Freak Scene Takes Over Soho: The Boldest Pop-Up of 2025
Soho has a new heartbeat this summer, loud, unapologetic, and irresistibly flavour-packed. From July to November 2025, Scott Hallsworth’s Freak Scene has taken over the ground floor of 100 Wardour Street in an exclusive collaboration with The Evolv Collection, marking the cult pan-Asian concept’s return to the very heart of London’s nightlife and dining scene.
Known for its rebellious energy and audacious flavours, Freak Scene is not a restaurant that whispers. It shouts. Think Chilli crab wonton bombs, the now-legendary Red curry duck donuts, miso-grilled hispi cabbage, and a four-course sharing feast that ranges from scorched edamame to BBQ pork belly buns, finishing with a sweet finale that is equal parts daring and delicious. Every dish carries the signature Hallsworth twist: bold, playful, and with a wink of irreverence.
This latest iteration at 100 Wardour Street is steeped in the same unapologetic energy that has defined Hallsworth’s cooking since his early days. A former Nobu Head Chef and the founder of Kurobuta, Hallsworth has spent his career fusing Japanese izakaya culture with Aussie swagger, redefining what pan-Asian dining can look and sound like. Freak Scene is not just a meal, it is a full-on sensory experience.
Yesterday, 4 September 2025, we were among a select group of press and influencers invited to an exclusive preview of the new Soho pop-up. From the moment we stepped through the doors of 100 Wardour Street, the space throbbed with energy. Graffiti-splashed bathrooms, hip-hop beats, and the irreverent charm of a venue steeped in history, once home to the legendary Marquee Club, set the stage for a dining experience that feels equal parts theatre, club, and culinary adventure.
The pop-up menu itself is a celebration of Scott Hallsworth’s genre-defying style. Signature favourites sit alongside new creations crafted for Soho. The omakase-style sharers are perfect for adventurous groups, while the playful twists on classics ensure that both long-time fans and newcomers leave with something memorable. Saturdays bring back Freak Scene’s famed brunch, a lively, almost chaotic affair where pan-Asian plates, bottomless drinks, and a party-like atmosphere make brunch feel more like an afterparty.
For Martin Williams, CEO of The Evolv Collection, the collaboration signals a fresh chapter. “I’ve been a fan of Scott’s restaurants and food since his Kurobuta days. His creativity, edge and attention to flavour have always set him apart. We’re proud to host Freak Scene at 100 Wardour Street as the only Asian concept in our portfolio. It is a partnership that makes perfect sense and promises an exciting future,” he says. Williams, formerly of Rare Restaurants, has already made waves in London hospitality with projects like the expansion of Bluebird at South Place Hotel and the creation of the Bluebird Club members concept. This collaboration with Hallsworth is his first strategic partnership at Evolv and clearly signals a move towards bold, modern, and culturally attuned dining experiences.
The choice of 100 Wardour Street as a home for Freak Scene is fitting. The venue carries Soho’s rich cultural history, from the Marquee Club to Mezzo, and more recently, a hotspot for live music and weekend brunches. The space’s versatility and vibrancy perfectly complement Freak Scene’s high-energy, genre-bending culinary style.
But beyond the location and menu, Freak Scene is about attitude. It is about flavour with a wink, dining with a pulse, and an experience that refuses to be conventional. This Soho pop-up promises all of this in spades, delivering dishes that are as visually striking as they are delicious, all wrapped up in the kind of unapologetic swagger that has made Scott Hallsworth a cult favourite.
Founded in 2017, Freak Scene has permanent locations in Fulham and Balham, yet this Soho residency feels like a homecoming. It is a return to a central London stage where Hallsworth’s energy can interact with the city’s eclectic, daring diners. With The Evolv Collection behind it, the collaboration elevates both the brand and the venue, creating something that feels timely, exciting, and entirely of the moment.
Whether you are a Soho regular or a curious visitor, Freak Scene x 100 Wardour Street is more than a pop-up. It is an invitation to dive headfirst into a riot of tastes, textures, and energy. Bold flavours, signature music, and unmistakable attitude converge here, making it a must-visit destination this autumn.
The pop-up runs until the end of November 2025, and bookings can be made via freakscene.100wardourst.com. Expect to leave with full bellies, high spirits, and perhaps a little astonished by how much a meal can feel like an event. Freak Scene is not just a restaurant. It is a movement. Soho has its pulse back, and it is loud, irreverent, and delicious.
