Brilliant things to do in London in March 2023

March promises to be a big month in the capital. Not only does it kickstart the new spring season but it also marks International Women’s Day, Mother’s Day and St Patrick’s Day. Needless to say, it’s going to be a busy one. Here are the best new openings, events, cultural must-sees and things to do in London in March 2023. 

The restaurants: Archway, Nessa and The Ninth

Three new delectable eateries join London’s culinary scene this month. First up is Archway, which is situated under an old railway arch in Battersea, just a stone’s throw from the famous Battersea Park. Helmed by River Cafe alum Alex Owens, Archway marks her first restaurant and promises to deliver an Italian-inspired seasonal menu in a relaxed, intimate setting. From 3 March, customers can sample modern European fare including fresh pappardelle with radicchio and scamorza, wood-roast scarlet prawns with nduja and deep-fried quail with celery, capers and aioli. Those with a sweet tooth can also enjoy a selection of desserts including hot chocolate mousse with malted milk ice cream, beignets with spiced plum and creme fraiche, and chocolate, hazelnut and pear tart. This won’t be one you want to miss. 

This month will also see the launch of Nessa on 6 March; a new modern bistro in the heart of Soho. It marks the latest venture from Guy Ivesha — founder of Maslow’s — and Tom Cenci, of Loyal Tavern and Duck and Waffle, who will be heading up the kitchen. Occupying a prime position on the corner of Brewer, Glasshouse and Warwick Streets, much of Nessa’s food and interiors have been inspired by the rich Bohemian history of Soho. Cenci’s creative menu will be shaped by the seasons, using produce from Britain and across the channel, exemplified in dishes such as mussels, cider, parsley and seeded garlic baguette — a British version of the bistro staple — and sea bass with beurre blanc, pickled dulse and pink fir potatoes.

The Ninth — the Michelin-starred restaurant from Chef Patron Jun Tanaka — will reopen on (when else?) 9 March at its Charlotte Street home, after a kitchen fire left the restaurant closed for over seven months. Having used the opportunity to give the interiors a subtle refresh while retaining the restaurant’s familiar neighbourhood feel, the opening menu will feature the restaurant’s much-loved signature dishes, including langoustine ravioli with Marinda tomatoes, alongside new dishes such as venison tartare with Jerusalem artichokes and sour plums, and tuna belly with Mojama and anchovy vinaigrette.

Archway opens on 3 March 2023, visit archwaybattersea.co.uk; Nessa opens on 6 March 2023, visit nessasoho.com; The Ninth opens on 9 March 2023, visit theninthlondon.com.

The bars: Lucy Wong and The Lucky Saint

It is a truth universally known that, in London, you are never more than a few hundred feet from a good pint — or a good cocktail, for that matter. Lucy Wong, a new underground cocktail bar in Fitzrovia, opened on 1 March and is a tribute to the 1957 novel The World of Suzie Wong by Richard Mason: a touching love story and time capsule of Hong Kong in the late 1950s. Inspired by the book’s setting, and founder Eric Yu’s own memories of growing up in Hong Kong, Lucy Wong aims to bring decadent glamour to Rathbone Place with decor inspired by Chinese design. The cocktail list has been created under the masterful eye of award-winning mixologist Dreì Masso and features a curated selection of signature creations inspired by old classics with an inventive Asian twist, including the Shanghai 75, Cherry Blossom Manhattan and Dragon Old Fashioned to name a few. 

However, if March is all about moderation for you, The Lucky Saint pub is the place to be. From the brand that created the UK’s leading independent alcohol-free beer comes its first bricks-and-mortar venture, opening in Fitzrovia on 9 March. Honouring the centuries-old tradition of the British pub — while developing food, drinks and events — the new pub will be serving both no, low and alcoholic drinks. 

Lucy Wong is open now, visit lucywong.co.uk; The Lucky Saint opens on 9 March 2023, visit luckysaint.co. 

