Live it up: cutting back doesn't mean cutting out the fun, just spend your pennies wisely with our guide
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It's possible to enjoy films, food, theatre, clubbing and art that's cheap or free. At The People's Kitchen at Passing Clouds, for instance, you can eat a wholesome meal, watch a film and gain free entry to the regular Sunday Jam session, just by contributing whatever food you can spare — they suggest an old tin of tomatoes or knobbly carrot will suffice but obviously you can bring more if you want to. It all goes towards making a big lovely feast to enjoy with the other contributors.
Here are some other ways to have a night out for nearly nowt:
Film
Cheap thrills: there are loads of pocket-pleasing deals available in January in London's cinemas
Odeon Mondays, Vue Tuesdays, Orange Wednesdays: there's an abundance of discount days to see films in London if you know where to go when. Our favourite cinema discounts — available to all, no SIM or membership card required — include the RichMix Six and the Barbican's Monday Madness tickets, both available every Monday for £6, and the Genesis Cinema in Whitechapel's offer of £3.50 tickets every Monday throughout the winter.Sign up to Vue cinemas' Super Tuesdays for up to a third off ticket prices, or Bargain Tuesdays at Cineworld (prices vary). Empire cinemas run a Saverday Tuesdays scheme at their venues in the outer London boroughs (not at Empire Leicester Square), when all tickets are a bargainous £3.50. Notting Hill's Coronet Cinema also offers £3.50 tickets on Tuesdays, and its full-price admission is only £7.50 every other day of the week. And Woolwich Grand Theatre's Thursday Fim Club shows a mix of cult classics, old favourites and the best of modern cinema, often with little extras like a live piano score or Q&A, for £3-£5.
The annual London Short Film Festival, takes place from January 10-19 at cinemas across London, including the ICA and BFI Southbank. For around £10 you'll get a whole night of original and thought-provoking shorts, often with introductions and Q&As from the filmmakers.
There's often a dearth of theatre in January but you can still find some cheap and cheerful gems if you don't mind venturing beyond Zone 2. The Pride is running at Richmond Theatre from January 27-February 1, with tickets from £15 including booking fees.
How to be Immortal, a slightly twisted story about death and love, informed by scientists from The Wellcome Trust and UCL, is on at the Deptford Albany for £12 a ticket if you book two weeks in advance, or £15 if you book nearer the date. The Deptford Albany also sporadically offers £1 tickets, keep an eye out for them on its website.
Kindertransport, a play about the child evacuees who came to the UK from occupied Europe during the Second World War, has just completed a successful tour of the UK's train stations and will be showing at the Churchill Theatre in Bromley from £15 a ticket, including transaction fees.
And The Old Red Lion Theatre, in Islington, has a pay what you can policy for its Tuesday shows
Read more about how to get a good deal in our guide to getting discount tickets to London's theatre shows.
Taro, Soho
A little, very unassuming Japanese place that does brilliant value bento boxes for around £13. For that un-princely sum you get a teriyaki/stir-fry dish with rice, edamame beans, pickles and a selection of sushi and sashimi. Oh and if that wasn't enough, they're all served with miso soup.
59 Brewer Street, London, SW1 9UW, tarorestaurants.co.uk
Banh Mi Bay, Holborn
A friendly, very casual and affordable Vietnamese cafe that specialises in, yup, you guessed it, banh mi: Vietnamese baguettes filled with meats, pickled carrot and mooli (white radish), fresh chilli, coriander, cucumber and a range of sauces (£4.35). Not up for a baguette? They also do very good pho noodle soups.
4-6 Theobalds Road, WC1X 8PN, banhmibay.co.uk
MEATliquor, Marylebone
We're sure you've all heard of this one: the queues at MEATliquor are legendary. Juice-oozing burgers (all under £8), chilli cheese fries (almost a main in themselves), good cocktails, loud music and grungy, urban decor — what a recipe for a night out. The group behind MEATliquor has also opened up MEATmarket, in Covent Garden, and MEATmission in Hoxton, with similarly cheap and meat-heavy menus.
74 Welbeck Street, W1G 0BA, meatliquor.com
Yalla Yalla, Soho
Beiruti street food and sharing are the order of the day at this bijou place in Soho's red light district. Get stuck into the various meze — hummus shawarma (slices of marinated lamb fillet), baba ghannouj (aubergine puree), grilled halloumi and some samboussek (filled pastries) — before moving onto some more substantial meaty dishes. Feast for around £15 per person.
