Soho Village Fete & Waiters’ Race

If you do one thing this weekend make it this fabulously eccentric village fete; it includes a dog show, spaghetti-eating contest, a tug-of-war between the Soho police and fire service, morris dancers, snail racing and the wonderful human fruit machine. In addition to the usual madness this is their 50th anniversary, so pull on your platforms and prepare to head back to Soho in 1975; there will be a special prize for the best-dressed.

The Soho Village Fete is also the home of the famous and hugely competitive Soho Waiters’ Race, where local waiters hurtle through the streets with a glass and a bottle of fizz balanced on a tray. There’s also live music and entertainment all afternoon (including a West End takeover, Rocky Horror singalong with the Prince Charles Cinema and a Drag Queen finale), 28 food and market stalls and a bar from Soho stalwart The French House.

The fete has a lovely community feel and is really worth a visit. Top tip – get involved in the raffle. Prizes include a keyboard from Yamaha Music, a night’s stay at Hazlitt’s Hotel, Champagne afternoon tea from L’Escargot and a year’s membership from Ronnie Scotts.

We recommend getting there early as the garden has a maximum capacity of 500 people. Priority will be given to Soho Society members with VIP wristbands; join here for a measly £25.00 for a year and count yourself a proper Soho legend, with access to member-only events. The rest of you may have to queue, but we promise it will be worth it – it’s honestly in our top ten events of the year.

Huge thanks to sponsors Shaftesbury Capital PLC, Westminster City Council, Great Portland Estates GPE, The Rotary Club of London and Storm Flowers London, who keep this happening and keep it free.

Venue: St Anne’s Gardens Wardour Street. Soho, W1D 6QB