The events: Petersham Nurseries, Wild At Heart, Sauce by The Langham and Cinnamon Kitchen

Celebrate Mother’s Day on 19 March by booking a ticket to one of the many events taking place in the capital this month. For green-fingered mums, secure your slot at Petersham Nurseries’ next series of School of Garden Inspiration workshops and masterclasses. In line with the Nurseries’ ethos of sustainability and respect for the environment, the workshops will be centred around the joys of gardening with British-grown flowers, foliage and produce. At the Nurseries’ Richmond home, guests can roll up their sleeves with director of horticulture Thomas Broom-Hughes at the Spring Tablescaping Workshop, focusing on arranging and table styling with the best flowers of the season: tulips, snowdrops and camellia. At the Stylish Spring Containers Workshop on 21 March, Thomas will show participants how to create elegant container displays and wistfully romantic planting plans using perennials and spring blooms. 

Also florally-themed is Wild At Heart’s Spring Bouquet Making Workshop, hosted in partnership with Liberty. This beginner’s floristry lesson on 25 March is the perfect introduction to floral arts and how to care for cut flowers at home. Expect to learn top tips and tricks from London’s premier florist, Wild at Heart, as it reveals the secrets of beautiful floral arrangements just in time for the new season.

If the key to your mother’s heart can be found in the kitchen, book a class at The Langham’s plush cookery school for a lesson in Indian spicing and cooking techniques. The new monthly masterclasses, led by Chef Jitin Joshi at Sauce by The Langham, launch on 22 March and allow guests to master this delicate art over a half-day cookery class followed by lunch. Joshi, who has worked at some of London’s best-loved Indian restaurants including Benares and Gymkhana, will teach guests to create some of the most flavoursome dishes from the Indian sub-continent while guiding them on a journey through a whole array of spices. Following the masterclass, pupils will leave with boxes full of their dishes, a recipe pack from the day and a Sauce by The Langham apron, cloth, and tote bag to confidently practice their spice skills at home.

Celebrate the Hindu Holi festival of colour, love and positivity from 7-12 March by escaping to Cinnamon Kitchen for some sheer unadulterated fun. Paint the city red, yellow, blue and green as the pan-Indian restaurant’s powder-paint-throwing House of Holi pop-up returns to Devonshire Square. Step inside the purpose-built technicolour paint-throwing pod and immerse yourself in colourful chaos as you shower your family and friends in a rainbow fight. After the dust settles, tuck into a delicious nine-dish Indian sharing feast inside the City restaurant. 

Petersham Nurseries School of Garden Inspiration workshops, 14 and 21 March 2023, visit petershamnurseries.com; Wild at Heart floristry workshop, 25 March 2023, visit libertylondon.com; Sauce by The Langham spice workshop, from 22 March 2023, visit saucebylangham.com; House of Holi at Cinnamon Kitchen, 7-12 March 2023, visit cinnamon-kitchen.com. 

The art: Affordable Art Fair, The Other Art Fair and London Original Print Fair

March is a big month in the world of art, with three key fairs opening in the capital. The Affordable Art Fair kicks off the roster as it returns to Battersea Park from 9-12 March, with thousands of quality, curated artworks from leading UK and international galleries priced from £50-£7,500. With the fair’s preview coinciding with International Women’s Day on 8 March, visitors can also expect a landmark display celebrating some of the inspiring women and female-identifying artists from the Affordable Art Fair community.

Also from 9-12 March is Saatchi Art’s The Other Art Fair, based at The Truman Brewery in Shoreditch. This year the fair welcomes exclusive guest artist Rankin, bringing his ambitious RankinLIVE project to the London edition of the artist-led fair for the first time. Rankin’s portfolio spans photography for print, advertising and exhibitions, as well as shooting cultural icons from Queen Elizabeth II to David Bowie and Kate Moss to The Rolling Stones. Celebrated for its unexpected take on the traditional art fair experience, The Other Art Fair offers switched-on Londoners the chance to buy artwork directly from over 150 incredible emerging talents, as well as a vibrant programme of immersive installations, live poetry readings and DJs.