Green's Court; Oxford Circus; Shoreditch pop-up; yalla-yalla.co.uk
Patty & Bun, Bond Street
Another breakout burger star, Joe Grossman's van has put down roots and has had fans queuing to get their mitts on his patties ever since. His Ari Gold cheeseburger (£7.50) (his secret P&B mayo is the bomb) and BBQ chicken wings are worth the inevitable hour and a half wait outside.
54 James Street, W1U 1EU, pattyandbun.co.uk
Pitt Cue Co, Soho
US-style barbecue maven Pitt Cue Co is a full-on meat-lover's paradise — small appetites need not apply. Try the signature pulled pork — hot, smoky and tender — the St Louis ribs and a dollop of the 'burnt and mash'. No reservations and just 30 covers make queues very likely.
1 Newburgh Street, W1F 7RB, pittcue.co.uk
Ramen, Soho
There are three standout ramen (noodle broth) restaurants all within walking distance of each other in Soho: for the real Japananese deal head to Shoryu Ramen; for the rock'n'roll grungy vibe pick Bone Daddies; and for the perfect hangover cure venue choose Tonkotsu.
Read more: London's best restaurants with ramen
NORTH LONDON
Lahore Grill, St John's WoodThis Pakistani restaurant has a loyal following on account of its no-frills, authentic cooking. Feast on their chef's special chicken Tikka Masala (£8.50), get in a few jugs of mango lassi (£7.50 a jug), mountains of naan (£3 each) and you'll find it hard to push your bill above £20 per head. Your wallet will be further pleased to know it's BYOB.
2-4 Gateforth Street, NW8 8EH
Indian Veg, Angel
A bit of a shrine to vegetarianism (tongue-in-cheek propaganda posters line the walls), this neighbourhood gem in Islington offers a damn tasty all-you-can-eat veggie buffet for £4.95. Its menus are constantly changing so you can keep coming back time and time again — can't argue with that.
92-93 Chapel Market, N1 9EX, theindianveg.wordpress.com
Gokyuzu, Harringay
Gokyuzu is one of the best of a string of Turkish restaurants along Green Lanes. We'd go for one of the immense 'platters to share' at this neighbourhood joint: lamb shish, chicken shish, lamb ribs, adana shish, chicken wings, chicken doner and lamb doner with salad, rice and bulgur wheat for £25.50 is for two to three people (or giants) to share.
27 Grand Parade, Green Lanes N4 1LG, gokyuzurestaurant.co.uk
Chicken Shop, Kentish Town
'Do one thing and do it well' seems to be the mantra at this rotisserie chicken joint. A whole golden-roasted bird (also available as a half or a quarter), some crinkly chips and butter lettuce will only set you back about a tenner each. If you want the whole package order the warm apple pie — it's heaven.
79 Highgate Road London, NW5 1TL, chickenshop.com
Jai Krishna, Finsbury Park
You don't come here for the interior design but for excellent value (and an abundance of) Indian veggie cuisine. Its curries start at a bargainous £3 — we'd recommend the delicious aubergine option — and it's BYOB to boot.
161 Stroud Green Road, N4 3PZ
Le Mercury, Angel
Two great little French restaurants. One street. One dirt cheap menu. Cosy and rustic, both places offer superb value set price starters (all £4.45) and mains (£9.95). Expect Gallic classics such as carpaccio de boeuf, moules mariniére and magret de canard.
140 & 154-155 Upper Street, N1 1RA, lemercury.co.uk
SOUTH LONDON
Bonnington Cafe, VauxhallOne of south London's best kept secrets, this co-operative veggie and vegan restaurant has been providing cheap eats to the community in Bonnington Square communal garden since the Eighties. Every night a different chef cooks so you could be in for Japanese one day and Medieval-inspired grub the next — all served by candlelight. Starters are all £3, mains £8 and you can bring your own booze for no corkage fee.
11 Vauxhall Grove, SW8 1TD, bonningtoncafe.co.uk
Negril, Brixton
Tucked away on Brixton Hill, removed from the foodie enclave of Brixton Village, is Caribbean joint Negril. Another BYOB restaurant, Negril has unfussy decor (we like the comfy bench seats near the kitchen) and oodles of cheap, filling options from jerk chicken to roti wraps, via cassava chips and goat curry. Mains range from about £7-12 but the 'Combos' (around £10 and 'Platters' (around £25 for two to share) are the best value. You'll need to book at weekends.
