March 30, 2020
Bunga Bunga Battersea- the revival of an entertainment institution
I had the pleasure to attend the VIP launch of Bunga Bunga Battersea’s new look and entertainment line up on behalf of Luxuria Lifestyle.
Bunga Bunga is renowned for its clever mix of Italian cliches and irreverent entertainment. With one of their restaurants right by Battersea Bridge and the other one in the heart of Covent Garden, Bunga Bunga is one of the few places in town where you can eat, drink and be entertained all under one roof making it a buzzing and celebrity-filled late-night party destination as well as one of the City’s most-loved boozy brunch spots.
With the start of the new decade, the club was given a new dazzling look with new gold, red and black touches channelling old-school luxurious Italian glamour with a whole lot of tongue-in-cheek (in typical Bunga Bunga style) as well as a new menu offering and a fantastic line-up for all those looking to let their hair (and their voices down) throughout the week.
Our evening was a sweet sampling of what Bunga Bunga guests will enjoy starting from this month.
We started the night with a non-stopping flow of selected cocktails (including the never-out-of-fashion Spritz) and a taste of their ‘Fat Tony’ unlimited pizza offering which will delight customers every Tuesday evening.
Delicious slices of pizza will, in fact, be served by the metre in a variety of mouthwatering flavours and quirky names (including Italian Fun-guy, Julius Cheesar and Mona’s Pizza), with quite a few options for vegetarians and vegans.
The night soon turned into a full-on cabaret show with short versions of what will be the weekly entertainment lineup that stays true to Bunga Bunga karaoke roots but with new tongue-in-cheek twists inspired by legendary talent shows, musical bingo experiences and singalongs.
Singo Bingo will take the stage every Wednesday when madness, confetti, dancing and the chance to win some fabulous prizes are to be expected. The evening is hosted by resident Mamma Bunga and her son Luigi, who will entertain guests with a revisited (and, let me add, certainly more fun) version of the classic bingo.
‘Bunga in Their Eyes’ will be the competition to light up the stage every Thursday when selected guests have the chance to pick from a list of 20 well-renowned superstars and perform in a convincing makeover and the winners have a chance to win fabulous prizes (a trip to Italy was up for winning during the launch night!).
Fridays will be dedicated to sing-along time with ‘Singa-longa-Bunga’, where guests will be able to choose between over a thousand popular hits and sing with their friends and other guests. Karaoke has always been at the centre of the restaurant’s entertainment and they are taking it to the next level by bringing in new songs, sound systems and their fun and oh-so-extra Bunga touch.
Needless to say that all this top-class entertainment will be accompanied by their signature pizzas, friendly and attentive service along with the extensive list of themed cocktails, both regular and to share (our table tried ‘The Leaning Tower of Pisa’- a twist on piña colada served in an actual tower- both incredible looking and delicious), that will get you in the right mood to join the crowd and, why not, extend your night onto their gorgeous new club.
Our was only a glimpse of what a Bunga Bunga night could be and by the end, it felt like being part of an insane and hilarious family (in true Italian style) where everyone danced, sang and enjoyed life together.
Bunga Bunga has been at the heart of London’s entertainment for almost 10 years and they have just proven once again that they are here to stay.
Written by Marta Fabiani for Luxuria Lifestyle London and International