23/09/26

The Other Art Fair is back this October

The Other Art Fair is back this October, and it’s here to prove that buying art can be as fun as a night out in Shoreditch. From 8th - 11th October 2026, The Truman Brewery will be awash with over 135 independent artists showing off their painting, photography, sculpture, music and performance skills. It’s four days packed with creative energy and more than a few chances to spot something you’ll want to smuggle home.

Saatchi Art is behind the fair, but it’s all about giving independent artists a proper spotlight and letting you meet the artistic minds behind the masterpieces. With nearly 80 per cent of this year’s artists hailing from the UK, it’s your chance to see what’s bubbling up outside the usual gallery bubble. Keep your eyes peeled for four fresh faces making their London debut, each with their own wonderfully creative way of seeing the world.

London-based painter Holly Garbett turns family photographs into misty, emotionally charged oil paintings, playing with memory, love and loss. Korean-American artist Courtney Bae explores identity, trauma and resilience using expressive portraits, figures and landscapes. If you’re a fan of jaw-dropping detail, don’t miss Danielle Verbeeten’s hyperrealistic pastel pieces. Danielle’s background in industrial design and as a LEGO designer in Denmark explains the skilled precision and detail of these impressive pieces.

On Friday night, legendary Ibiza party-starters Manumission are taking over with their Friday Lates programme, bringing DJs, lively chats, and a proper dose of nightlife energy to the Truman Brewery. There’s even a whole hour dedicated to The Motel, their brand new book. Photography fans can look out for Amelia Troubridge, this year’s Guest Artist, who will be at the fair throughout the weekend. The celebrated British photographer behind nearly three decades of documenting British culture will present work from her England archive, spanning 1995–2023, including portraits of familiar faces such as Steve Coogan, Nick Cave and Olivia Colman.

And don’t miss Luke, the resident typewriter poet. Yes, you heard right. Spill your thoughts, be it your love life, your dog, your existential crisis or even your shopping list, and he’ll whip up a poem for you on the spot. It’s hands down the most charming keepsake you’ll pick up all year. Saturday comes with its own soundtrack, thanks to London’s Club Lune Bleue. Resident DJs and special guests spin tunes that celebrate women behind the decks and a whole mix of electronic sounds.

If all that sounds a bit too grown-up, Creative Corner is for you. It’s open to all ages, with creative prompts and a display wall that just keeps growing. One of the fair’s biggest draws? The Under £300 Collection. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a handpicked selection of original art, all priced at £300 or less.

The fair’s New Futures programme is also returning, this time in partnership with Central Saint Martins. Recent graduates Kitty Jenkins and Rajesh Bhovan will showcase their work, giving visitors a chance to discover artists at the very beginning of their careers. Jenkins explores the human figure, mythology, folklore and horror, questioning ideas around femininity, transformation and identity. Bhovan draws on both Bollywood and old Hollywood, examining cinema, celebrity, and the almost devotional relationship audiences can have with the screen.

It’s this brilliant mix of big names, rising stars and artists you’ve probably never heard of that makes The Other Art Fair such a treat. Come for the art, stick around for the music, chat with the artists, nab a poem from a typewriter and maybe even leave with a creation that won’t have you remortgaging your flat.

8th - 11th October 2026 - Other Art Fair London

Friday, October 9: 4-10 PM

Saturday, October 10: 11-7 PM

Sunday, October 11: 11-6 PM

Tickets and further information available HERE

Address:The Truman Brewery, 83 Brick Ln, London E1 6QL

Written by Stacey Reeves

Photograph courtesy of The Other Art Fair

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El Ta’Koy, Hawaiian-Inspired Street Food in the heart of Covent Garden – Review

Feb 16, 2023

2 min read

Updated: May 23, 2024

Nestled in the cellar of the recently refurbished townhouse 3 Henrietta Street is the latest offering from acclaimed Cuban chef Luis Pous. Having already made a name in Miami and New York with his twist on traditional Hawaiian street food, El Ta’koy brings a dash of upscale tiki dining to London’s Covent Garden. The fusion menu is an eclectic mix of small bites, tacos and poke bowls, along with decadent tropical cocktails.

We made our way there on a rainy afternoon and upon entering found ourselves saying ‘aloha’ to a den of colour and exotic flavour. The décor is a feast of verdant green, with faux leafy plants embellishing the walls, a 70’s peacock chair, real pineapples and oversized bamboo lampshades to complete the tiki-club atmosphere.

In keeping with the lush tropical vibe is a fabulous array of Hawaiian-inspired tipples, including rum cocktails and signature daiquiris. A very generous Happy Hour runs Monday to Thursday between 12.00 and 18.00, perfect for lunchtime shoppers and after-work drinks. We indulged in a Zingiber Lotus; a gin cocktail made with the heavenly mix of fresh ginger, lychee and a touch of lime, as well as a tiki classic the Saturn, another delicious gin cocktail with passion fruit juice over crushed ice. Take your pick and you are ready to be transported.

For the main meal, we choose a selection of small snacks and tacos as recommended by our host. The menu is great for sharing, with lots of options for vegans and vegetarians. The Bento Box Brunch for £35.00 per head is a fantastic deal, including cocktails on arrival.

We started with the Avocado Edamame Hummus, which is displayed as a miniature garden, with slim stands of vegetables and crunchy nachos for dipping, amongst a pond of delicious hummus. Next up a salad of Baby Gem and Pickled Red Cabbage, with avocado salsa kimchi and tangy wasabi mayo.

To follow was the Lamb Barbacoa, a signature taco dish of stunning flavours, including sharp cilantro and zesty lime cream. As well as the Lomi Salmon Tostada, a tequila-cured salmon, avocado, wasabi aioli, lemon cream and ikura creation. What impressed me was the lightness of the tacos, so delicate and fine, complimented by the fresh ingredients and unusual flavour sensations. We went for lunch and found our selection of savoury dishes very filling, but if you want to polish off your meal with something sweet and tropical, try the Banana Lumpia, a healthy(ish) pudding of banana and chocolate sauce.

With some great dining and cocktail offers the restaurant and bar is open Monday to Sunday from 11.00 – 23.00 | Happy Hour Monday to Thursday 12.00 until 18.00.

Bento Box Bruch £35.00 including a cocktail of your choice runs Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 12.00 – 16.00.

Website: https://el-takoy.com

Written by Claire Bloom

#coventgarden #eltakoy #pokebowls