September has a particular kind of energy. The languor of August lifts, the pace quickens, and the cultural calendar fills with the kind of events that make you glad you stuck around. From Negroni celebrations in the capital to a new brunch series in Edinburgh, there is no shortage of reasons to get out and about. Here is our pick of the month's most unmissable experiences across the UK.
Jun Tanaka's Michelin-starred restaurant The Ninth concludes its Single Ingredient Series with a tasting menu in celebration of shellfish from 15th September to 10th October. Expect caramelised scallops with Delica pumpkin risotto and brown butter, cuttlefish malloreddus with bottarga and lemon, and a cataplana of clams, squid, Huelva prawns and monkfish. The menu is priced at £98 per person, with an optional wine pairing for £70.
Over in Clerkenwell, LUCA is still in party mode. The Michelin-starred Modern Italian is wrapping up its 10th birthday celebrations on 5th September with the LUCA10 Menu, a three-course greatest hits tour for £75. Think Parmesan fries, Ligurian tomatoes with grilled yellow peaches and stracciatella, taglierini of Cornish lobster, and a caramelised lemon tart with fennel ice cream that has made a special comeback. Booking is essential.
Negroni Week arrives on 21st September, and the capital is ready. ROKA has teamed up with Peddlers Gin and Karminia Vermouth for a special collaborative Negroni across all its London sites. The Charlotte Street Shochu Lounge goes one further with a bespoke menu of three Japanese-inspired Negronis, all priced at £10. Meanwhile, on Wandsworth Common, Thorn Bar is celebrating Italian aperitivo culture with five distinct Negroni variations from Bar Manager Jason Duncan, including a Cherry Sour Negroni and an Amalfi Shaken Negroni. Adam Byatt has created a selection of Italian bar snacks to match. It is the kind of evening that makes you wonder why you do not do this more often.
Further north, The Hoxton in Edinburgh is launching something new. Its Hedonistic Brunch series kicks off on Sunday 27th September, running from 11.30am to 2pm. The inaugural event spotlights sake from DREAMSAKE, with two sake cocktails alongside a Japanese-inspired brunch created in partnership with Edinburgh favourite Harajuku Kitchen. Think nigiri, a salmon torotaku handroll made fresh in front of you, and a green dragon roll, alongside vegetarian options. It is the first of what promises to be a monthly ritual.
And if you are in the mood for something a little different, Sprout is hosting Blinker Bar from Manchester on 24th September as part of its Sprout Sessions series. The twist? Both bars take part in a scavenger hunt to find hidden ingredients and spirits planted across nearby venues. The finds inspire new cocktails of the night, which sit alongside five signature serves from Blinker's bartenders. The whole thing runs from 5 to 9pm, supported by Pernod Ricard and Fever-Tree. Playful, collaborative, and genuinely good fun.
September, it seems, is not messing about. Whether you are after a Negroni in Wandsworth, a tasting menu in Clerkenwell, or a Japanese-inspired brunch in Edinburgh, there is something here to tempt even the most discerning palate. The only question is: where will you start?