The Best Oktoberfest events in London and Surrey
As puffer jackets return to the tube, the hubbub of office coughing re-emerges, and our lunch hour quickly descends into twilight, many of us are looking for ways to target the autumn glum. Something to fill the void when supermarkets don’t sell sun cream, or Christmas decorations. Germany luckily, has found the perfect remedy: drink beer and drink it in profusion.
This period is known as ‘’Oktoberfest’’, a three week-long festival originating in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of the Crown Prince Ludwig I to Princess Therese of Saxe- Hildburghausen. The festival started as a horse racing event, however somewhere in history, developed into the largest beer festival in the world. Munich now serves the equivalent to over 12 million pints every festival.
All this beer, Bavarian tunes and dancing on tables seemed too good to miss, so we all joined in. There are now thousands of Oktoberfest events in the UK, so if you can’t make it to Munich this weekend, here are some of the best events in London and Surrey.
The Delaunay Counter
Covent Garden, 19 September – 3 October
For Oktoberfest, alpine bar The Delaunay Counter will embrace Bavarian culture as the space transforms in honour of the annual Munich-based festival, with a special menu on offer. Guests can enjoy a selection of Bavarian-inspired dishes and drinks, including a limited-edition Oktoberfest menu featuring Pretzel & Pint for £9.50; Beef or Käsekrainer Hot Dog with Lyonnaise onions and mustard; Roast Spatchcock Chicken with Pretzel; and a Sausage Selection of beef frankfurter and Käsekrainer sausage with sauerkraut and potato salad. Vegetarians can enjoy Mushroom Stroganoff with Semmel noodles and gherkins.
Boxpark
Various venues, 25 September – 10 October
This year’s Oktoberfest at BOXPARK is set to be another year of unique celebrations, filled with steins of Staro, live Oompah bands, DJs, and interactive entertainment. Each venue will come alive with Bavarian-inspired decor, costume contests, and group games ranging from giant-pretzel-eating challenges to stein-holding competitions.
German Gymnasium
King’s Cross, until 30 October
Throughout Oktoberfest, guests to German Gymnasium can indulge in the very best German cuisine including hearty classics such as Schweinebraten, a roast pork collar with red cabbage and dark beer sauce, and the Rinderroulade, a braised beef roulade with red cabbage and a bread dumpling. Those dressed in Bavarian attire to celebrate Oktoberfest at German Gymnasium will receive a free stein of bier on the house!
Stein’s Restaurant
Richmond & Kingston
For the hungry and hearty wanting to celebrate Oktoberfest, take yourself down to Stein’s Bavarian restaurant. They famously serve a £225 ‘’Giant Sausage Feast’’. You’re advised to bring 10 friends to tackle this feast. If not a ‘’doggy suitcase’’ should tide you over until November.
Flat Iron Square
Borough, 26 September – 24 October
Flat Iron Square is bringing the spirit of Munich to Borough – on Saturdays, enjoy steins of Staropramen and sizzling bratwurst, alongside Oompah bands, a dance floor, and stein-holding showdowns and bratwurst-eating competitions. Guests are encouraged to get fully into the spirit of things by donning their best lederhosen and dirndls!
More fab things to do:
Clapham Common
9-24 October
If you’re looking for some fresh air along with your beer then head to Clapham Common where they’re holding London’s biggest outdoor Oktoberfest. You won’t go hungry, thirsty or bored, there will be over 400 variations of German sausages on offer, 35,000 litres of beer and 17,500 attendees!
Stoke Park
Guildford, 10 October
Guilford has been twinned with the German town, Freiburg, since 1979 using this bond to exchange culture, business and education. Guilford therefore puts out all the stops during Oktoberfest, with their biggest event held at Stoke Park on the 10th October. This provides the perfect Bavarian experience for those living outside London, with live music, food stalls and plentiful beer.
De Vere Horsley Estate
Surrey, 1 & 2 October
De Vere Horsley is inviting Surrey locals to raise a glass to autumn with the launch of Surrey Oktoberfest, set against the atmospheric backdrop of the historic Horsley Towers Courtyard and Tunnel. The event brings together more than 30 locally brewed beers, Surrey-produced drinks, food and live entertainment from The Surrey Pumas, transforming the historic Towers Courtyard and Tunnel into an atmospheric autumn celebration.
Caravan
London Bridge, 21 September – 4 October
Caravan London is teaming up with premium lager NOAM on a limited-edition food-and-drink pairing that takes inspiration from the traditional combination of schnitzel and beer rooted in the origins of Oktoberfest in 1810, when celebrations in Munich marking the royal wedding brought together hearty Bavarian food and free-flowing beer. For £28, diners can enjoy Caravan’s iconic Dingley Dell pork schnitzel, served with a fried egg, mustard dill cream, pickles, sage, French fries and rosemary salt, paired with crisp Bavarian-style lager from NOAM.
