What’s Free/Cheap? Free entry, Free tastings and recipe demonstrations.

What’s Cool about it? If you love cheese, wine or both, you’ll really enjoy yourself at the cheese and wine festival at the Southbank Centre. There will be over 250 of the finest cheeses and wines from across the globe for you to sample and purchase.

Additionally, delicious cheese dishes will be served such as addictive raclette and home made pasta, stunning cheesecakes and more. Other highlights include a cheese and chocolate pairing masterclass, and a cheese making and tasting experience. During this 3 day event, there’ll be plenty of demonstrations, tutored tastings, talks and book-signings.

See the timetable of events

Free entry, Fri 18-20 March 2011, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, City of London SE1 8XX, Map, Website

cc photo credit: [casey]

What’s Free/Cheap? Free wine, free course

What’s cool about it? Want to impress your friends or loved ones with your wine prowess? This free tasting session will teach you how to taste different wines from six different grapes whilst learning something new from a wine expert.

As if that wasn’t enough, you will be given a £10 money off voucher for wine in Sainsbury’s. This event will no doubt fill up quickly so get your ticket fast. Whether you want to do refine your pallet, learn something new or just enjoy some free wine make sure you don’t miss out.

Free, Register for a free ticket, Thurs 10 Feb 2011, Sainsbury’s Ladbroke Grove, Ladbroke Grove, London, W10 5AA

The Chocolate Festival is a unique event which gives visitors a special opportunity to enjoy a wide range of  free chocolate related products – as well as fine truffles, bars and bonbons, you will be able to buy savory food with chocolate, chocolate cakes, pancakes, ice cream, milkshakes and more.

Theres also loads of chocolate related events happening over this weekend including Free Chocolate tastings, Free lessons in how to pair chocolate with Port and cheese as well as baking and cooking demonstrations from professional chefs.

See a full list of what’s on.

Free Entry, Fri 10-12th Dec 2010, Fri 11am-8pm, Sat & Sun 11am-6pm, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX, Outside Behind Royal Festival Hall, Map, Website

cc photo credit: Chocolates by William Curley

Ah, pho. How I love thee. Dost thou cheer me on a rainy day? Why yes, thou dost. Dost thou cheer me in the snow? Why yes, indeed, thou dost! Dost thine rice noodles slide down mine throat to sit in mine belly, followed closely by thine sweet broth and tender morsels of meat, and dost mine mind crave thee even still, though it hast been mere hours since I last supped upon thee? WHY YES. THOU DOST. Pho, thine sweet taste shall evermore takest first place in mine heart, and verily, it is most truest, in my belly. This is how I love thee, even on a sunny day, dear pho.

If you hadn’t guessed by now, I’m waxing lyrical over my love for pho, I am pretty much in love with it. So imagine my complete mindgasm when I discovered that Mien Tay in Shoreditch not only do amazing pho (the noodles are chewy, the broth is fragrant, and the meat is juicy and succulent) but cheap too. Starters and mains, along with complimentary rice crackers and segmented orange at the beginning and end of the meal, came to a grand total of £10/head (excluding alcohol), and portions are enormous. That, my friends, is value for money. And did I mention that I love pho?

Mien Tay, 122 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch, London E2 8DP

Read the full review and see some more fotografias over at I Am A Feeder.

Us Brits are known for loving a brew, and since winter has descended upon us, what could be better on a cold day than a warm cuppa? Whether your xmas shopping or just around town head down to Portobello Road’s ‘Coach House’.

You can sample teas, enjoy cakes and biscuits and be involved in an authentic gongfu cha tea ritual; all in the warmth minutes away from Portobello Road market. Enjoy tea crafted with passion such as the vintage Emperor Pu Erh 1998 which can be coupled with a freshly baked patisserie that uses tea as an ingredient.

Free, Sunday 5th December, 12pm-4pm, Teanamu, Coach House, 14A St Luke’s Road, London, W11 1DP, website

cc photo credit: yomi955

The Great Christmas Pudding race in aid of Cancer Research UK has been running for over three decades and includes dedicated teams of accountants, male voice choirs and hairdressers all attempting to negotiate balloons of flour, foam and stripy cones without dropping the Christmas puddings delicately balanced on their plates.

Held every year at Covent Garden its a wonderful opportunity for the great British public to make a public spectacle of themselves and to make money for charity.

Free to Watch, Sat 4th Dec 2010,  11.15am, Covent Garden Market, Map,  Website

cc photo credit: Jamespeek

Are you a Movember, one of those gentlemen who are growing a moustache this month (and getting sponsored for it) to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation?

If so, head to Frae between Nov 24th-30th, put your moustached picture on their Polaroid wall and Frae will offer you a free frozen yogurt as well as donate 50 pence to the good cause.

Free frozen yogurt for Movembers, Nov 24th-30th 2010, Frae, 47 Notting Hill Gate, London, W11 3JS Map, