Take this weekend’s The Chap Olympiad. It celebrates the true English gent in all his corduroy-wearing, moustached glory. It’s tongue-in-cheek, of course, with chaps and chappesses dressing up in their Remains Of The Day-style finest. Pipe smoking is obligatory and gin-quaffing essential as ‘chap’ skills are put to the test in events such as umbrella jousting, butler baiting and moustache wrestling.
Competitive they are not, though. In fact, sporting skills or aptitude of any kind are detrimental to any hopes one has of winning.
“There are no competitive sports at the Olympiad,” head chappess Bethan Garland tells us. “In fact, points are deducted for sporting prowess of any kind. We do, however, have some leisurely new pastimes this year, such as tea pursuit and beach volley bowler.”
Chaps must possess, Garland tells us, “sharp trouser creases, well groomed facial hair and an air of rakish charm”. Antipodeans are not excluded from showing off their chappish charisma, either. “We are true admirers of our Antipodean cousins, for we are all true to one Queen,” Garland explains. “As long as no flip flops are seen! In fact, we had an Antipodean winner of the gold cravat last year,” she hastens to add.
If the no jeans policy is not your thing – or your facial hair is too poorly groomed – fear not, there are loads more local fests over the course of the summer months.
The Ealing Comedy Festival, turning 20 years old this year and forming part of the borough’s wider arts and culture summer season, is five days of stand-up tomfoolery and has an assortment of stars featuring on stage.
Kiwi act The Boy With Tape On His Face will be showing off his silent skills, alongside Paul Chowdhry, Lee Mack, Omid Djalili, Piff the Magic Dragon (above) and Paul Sinha (below), who TNT caught up with.
Sinha, who has six Edinburgh Fringe shows under his belt, turned his back on a prestigious medical career to go the stand-up route (or play the clown, if you listen to his parents).
“The show will have the usual mix of incisive social comment and emotionally involving anecdotes,” he says. “And crude nob gags!”
Sinha’s stand-up is observational and personal, drawing on his transition from the white coat brigade to stand-up, a career change his parents have forgiven him for since he bought them Sky+ (“bribery will get you everywhere”).
He has a forthcoming Radio 4 series, too, Paul Sinha’s Citizenship Test, all about what it means to be British.
“It looks at what the government thinks you need to know to call yourself British, what we actually know, and what we should know,” he tells us, demonstrating his trademark mix of the serious and silly. “It covers everything from the Magna Carta to JLS.”
From iron board surfing to clowning doctors, London has it all this summer…
MORE LOCAL FESTIVALS ››
Chap Olympiad, July 13. £20
Bedford Square, WC1B 3RA
Tube | Goodge Street
thechapolympiad.com
Ealing Comedy Fest,
July 12-13; 17-19. £18.50
Walpole Park, W5 5EQ
Tube | Ealing Broadway
ealingsummerfestivals.com
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Camden Lock Live – Camden
This urban boutique festival takes place at buzzing Camden Market with live music (folky singer-songwriter Marcus Forster headlines), DJs, talent from Roundhouse Presents (including spoken word artists and hula hoopers), global street food, and a Sailor Jerry cocktail bar on a boat on the canal. Not to mention all the ace market stalls this north London district is famed for.
Free, July 12, 10am-10pm Camden Lock,
54-56 Camden Lock Place, NW1 8AF
Tube | Camden Town
camdenlockmarket.com
Crystal Palace Garden Party – Crystal Palace
Despite the strawberries and cream-suggesting name, this is a music fest in the stately surrounds of the former Victorian ‘pleasure ground’ (posh for park) in Crystal Palace.
Up-and-comers the Van Susans sit on the bill alongside legends such as Ian Dury’s The Blockheads, tribute acts Floyd and Secret Police, and a Last Night of the Proms-themed Saturday night with fireworks, a rock ’n’ roll choir and Shakespeare recitals.
£12+ Aug 16-18, times vary SE19 2BS
Station | Crystal Palace
crystalpalacegardenparty.com
Abbey Fest – Merton
This 52-day-long local arts and culture fest – which will be celebrating its 16th year – has something for everyone. There are a total of 10 theatre shows, 10 free open air concerts, eight Edinburgh Fringe previews (including brilliant Aussie Benny Boot), as well as a blues mini-fest, classical performances and loads of food stalls to sustain you through all the cultural quaffing. Some events are ticketed.
£10+, Until Aug 31, times vary
Merton Abbey Mills, SW19 2RD
Tube | Colliers Wood
abbeyfest.co.uk
Bastille Festival – central London
This is London’s largest celebration of the French national day and brings together all things red, white and blue – so expect cheese and wine, live performances, a slowest snail race (the winner might get eaten afterwards), and maybe the odd necklace of onions.
Free, July 14, times vary
Borough Market, SE1 1TL
Tube | Borough
bastillefestival.co.uk
Balham Comedy Festival – Balham
The south London area famously lampooned by comedy legend Peter Sellers hosts this nine-day fest, with Milton Jones, Dave Fulton, Lee Mack and loads more.
£16, July 5-13, times vary
The Bedford, SW12 9HD
Tube | Balham
thebedford.co.uk
New Voices Fest – Bethnal Green
Live music, arts and food at this diverse new musical talent- supporting free event.
Free, July 13, 12pm-7pm
V&A Museum of Childhood Gardens, E2 9PA
Tube | Bethnal Green
newvoicesfestival.org.uk
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Notting Hill Carnival – Notting Hill
This is what you need to know about the famous west London bank holiday weekend mega-party (below): the carnival parade is actually really cool and should not be missed; the food is great; Sunday is the family day, so great for chilling out; Monday is the loud and brash party day to check out the sound systems; and it is nothing like that lame-ass fucking Hugh Grant movie.
Free, Aug 25 & 26, 9am-7pm W11 3HT
Tube | Notting Hill Gate
thenottinghillcarnival.com
St Martin’s Courtyard Food and Flowers Fest – Covent Garden
Or more accurately, food, flowers and booze fest, as Covent Garden restaurants such as Jamie’s Italian and Dishoom serve up floral cocktails ‘n’ munch. Mexican restaurant Cantina Laredo is giving away 2000 free hibiscus margaritas, and there’s floral face painting, live music and more. A grand little day out.
Free, July 13, 12pm-5pm WC2E 9AB
Tube | Covent Garden
stmartinscourtyard.co.uk
Wimbledon Book Fest – Wimbledon
Just because autumn is around the corner it doesn’t mean the outdoor cultural fun will stop. This literary fest on the famous Wimbledon Common has readings, performances, talks and workshops, as well as all manner of big name stars – An Evening with Michael Palin and the headline event with Irish author Roddy Doyle (The Commitments) are two of the eye-catching must-sees for this year’s event. And there’s a beer tent!
£9+, Sep 28-Oct 13, times vary
Wimbledon, SW19
Tube | Wimbledon
wimbledonbookfest.org
Yoruba Arts Festival – Hackney
This not-for-profit charity-based festival – which celebrates its fourth year this summer – seeks to support African cultural identity in London and bring the best of it to the wider community, with a free outdoor music, food, art and dance treat. Get down, get involved.
Free, July 27 & 28, 11am-8pm N16 9EJ
Tube | Finsbury Park
yorubaarts.org
London Mela – North London
Last year’s Indian festival of Mela – a feast of “sights, smells, sounds and tastes,” say the organisers – saw 82,000 Londoners celebrating South Asian culture. This year there’s six music stages, including the Eid, BBC Introducing, and the Community stages. There’s the traditional Mela carnival, and also a classical concert among all the young sounds. And if that didn’t sway you, there’s top Indian eats, too.
Free, Sep 1, 1pm-9pm
Gunnersbury Park, W3
Tube | Gunnersby
londonmela.org
Hot Caribbean Fest – Chalk farm
Gappy Ranks and General Levy topline the live music, with a carnival parade, dancehall queen comp and more at this event celebrating the Caribbean’s cultural history.
£10, July 14, 3pm-12am
Proud Camden, NW1 8AH
Tube | Chalk Farm
sunbailante.com
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Battersea Park Festival – Battersea
Streatham pub White Lion and Music4Children charity head, Aussie Oz Bayldon, bring this all-day rock fest to Battersea’s sprawling and glamorous south London park. Dallas Frasca (above), who’s just played to 200,000 screaming fans on the music main stage at the Le Mans 24hr motor race in France, will bring the riffs, along with John E Vistic, Tankus The Henge, Ilona, and more.
Free, July 28, 12pm-6pm
Battersea Park, SW11 4NJ
Station | Queenstown Road
whitelion.org.uk
London Mexfest – east London
Mexican film, music, architecture, art and food are all coming to town. Cannes fave The Girl (Abbie Cornish) kicks off the film programme before a series of free outdoor screenings, live music from band Grupo Mono Blanco and a DJ set by Gil Cerezo (12), a Mexican picnic and loads more. Grab the guacamole! Some events are ticketed.
Free, July 11-14, times vary Various
mexfest.mx
London Folk Fest – Balham
Nu-folk, old-folk (not your gran) and everything in between takes centre stage at this four-day celebration of the acoustic-based genre that Dylan once angered so much. Highlights include Ryan Keen (Thurs) London oiks Skinny Lister (Fri) and Essex songstress Leddra Chapman (right, Sat).
£13+, July 18, 7.30pm-11pm;
July 19 & 20, 7.30pm-2am;
July 21, 12pm-11pm
The Bedford, SW12 9HD
Tube | Balham
thebedford.co.uk
Hampton Pool Picnic Concerts – Surrey
The Carpenter’s Story, The Zombies, Midge Ure and more at this proper posh Surrey music series. Bring the brie, the bubbly and the banter!
£24.50, July 12-27, from 7pm TW12 2ST
Station | Hampton Court
hamptonpool.co.uk
Waterloo Quarter Food Festival – Waterloo
This annual celebration of “tastes, techniques and glorious food” will sate even the most fussy grub hound. There’ll be culinary offerings from both first-time local providers and the big boys, such as Cubana and The Stage Door, from around the world, ranging from fancy food to street-style munch-on-the-go fare. There will also be cooking demos so you can top up on your skills and wine to wash it all down with.
Free, Until July 31, times TBC SE1 8SW
Tube | London Waterloo
wearewaterloo.co.uk
Streatham Festival – Lambeth
The Glamour Days is the theme for this south London culture and events bonanza, which celebrates the borough of Lambeth’s heritage through film, theatre, music, dance and live art installations. Key events not to miss are the tango-inspired Wired Aerial Theatre performance titled Rosa’s Bar, the Lane and Vale Carnival parade, and the South London Blitz Party. It’s all fuelled by a genuine community spirit and pride. Some events are ticketed.
Free, July 11-14, times vary
Various locations
Station | streatham
streathamfestival.com
Photos: Getty; Rik Franks, facebook.com/TheLondonMela, facebook.com/pages/Crystal-Palace-Garden-Party/, facebook.com/StMartinsCourtyard, facebook.com/WeAreWaterlooCommunity, facebook.com/StreathamFestival
