CounterTalk Spaces - including some of the ones above.