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There’s an extra day at play this weekend for many of us, so make the most of the bank holiday add-on and put your day off to good use.
Why not try your hand at a virtual food and drink masterclass? Or listen to a style talk on how to elevate your wardrobe? There’s even an online festival in aid of struggling music venues you can get involved in.
Here are eight things to do over the long weekend.
1. Make cocktails and draw
Calling all gin enthusiasts and art lovers! Settle down for a one-hour virtual cocktail and art evening masterclass. On Friday 22 May at 6.30pm you can make gin cocktails with mixologist Franck Dedieu and get creative in a drawing session hosted by illustrator Joey Yu. Hosted by Bombay Sapphire, you’ll learn how to make show-stopping drinks and create your own ‘windowscape’ illustrations inspired by your views from home.
Book your free spot (and find out what ingredients and materials you need).
2. Join a food court’s 3-day extravaganza
London’s indoor food court, Market Halls, is hosting the mother of all virtual festivals in aid of three vital charities: The Felix Project, Hospitality Action and Hospro. From Saturday 23 May to Monday 25 May, the line-up includes 22 activities, with something for everyone – from wellness mornings, food and drink masterclasses, arts and crafts for kids to acoustic sofa sessions. You can join the sessions by donating to the chosen charities; each session encourages a minimum of a £5 donation.
3. Listen to mood-lifting music experiences
Crank it up to eleven and keep an ear out for Google’s Nest Sessions. At 10am every day, from 23-25 May, host Laura Whitmore will introduce a mood-lifting music experience inspired by psychology, interactive home activities, and conversations from exciting UK music artists including Jessie Ware, Olly Alexander of Years & Years and Celeste. That’s your morning sorted.
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Tune in on your Google Nest or on the YouTube Spotlight UK Channel.
4. Cook up a storm at the Big Curry Night In
Looking for curry in a hurry? Or want to learn how to add some spice in your life? Eat curry and save lives between Friday 22 May to Sunday 31 May. Celebrate the nation’s favourite dish in a bid to raise money to help feed families in South Asia who have lost work because of Covid-19. Deliveroo, Uber Eats, BT, Cobra Beer, and the British Asian Trust are encouraging Brits to make their own curry, learn celebrity chef recipes or order from their local takeaway.
5. Learn a new skill at a virtual experience
Join John Lewis and Waitrose for a series of fun, 30-minute virtual experiences via Zoom on Friday 22 May. From wine and gin tastings to live interactive style talks, the experts and specialists will bring their knowledge and enthusiasm to living rooms across the UK.
6. Do a cupboard cook-along with The Hairy Bikers
Start the week as you mean to go on with some nourishing recipe inspiration. Join stock cube brand Knorr and cooking heavyweights, The Hairy Bikers, as they host a live cupboard cook-along on their Instagram pages on Monday 25 May at 6pm. Using store cupboard essentials, they’ll walk you through a step-by-step tutorial to make a delicious home-cooked meal – and answer any cooking questions along the way.
7. Experience an online music festival
Colston Hall’s online musical weekender is taking place on Saturday 23 May, at 3pm-midnight.Relive the magic of going to a gig with this Music Venue Trust’s Save Our Venues partnership – a campaign to save grassroots music venues, hosted by BBC Introducing in the West. This year’s line-up features Ishmael Ensemble, Melt Yourself Down, No Go Stop, Pictish Trail, Rachael Dadd, and more. The festival will be live-streamed for free on YouTube, but organisers ask that viewers donate what they’d normally spend on a gig ticket via the event’s CrowdFunder page.
8. Watch a real-life theatre show
Headphones and popcorn at the ready for Complicité’s immersive masterpiece, available to stream for free until Monday 25 May on their website and YouTube channel. Tune in and watch this real-life theatre show, which was recorded from the Barbican in London, and uses cleverly communication technology to bring you a great streaming experience.
