With Thanksgiving holding roots in ancient English harvest festivals - complete with merrymaking and feasting - we got to thinking about why us Brits no longer mark the event of celebrating a successful and bountiful crop.
Turns out we actually do, or at least we mark and celebrate the occasion so our American friends who have travelled across the pond don’t feel so homesick.
As you may know, we love any excuse to have a party and get fancy-dressed up so we’ve compiled a list of London events to help you join in the Thanksgiving festivities.
And if you’re still not enamored – just think: here’s your chance to have a pre-Christmas roast dinner with all the trimmings and then some!
Pont Street
Try a classic Thanksgiving dinner feast (£55) with some fresh twists at this Belgravia hotspot. Expect turkey and all the trimmings, including mash potatoes, cranberry jelly, mac and cheese and sweet potatoes topped with caramelised marshmallow.
Where: 20 Chesham Pl, London SW1X 8HQ
Pont St Thanksgiving Feast
Big Easy
The traditional All-American Seafood and BBQ restaurant will be serving Turkey and all the trimmings (£30) as well as a Lobster feast (£40) for Thanksgiving. Priced reasonably for three courses, your stomach is sure to be as stuffed as the turkey and your bank balance will be just as thankful! With locations in Covent Garden, Chelsea and Canary Wharf, we’re sure you’re going to want to get your feet under the table at Big Easy.
Where: 12 Maiden Ln, London WC2E 7NA
332-334 King's Rd, London SW3 5UR
Park Level, Crossrail Place, Canary Wharf, London E14
The Diner
What could be more American than a classic burger? True to form, The Diner branches across London will be delivering the Waffle Gobbler burger stuffed with shredded turkey leg, cranberries and cream cheese and served between two sweet potato waffles. Wowzer.
For those wanting to venture away from the fast food staple (though this is no classic burger) the chain will also be serving Pigs in Blankets Mac’n’Cheese as well as a brand new Ginger Bread shake. Bookings are being taken now but fear not, the offer is running right through until Christmas.
Where: 2 Jamestown Rd, London NW1 7BY
The Diner's Waffle Gobbler
Balthazar
Covent Garden’s very own New York brasserie is offering a three course menu for Thanksgiving priced at £55. Diners can choose from spiced butternut squash soup or winter kale salad, followed by traditional roasted turkey or baked cod with a thyme and Parmesan crust. And to finish you’ll get to decide between pecan pie or pumpkin cheesecake, while next door their Boulangerie will have iced-pumpkin chocolate-chip cookies and pumpkin tarts on display.
Where: 4-6 Russell St, London WC2B 5HZ
Balthazar's Pecan Pie
Brewhouse & Kitchen
If you’re looking for a fun event with some nice extras then Islington’s Brewhouse & Kitchen will sort you out. Not only is the microbrewery and gastropub laying on a two course meal with roast turkey, buttered mash, maple candied yams, green bean & fried onion casserole, cranberry jelly and gravy followed by Pumpkin Pie and whipped cream, you’ll also get to specially taste 5 American craft beers, including their very own Chaplin’ American Style IPA and Harpoon UFO White Witbier - all for £29.95 per person! The event starts at 7:30pm and tickets are limited so book quickly.
Where: Torrens St, London EC1V 1NQ
Brewhouse and Kitchen's Thanksgiving package
Bodeans
Finally, we’ve no doubt you’ll be Thanking Bodeans when you give their Pilgrim burger a try. This true mega whopper features a 6oz turkey patty, turkey ham, corn stuffing and cranberry. But hurry, it’s only available for a limited time, from 23rd - 29th November.
Where: 10 Poland St, W1F 8PZ
Bodean's Pilgrim Burger
Q Grill
This Camden eatery will be displaying it's Thanksgiving wares for one night only on the 26th. For £35 you'll be treated to Des McDonal's three course menu consisting of all the usual Stateside staples. Get ready to indulge in turkey with bone marrow-whipped Yukon Gold potatoes, squash and kale gratin, creamed corn and cranberry stuffing or Truffled mac, before a roasted pumpkin gsoup or house smoked goat's cheese of course. Followed by not just one or the other, but a pumpkin AND pecan tart. As Charlie Sheen would say: "Winning."
Where: 29 - 33 Chalk Farm Rd, London NW1 8AJ
Q Grill's Pumpkin and Pecan Pie
The Lockhart
At the Lockhart, located close to Hyde Park, sharing dishes will give a much more intimate, family style to dining in true traditional Thanksgiving form. Here, Mississippi’s very own Brad McDonald has curated an array of turkey with bourbon gravy, oyster and country-ham stuffing, mashed potatoes, pecan-roasted sweet potatoes and collard greens. A glass of American sparkling wine will also be included in the £50 pricetag. And no Thanksgiving feast would be complete without pumpkin pie – here it’s served in McDonald’s very own Southern style.
Where: 22-24 Seymour Pl, London W1H 7NL
The Lockhart's Pumpkin Pie
Pont St Thanksgiving Feast
The Diner's Waffle Gobbler
Balthazar's Pecan Pie
Brewhouse and Kitchen's Thanksgiving package
Bodean's Pilgrim Burger
Q Grill's Pumpkin and Pecan Pie
The Lockhart's Pumpkin Pie