London Original Print Fair (LOPF) will return to Somerset House for its highly-anticipated 38th edition from 30 March. Founded in 1985, LOPF is London’s longest-running art fair, offering visitors the opportunity to learn about and collect works by some of the world’s greatest masters, alongside new pieces by rising talents. A highlight of the 2023 programme is the special tribute to Andrew Edmunds (1943–2022), renowned print dealer, restaurateur and a founding LOPF committee member. Curated by Andrew’s son Milo Edmunds and art historian Tim Clayton, the exhibition will highlight Edmunds’ world-class personal collection of 18th-century prints by artist and satirist James Gillray, some of which have never previously been on show to the public. 

Affordable Art Fair, 9-12 March 2023, visit affordableartfair.com; The Other Art Fair, 9-12 March 2023, visit theotherartfair.com; London Original Print Fair, 30 March – 2 April 2023, visit londonoriginalprintfair.com. 

The festival: Women of the World

WoW (Women of the World) will return to the Southbank Centre from 10-12 March to mark International Women’s Day in a brilliant way. Now in its 13th year, WoW has become the world’s biggest and most comprehensive festival celebrating women, girls and non-binary people. There will be three headline evening events across the festival, as well as a series of smaller workshops and talks too. On 10 March, legendary broadcasters Jane Garvey and Fi Glover will unpack the big news of the day in an extended live edition of their new podcast from The Times Off Air… with Jane and Fi at the Royal Festival Hall. On Saturday, podcast host Tolani Shoneye and sex educator Dami Olonisakin will debunk taboos around pleasure for women and take a deep dive into sex positivity. The finale will see Roxane Gay, one of the leading feminist voices of our time, discuss everything from politics to patriarchy and Beyoncé to reality television in an exploration of modern feminism. 

Women of the World, 10-12 march 2023, visit southbankcentre.co.uk.

The concerts: The Doctors’ Orchestra and St Paddy’s Day at 116 Pall Mall

Freedom From Torture — a London-based refugee charity whose patrons include Helen Mirren, Fiona Shaw, Imelda Staunton and Michael Palin — runs a series of events throughout the year, from literary and foodie festivals to art auctions at Sotheby’s, and next up is its charity classical concert. A talented group of medical professionals known as The Doctors’ Orchestra, led by surgeon and musician Stephen Brearley, will be reuniting on 13 March for its annual concert. Taking place in London’s prestigious Cadogan Hall, guests can expect a unique ensemble of 75 musically-gifted doctors, with this year’s highlight set to be award-winning violinist Nathan Mierdl who will be making his debut and presenting a Nordic-inspired programme.

Celebrating St Patrick’s Day on 17 March, Searcys’ 116 Pall Mall will transport guests to the Emerald Isle with a world-class concert celebrating the best of Irish music, paired with authentic gastronomic delights. In partnership with the London Chamber Orchestra, get ready to be serenaded by Irish singer and violinist Úna Palliser, who will perform everything from Irish jigs to soaring ballads. Once you’ve raised a glass to Saint Patrick, enjoy a hearty, three-course Irish feast. Expect the likes of whisky-cured smoked salmon with beetroot, apple and soda bread croutons, classic Irish banger sausages with colcannon, heritage carrots, peas and Guinness-infused onion gravy, and a dessert of dark chocolate tart with salted caramel and Irish stout ice cream.  

The Doctors’ Orchestra, 13 March 2023, visit cadoganhall.com; St Paddy’s Day at 116 Pall Mall, 17 March 2023, visit 116pallmall.com. 

Read more: London museums: The best destinations for a cultural day in the capital

The post Brilliant things to do in London in March 2023 appeared first on Luxury London.