Find a taste of Texas in London
Whether one is an expat searching for a slice of home, or a dreamer who has always envisioned a holiday in Texas but hasn’t yet secured the air fare, there’s a treat awaiting in London. Known for being one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK, it naturally offers opportunities to find traditional Texan food and Southern hospitality right in the heart of the capital city. This roundup showcases some of the best food, drink and entertainment available in the Big Smoke, allowing visitors to embrace the Texan atmosphere without venturing beyond zone two.
Kick things off with some barbecue
Texas is renowned for many outstanding features, with its barbecue cuisine holding a special place of distinction. In contrast with other styles, Texas barbecue emphasises a slow cooking process, utilising ample smoke and favouring a less sweet and sticky BBQ sauce. The signature dish in this tradition is brisket. While London hosts a myriad of excellent BBQ venues, the quintessential Texas brisket experience is best had at Texas Joe’s. The establishment, Texas Joe’s Slow Smoked Meats, is committed to serving top-quality cuts of meat, treating them with authentic and time-honoured preparation techniques.
Since its inception in 1971, the restaurant has refined its offerings to perfection. For a genuine Texan dining experience, one should consider the brisket – a generously portioned dish accompanied by slaw, homemade sauces and pickles. Those with a lingering appetite can complement their meal with additional sides: the Mac and Cheese and the Jalapeño Cornbread come highly recommended.
Get involved with Cage Warriors at the Indigo O2
What could be more exciting than watching two people in their absolute prime battle it out to see who is the better fighter? Anyone who answered “nothing” will be whooping and hollering when they find out about the exciting cage fights staged in London. First though, what does cage fighting have to do with Texas? This August saw one of the biggest fights in the world of MMA hosted in the southern state, the most enormous of the celebrity combat events: a fight between Jake Paul and Nate Diaz. The two battled it out in an epic ten-round battle in Dallas that sold more than half a million pay-per-views and generated $27 million in revenue.
London doesn’t currently have any fights that are quite as big as that going on, but Cage Warriors has been established in London for more than 20 years and offers the chance to get super close to some pretty big cage fights. They tend to hold their events at the Indigo O2, meaning there’s plenty of room for people to watch, but tickets can sell out fast so it’s best to book well in advance.
Brush up on horse-riding skills
It’s kind of a running joke that anybody who grew up in Texas should know how to ride a horse. So, to experience Texan life like a true Texan, it’s necessary to brush up on horse-riding skills. Whilst there aren’t any Western riding stables in central London, one can learn how to ride English style in Hyde Park. This park is stunning and is favoured by the king’s horses for their daily exercise. Riding lessons start from £115 per person, but students will be learning in one of the most beautiful and undoubtedly the most famous equestrian venues in the UK. Trotting alongside the Serpentine Lake is a memory that’ll be hard to forget, so why not pop a hat on, don some boots and get ready to ride?
Finish the evening by visiting a Texan saloon
There are plenty of places in London where one can find a mechanical bull, but fewer where an entire country-themed miniature town is the main attraction. Phantom Peak, a vast venue in Southwark capable of accommodating around 1,000 individuals at a time, periodically hands over its infrastructure to the Buck ‘n’ Bull Saloon. The collaboration between the two companies engenders a massive hoedown featuring live country music, a mechanical bull, Southern-themed food and drinks, and the opportunity to try one’s hand at line dancing. Indeed, this may play into the Texas stereotype somewhat emphatically, but after enjoying a few spiked sweet teas, even the most hesitant individuals will find themselves eager to dance.
Those eager to immerse themselves in this experience should be advised to secure their reservations well in advance – the events, consistently scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays, fill up rapidly. Booking online ensures a spot in the lively gathering, however, all attendees can expect to receive warm Southern hospitality and a promise of a great time.
The editorial unit
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