Hammersmith Hot Pot Night Picker: A Pot Before the Gig

Hammersmith on a gig night has its own energy. Fans in tour shirts spill out of the Tube from early evening, queues form along the side of the Apollo, and the pubs around the Broadway fill up fast. This hot pot night picker is for a group of friends who want a proper meal before the music instead of a sad sandwich in the queue. A shared pot sounds like a slow dinner, but with a little planning it fits comfortably into the gap between leaving work and the first song.

It is tempting to grab a burger on the way to a gig, but a hot pot does a much better job of setting up a long night on your feet. The broth is warming, the protein keeps you going through a two-hour set, and noodles at the end give you the energy for the encore. Sharing a pot also turns the hour before a show into part of the night out rather than a rushed refuelling stop.

It is a great way to gather a group that has come from different directions. Friends from across London meet over the steam, compare setlist predictions and argue about which album they want played. By the time you walk to the venue, the group feels like it has been together all evening.

The secret to a pre-gig pot is planning backwards. Check the door time and the time the main act is expected on stage, then decide whether you care about the support band. If you do, aim to sit down for dinner around two hours before doors. If you are happy to skip the opener, you have a more relaxed window after doors open.

Allow about an hour and a quarter for the meal itself, plus time to settle the bill and walk over. Hot pot can easily stretch to two hours when everyone is chatting, so agree on a leaving time when you sit down. Someone in the group should be the timekeeper, ideally the one who is most excited about the band.

Hammersmith has a lively mix of restaurants around the Broadway and King Street, and Chinese and pan-Asian kitchens are part of that mix. On a gig night, look for somewhere close enough to walk to the venue in a few minutes, with a relaxed room that does not mind a group arriving in leather jackets and band shirts.

Before you set off, open the Karpo APP and ask for hot pot places near Hammersmith that suit an early dinner for a group before a concert. Compare the suggestions with what other diners say about speed and atmosphere, and pick the one that sounds quickest and friendliest. Booking ahead helps on big show nights, when everyone has the same idea.

When time is short, order everything in one go rather than in waves. Choose a divided pot with one spicy and one mild broth so nobody has to compromise. Tomato broth is a popular mild choice, and it cooks noodles and beef beautifully. Add a few platters such as sliced beef or lamb, fish balls, tofu, mushrooms and a big plate of greens.

Skip slow ingredients such as whole potatoes, thick root vegetables or large pieces of corn, which need a long time in the broth. Thin meat slices, leafy greens and fish balls cook in moments. Order the noodles at the same time, then add them in the final fifteen minutes so you leave full but not sleepy.

A very spicy mala broth is a fun challenge on a normal night, but it may not be the best idea before standing in a crowded room for three hours. Choose a medium heat if you are going for the spicy side, and keep plenty of water at hand. The mild half of the pot is there for anyone whose stomach prefers a calmer evening.

Be careful with drinks too. A cold beer with hot pot is lovely, but the bar at the venue will be waiting for you later. Many fans prefer to stick to soft drinks, iced tea or soy milk with dinner, and save their beer for the show. It also makes the walk to the venue a lot more comfortable.

Hot pot steam clings to clothes, and nobody wants to stand in a packed crowd smelling of chilli oil. Ask the staff for a cover or a basket for coats and bags, or hang them as far from the pot as you can. If you are wearing a favourite band shirt, put your jacket on over it for the meal and take it off later.

Remember that many venues have strict rules on bag sizes, so travel light. Leave anything bulky at home rather than juggling it between dinner and the cloakroom queue. A small bag that fits under your chair at the restaurant is ideal. Keep your ticket on your phone or in an easy pocket so you can head straight to the door.

Ask for the bill about twenty minutes before you plan to leave, rather than waiting for the last noodle. Hot pot restaurants get busy at the same time as everyone else heading to the show, and the bill can take a while. Agree on how you will split it before the food arrives, so there is no last-minute debate while the doors are opening.

Walking to the venue is part of the build-up. Leave a few minutes early so you can join the queue calmly instead of jogging along the street in a cloud of steam. The crowd outside is usually friendly, and the warm glow from the pot will help on a cold evening while you shuffle towards the doors.

When the gig is over, the streets around the Broadway become crowded with fans heading for the Tube. Instead of joining the crush right away, walk a few minutes south to the Thames. The riverside path along the Lower Mall, lined with old pubs, boat clubs and handsome Georgian houses, is quiet at night and has fine views of the green towers of Hammersmith Bridge.

Walking west takes you towards Chiswick Mall, one of the prettiest stretches of river in London, where houseboats and old gardens line the bank. It is a calm way to come down from a loud show, talk about the best song of the night, and let the trains clear before you head home.