132 Brixton Hill, SW2 1RS, negrilbrixton.com
Mirch Masala, Tooting
Don't be fooled by its plastic chairs and canteen-style dining, this award-winning Indian eaterie is anything but basic when it comes to the food. You won't find your regular Anglo-Indian curries here, but rather unbeatable Karahi (hot pots, around £5) and Deigi Gosht (lamb on the bone, around £5). Better still, it encourages BYOB so your evening's even cheaper at around £10 a head with all the extras.
213 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7TG, mirchmasalarestaurant.co.uk
Mien Tay, Battersea
Sister restaurant of the Kingsland Road original, Mien Tay's fresh Vietnamese cooking is a great option for meals out with big groups. Quartered quail, salt and garlic squid, and prawn summer rolls — there's plenty to mix and match here. Mains are around the £6.50 mark.
180 Lavender Hill, SW11 5TQ, mientay.co.uk
Dosa n Chutny, Tooting
Specialising in southern Indian and Sri Lankan cooking, Dosa n Chutny's mains are mostly under a fiver with equal emphasis on veggie and non-veggie cooking. Do get stuck into its namesake dish, dosas (around £4): crepes made from ground rice and lentils filled with all sorts from mutton and mashed potato to coconut chutney.
68 Tooting High Street, SW17, dosanchutny.co.uk
Meze Mangal, Lewisham
Well worth the journey south for those who live in other parts of London, this neighbourhood Turkish is busy even on a Monday night. The traditional menu focuses on the grill and pide (Turkish pizza) and you can't really go wrong with either. Fill up for around £10 a head.
245 Lewisham Way, SE4 1XF, mezemangal.co.uk
The Gantry, Brockley
Well-loved by locals, this European bistro is run by four Brockleyites. Slightly at the higher end of our cheap eats spectrum, The Gantry's all-day menu still doesn't cost a bomb if you choose wisely: terrine de campagne is £5.10, chicken pie is £12.50 and sharing platters for two are around £12.
188 Brockley Road, SE4 2RL, thegantry.co.uk
Mamuska, Elephant & Castle
A simple, slick space in the Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre, Mamuska doles out decent Polish food for very decent prices: all starters (soups, meatballs, paté) are £3 and mains (mainly Polish dumplings) are just £5. There are, of course, vodka shots to keep thirst at bay.
Unit 233, 1st Floor, Elephant & Castle Shopping Centre, SE1 6TE, mamuska.net
Brixton Village
Brixton's covered market is an Aladdin's cave of cheap eats. There are too many to mention them all, but among our favourites are: the seriously juicy burgers and rosemary salted chips at Honest Burgers; the Thai thighs at posh fried chicken joint Wishbone; big sharing platters (£12) at Happy Dumpling (28 Market Road, SW9 8LD); the curries at family-run Thai cafe Kaosarn (Brixton Village Market/Coldharbour Lane, SW9 8PR); and of course the springy-based pizzas at Franco Manca.
EAST LONDON
Stingray Cafe, Columbia RoadPrudent locals from families to couples love this cheap and cheerful cafe, where the portions are generous and prices backpacker-friendly. Their yummy pastas, pizzas (Italian-style thin crust) and salads all cost a super reasonable £5-8. Our vote goes to the gargantuan calzone — a beast and only £6.45. Better still, they do pizza and a beer for £8 Monday to Thursday at lunchtime.
Columbia Road; Highbury; Tufnell Park; stingraycafe.co.uk
Shutterbug, Shoreditch
A new cocktail and creperie bar in Hackney that certainly doesn't think pancakes are just for Shrove Tuesday. It makes proper buckwheat crepes (all around £6.50) — try the goats cheese, red peppers and spinach. Its cocktails (£8) are pretty tasty too.
1 Rivington Place, EC2A 3BA, shutterbug-london.com
Tayyabs, Whitechapel
Keep walking past the menu-touts of Brick Lane until you see the mammoth queue snaking out of Tayyabs, whose authentic Punjai fare is popular every night of the week. Order a simple karahi (cooking pot) and make the most of the BYOB drinks policy. You'll be full for the sum of £15.
83 Fieldgate Street, E1 1JU, tayyabs.co.uk
Cay Tre, Old Street
Just around the corner from 'Pho Mile', AKA Kingsland Road, Cay Tre is an informal, easy Vietnamese diner. We love the barbecue pork loin with rice vermicelli, which comes with spring rolls for £9. They also do take-away.
301 Old Street, EC1V 9LA, vietnamesekitchen.co.uk
Poppies, Spitalfields
Eat-in or takeaway you can get posh fish 'n' chips here for under £15 and wash it down with good value wine, from £3.30 a glass. Don't miss their scrumptious puddings either.
