Durga Puja at BKC London: Where Festive Spirit Meets Bengali Flavours
Durga Puja, for us at BKC London, is more than a date on the calendar — it’s the heartbeat of a community. Back home in Kolkata, Pujo is five days of music, light, and flavours that linger long after the celebrations end. In London, that spirit takes on a unique charm. It’s families travelling across the city to visit pandals, friends gathering after work to share a plate of luchi and kosha mangsho, and strangers bonding over a hot cup of chai as the dhak drums echo through the air.
This year, we wanted to bring that same warmth and nostalgia straight into the heart of Soho. Our vision is simple: to recreate the feeling of home through food that carries the soul of Bengal. From the golden crunch of a vegetable chop to the fragrant steam of a Kolkata biryani, every dish is our way of keeping traditions alive while celebrating them in a London setting. At BKC, Durga Puja is about more than just festive menus — it’s about creating a space where memories are made. Some join us for the comfort of familiar flavours, others for the energy that mirrors pandal-hopping back in Kolkata, and many for the chance to share in a true community feast. That’s why we’ve designed not one, but four special experiences this year — each crafted to capture a different shade of the festival, all rooted in the belief that food tastes better when shared in celebration.
A Festive À La Carte at BKC Soho (26th–30th September)
When Durga Puja arrives, food becomes the heartbeat of the celebration — and at BKC London, we’ve curated an in-house menu that brings the streets of Kolkata straight to Soho and Marble Arch. Picture yourself biting into a golden, crunchy Calcutta-style fish fry, the kind you’d usually grab outside a bustling pandal after the evening aarti. Add to that the humble yet irresistible vegetable chop, seasoned with just the right hint of spice to warm you up on a crisp London evening.
For mains, we’re serving up the city’s festive staples: fragrant Kolkata mutton biryani, slow-cooked to perfection, paired with rich, flavourful chicken chaap that’s indulgent enough to make every mouthful feel like a celebration. It’s the sort of meal that isn’t rushed but savoured, surrounded by friends, family, and plenty of laughter. Our Puja menu isn’t just about what’s on the plate — it’s about recreating the adda, the togetherness, and that unmistakable joy of Pujo back home. For those who can’t make it to Kolkata this year, this spread is our way of bringing Kolkata’s festive magic to the heart of London.
Bijoya Shramanali at BKC Soho (5th October)
For Bengalis, Bijoya Dashami isn’t the end of Durga Puja — it’s the beginning of long afternoons filled with food, stories, and laughter. This year, we’re recreating that tradition with Bijoya Shramanali at BKC Soho, transforming our space into a festive adda that feels just like home, only with a London twist. Our menu is crafted to spark nostalgia with every bite. Start with a cone of jhal muri, tossed just the way you’d find it on the streets of Kolkata, paired with crispy golden beguni that melts in the mouth. From there, it’s onto indulgent favourites — crunchy chingri cutlet, pillowy luchi with spiced aloo dum, and the celebratory pairing of basanti pulao and slow-cooked kosha mangsho. And because no Bijoya is complete without mishti, we’re rounding it off with creamy bhapa doi and syrup-soaked rasgulla — desserts that taste like pure nostalgia. At BKC, this isn’t just another festive menu — it’s our way of keeping the spirit of Bijoya alive in the heart of London. A community feast where every plate carries a memory, every dish feels like tradition, and every guest becomes family.
Partnering with Bengal Heritage Foundation
Durga Puja in London never feels complete without stepping into the city’s most spectacular pandal — the kind of place where culture, food, and festivity all come alive at once. This year, BKC London is honoured to partner with the Bengal Heritage Foundation for the Bengal Sharad Utsav, a celebration that transforms London into a mini-Kolkata for the season. Imagine walking into the pandal with the roll of the dhak echoing in the background, the fragrance of incense mingling with the crisp autumn air, and the comforting aromas of Bengali delicacies reminding you of Pujo days back home. At the heart of it all, BKC will be there — sharing plates that carry the warmth of tradition while adding a little London sparkle. For us, this partnership isn’t just about serving food; it’s about keeping alive the community spirit that makes Durga Puja so extraordinary. It’s a chance to gather, to celebrate, and to let Londoners — Bengalis and beyond — experience the magic of Pujo the way it’s meant to be.
BKC x RBBA Pandal Vibes
Durga Puja in London is as much about the buzz of the pandal as it is about the food you sneak in between rituals and reunions. This year, BKC London is thrilled to be part of the RBBA Puja, where our festive kitchen is stepping out of Soho and Marble Arch to meet you right at the heart of the celebration. Picture this: you’ve just offered your anjali, watched a dazzling cultural performance, or bumped into a friend you only ever see during Pujo season — and there it is, the irresistible pull of food that feels like home. Our stall will be serving up BKC favourites, crafted with the same love and care that you’d find at our restaurants, only this time with the spirit of the pandal woven in. Think of us as your go-to pitstop, where flavours of Kolkata meet the energy of London’s Pujo nights. A quick bite, a hearty plate, or just that comforting taste you’ve been craving — we’ll be right there to keep your festive spirit fuelled.
The Menus That Make It Special
In-House Pujo Menu
Bijoya Shramanali Feast
- Jhal Muri with Small Beguni
- Vegetable Chop
- Chingri Cutlet
- Luchi with Aloo Dum
- Basanti Pulao
- Bhapa Doi
This Durga Puja, BKC London isn’t just serving food — we’re serving memories, conversations, and a taste of home in the heart of Soho. So whether you’re in for a quick plate of chop-cutlet, a sit-down bijoya meal, or pandal vibes across London, we’ll be right there, ladle in hand, ready to celebrate with you.
Durga Puja in London has never tasted this good.