There is a particular kind of magic present in London’s summer evenings. The light lingers for long, the parks fill with people in no hurry to go home and the city’s cultural calendar bursts open with the kind of events that make you fall in love with London all over again.
July festivities are in full swing in London, and this time it is a feast for the bibliophiles. The much-loved Love’s Labour’s Lost returns with a new production. St James’s Square is set to showcase Shakespeare’s sparkling comedy of flirtation, foolishness and the irresistible pull of love. The West End will echo with Costard’s fondness for gingerbread on July 8 and 9. But the audiences need not settle for only gingerbread when sumptuous meals await at BKC to end the day on a perfect note.
Ten years is not a small milestone. This year, to commemorate the tenth anniversary, the production has chosen a special surprise for Shakespeare’s fans – a celebration of comedy and love. The Bard’s famous play Love’s Labour’s Lost is full of promises made with great confidence, only to be joyfully broken the moment temptation arrives. It is witty, warm and full of the kind of charm that makes open-air theatre such a treat.
The production will begin promptly at 7 pm and run for approximately two hours, drawing to a close by around 9 pm. St James’s Square will open its gates from 5.30 pm onwards, giving the audience a generous window to picnic with loved ones. The play is built around themes of feasting and appetite. And if your day leaves you hungry, then BKC is close at hand to turn your literary evening into a proper feast.
July in London is full of festivities, events that Londoners look forward to all year. This month, it brings something for the literature lovers. With Love’s Labour’s Lost returning to St James’s Square, the West End’s cultural calendar has a feast in store for the bibliophiles. Shakespeare’s comedy is famous for its verbal fireworks – puns, wordplay and witty exchanges between the characters. And BKC’s food delivers the same kind of dazzle.
Every bite of it is as impressive as the play itself, impossible to deny. It offers exactly the kind of dining experience that rounds off a summer evening at an open-air theatre. The menu, full of Indian grilled cuisine, signature kebabs and appetising biryani, makes for a satisfying yet sociable meal. Whether you are stopping for a pre-show dinner or a relaxed meal afterwards, this stop at BKC is worth the visit.
For those attending the play in a group, BKC’s succulent sharing platters are well-suited to your pre-theatre dining. The melt-in-the-mouth kebabs, an ode to authentic Awadhi cuisine from the royal kitchens of Lucknow, fit like the missing piece of your perfect day out.
There is something wonderfully apt about a play, full of feasting, appetite and the folly of self-denial, being staged in the heart of London. The Bard’s characters may talk themselves into three years of fasting, but theatre lovers need not put themselves through any such dilemma. There is no reason to starve when BKC is within walking distance from the venue. After an evening of wit, romance and comedy beneath the open sky, the next step is a proper meal – one that matches the occasion of indulgence. And what better than BKC London to satisfy the hunger pangs after an eventful day?
Given the popularity of open-air theatre and the fact that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the play, early planning is advised. If you intend to dine beforehand, allow enough time to enjoy every bite, savouring the aromas of meals at BKC as they are meant to – unhurried and with love. If you would rather dine afterwards, bear in mind that the performances draw to a close as the sun sets, so you will be arriving at BKC just when the restaurant atmosphere has started to set in. This offers you the perfect chance to reflect on the play and discuss it over a shared platter and some giggles.
As the final applause fades and the crowded St James’s Square empties into the hues of a late London evening, there is a pull towards something equally memorable to close the night. This is where BKC steps in, not only as a place to eat but also as the final act of an evening rich with drama, laughter and quality time.
The city softens at this hour, and by the time you settle into your seat, the transition from theatre to table feels seamless rather than rushed. Inside, the atmosphere strikes a balance between refined and relaxed, with warm lighting, attentive service and a menu designed for lingering conversation rather than a hurried bite.
For those who wish to explore beyond biryani and kebabs, BKC’s menu holds more worth discovering. Starting the meal with a Kathi Roll and a hot cup of chai sets the tone. The regional flavours in Lamb Rogan Josh or the Nadru Galouti Kebabs in the main course will take you on a flavourful journey. To finish, the hot Gulab Jamun or a frozen Malai Kulfi rounds things off with the right amount of sweetness – a fitting echo to the play’s own happy, if delayed, resolutions.
With the right meal, the evening takes on a character of its own – theatre with good company and great food. It is the pairing of linguistic richness with culinary expertise that makes a London summer feel complete. So when the curtain falls on another wonderful season, let BKC be the place where the evening truly settles. Book ahead, take your time and let the night end the way it began: with a little wit, a little warmth and a meal worth remembering.