6-8 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR, poppiesfishandchips.co.uk
LMNT, Haggerston
LMNT calls itself 'London's most eccentric dining room' and it might be right. It's decked out like an Egyptian boudoir and prices all its starters, such as steamed moules, at £4.90 and its mains, such as grilled lamb steak, at £10.95. Head to the table for four that's set into a giant urn.
316 Queensbridge Road, E8 3NH, lmnt.co.uk
Beigel Bake, Brick Lane
A great pitstop before a film at RichMix or a gig in Shoreditch, Beigel Bake is a Brick Lane institution. Smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel for £1.60? Thanks very much (they also do salt beef bagels for £3.70). There are a few high stools opposite the counter for those who wish to dine in.
59 Brick Lane, E1
Mangal Ocakbasi, Dalston
Don't go looking for menus at the legendary Mangal — simply choose your kebab from the counter and let the grill do its work. This is no-fuss proper Turkish grub served with salad for about £10.
10 Arcola Street, E8 2DJ, mangal1.com
Shanghai, Dalston
A Chinese restaurant in an old pie and mash shop, Shanghai does all-day dim sum for around the £5 mark. Hungry beavers can pre-order a whole roast duck for £20.
41 Kingsland High Street, E8 2JS, shanghaidalston.co.uk
WEST LONDON
Santa Maria Pizza, EalingAt our number one pizzeria in London, Angelo and Pasquale make proper Neopolitan-style pizzas with stretchy, springy bases and superlative ingredients flown in from Italy. As with all good pizzas, the best ones are the simplest — opt for the Santa Bufalina (£8.95), essentially a posh Margherita.
Santa Maria Pizza, W5 5RA, santamariapizza.com
Comptoir Libanais, South Kensington
A mecca for all-day Middle Eastern fare, you'll find delicious dips, flatbreads, wraps (from 6.45), large salads (from £6.75) and tagines (from 7.25) here. Try one of their blended homemade lemonades.
South Kensington; Wigmore Street; Westfield London, lecomptoir.co.uk
Sadaf, Bayswater
A short walk down Westbourne Grove from the impossible-to-get-a-table-at Alounak is Sadaf, a cheaper Persian alternative popular with London-liviing Iranians that will always try to make space for walk-ins. Share a couple of dips before moving onto delicious grilled marinated meats with saffron rice — all for easily under £15 a head.
27 Westbourne Grove, W2 5SH, sadaf-restaurant.co.uk
Kerbisher & Malt, Shepherd's Bush
At this fashionable chippy you'll find first-rate mushy peas alongside homemade tartare sauce and baked beans. All their fish come in at £6.90 or under and you can add chips for £1.80.
Shepherd’s Bush; Ealing, kerbisher.co.uk
Patio, Shepherd's Bush
A family-run Polish restaurant where you get an excellent value three course meal for £16.50 and a shot of vodka on the house. Among the hearty choices are golabki (cabbage stuffed with meat and rice), scallops in dill sauce and venison. Great hospitality and piano-playing are dead certs at this neighbourhood restaurant.
5 Goldhawk Road, W12 8QQ, patiolondon.com
Churchill Arms, Kensington
You might recognise it as that pub on Kensington Church Street which is covered nose to tail in colourful flowers, but the Churchill is also notable for its Thai kitchen out back (the first pub to do so, no less). Soak up your pints with delicious curries and noodle dishes — we rather like their pad thai. Most dishes cost £6.95.
119 Kensington Church Street, W8 7LN, churchillarmskensington.co.uk
Franco Manca, Chiswick
Always appearing in top pizza in London lists, Franco Manca makes all its sourdough-base pizzas (all under £7) in a proper wood-fired oven in front of you. The menu is concise but the staff will be more than happy to knock the toppings up whichever way you wish. Order anything with the buffallo ricotta or cured chorizo and wash down with Franco Manca homemade lemonade.
Chiswick; Westfield Stratford City; Brixton Market; Clapham; francomanca.co.uk
Taqueria, Notting Hill
This cheeky cafe on Westbourne Grove does a fine line in all the classic Mexican comfort foods: endless tacos, tostadas and quesadillas are on the menu at around £6 and should be accompanied by tequila or fresh watermelon juice. Make sure you also save space for its churros: doughnut fingers dipped in hot chocolate.
139 Westbourne Grove, W11 2RS; taqueria.co.uk
