This November, Dishoom and Permit Room will celebrate Diwali with their biggest programme to date. Celebrations will span a house party at Dishoom Borough and two intimate supper clubs with chef Vikas Khanna of acclaimed New York restaurant Bungalow, alongside a special Diwali menu, creative workshops and neon light installations by contemporary artist Chila Kumari Burman MBE. Evenings at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Brighton’s Royal Pavilion will complete the programme.
In Bombay and across the world, Diwali, otherwise known as the Festival of Lights, brings evenings aglow with diyas and homes full of familiar voices. Families gather, neighbours arrive with boxes of mithai, and conversations linger as fireworks crackle overhead. It’s a time for open doors, second helpings and fresh beginnings.
A DIWALI HOUSE PARTY AT DISHOOM BOROUGH
This year, Dishoom will host its annual London Diwali celebration at its newest home, Dishoom Borough. From 7–11pm on Thursday 5th November, both floors of the café will come alive for a house party filled with feasting, music and dancing.
Sip on tasty tipples through the evening, receive intricate mehendi, craft beautiful take-homes, play late-night games or squeeze into a photo booth with friends. Back-to-back DJ sets will also soundtrack the evening, with a dedicated space upstairs for those ready to take to the dance floor.
Inspired by the generous Diwali spreads shared in homes across India, food stations will be laden with crisp samosas, crunchy bhel and tangy chaat with generous helpings of curry and fragrant biryani served throughout the evening.
Tickets are £25 per person and go live for sale on Monday, 12th October on the Dishoom website.
CHILA KUMARI SINGH BURMAN’S LIGHT INSTALLATION
The celebrations extend beyond the cafe with a selection of neon installations by contemporary artist Chila Kumari Singh Burman MBE, on display outside Dishoom Borough from the end of October until the end of December.
Having previously illuminated the façade of Tate Britain, Chila will bring her exuberant use of colour and light to Dishoom’s newest café, drawing inspiration from Bollywood, South Asian popular culture and her Punjabi heritage. Her works will bathe the building and its surroundings in a joyful glow, as the evenings draw in.
A WEEKEND OF DIWALI WORKSHOPS AT DISHOOM BOROUGH
From Friday 6th to Sunday 8th November, Dishoom Borough’s semi-private dining room will host a series of bookable Diwali workshops.
Friday begins with the latest Chai Pe Charcha at 11:30am, led by Dishoom co-founder Kavi Thakrar. Guests are invited to join a morning of lively conversation over warming chai, with tickets priced at £5 and all proceeds donated to Seeds of Peace. All guests will receive a goody bag, along with Chai and Bun Maska on arrival.
On Saturday from 2-5pm, multidisciplinary artist and somatic coach Poonam Dhuffer will lead a wellness-focused zine-making workshop (£35 per person including all zine-making materials, bottomless chai and snacks; ages 18 and over). The weekend will conclude on Sunday with children’s author Chitra Soundar leading a family morning of Diwali storytelling and card-making (£7.50 per person, including bottomless chai for grown-ups, juice or Mango Lassi for little ones and Bun Maska for everyone; tickets are designed for children aged 4 to 9).
BUNGALOW & DISHOOM SUPPER CLUB
For two evenings this November, Dishoom will welcome Michelin-starred chef Vikas Khanna of acclaimed New York Indian restaurant, Bungalow. This exclusive collaboration will take over Dishoom Shoreditch’s verandah on Tuesday 3rd November, followed by Dishoom Canary Wharf on Wednesday 4th November.
Chef Vikas will host both evenings alongside Dishoom’s Chef Arun Tilak, serving a feasting menu that includes Dishoom’s iconic House Black Daal and a creamy Makhani Kofta. At the heart of the supper lies Bungalow’s Spice-Roasted Pineapple Curry
A limited-edition range of co-branded merchandise, including a mithai box, shacket, t-shirt and cap, will be available to purchase at both the Shoreditch and Canary Wharf cafés.
Each supper club will run from 7pm -9:30pm. Tickets are £60 per person, including the feasting menu, a soft drinks pairing and an item from the collaboration’s merchandise. Tickets will be available to purchase from the 12th of October on the Dishoom website.
From Monday 2nd to Sunday 15th November, Bungalow’s Spice-Roasted Pineapple Curry will join the menu at every Dishoom café, both à la carte and as part of a great-value Diwali Feast Set Menu for two, alongside Makhani Kofta, tender dumplings in a rich, creamy tomato sauce. Permit Room will serve Malai Kofta with Lachha Naan, which will also be available on Deliveroo from both Dishoom and Permit Room.
DIWALI AT BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
For the second year running, Dishoom will bring its Diwali celebrations to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, filling the landmark venue with an evening of South Asian creativity on Monday 2nd November.
From 7–11.30pm, the venue will host a line-up of South Asian creatives and musicians curated by BBC Asian Network , bringing guests together for an evening of storytelling, music and celebration.
Tickets are £35 and include a belly-filling vegetarian or vegan feast and complimentary chai, along with mehendi – for all who seek it. Tickets are available to purchase via the Dishoom website here.
DIWALI AT BRIGHTON’S ROYAL PAVILION
On Thursday 12th November, Permit Room will take the party to one of Brighton’s most beloved landmarks. From 7–11pm, guests will gather for a welcome drinks reception in the Pavilion’s Music Room, before moving through to the Banqueting Room for a vegetarian three-course party spread cooked by Permit Room’s chefs
There’ll be wine, ice-cold Kingfisher and pours of Paul John whisky to keep glasses full, with live music from The Mehfil Space throughout the evening and a closing nightcap to send guests on their way.Just 90 tickets are available at £85 per person, with Royal Pavilion members receiving 15% off. Tickets are available to purchase via the Royal Pavilion here.
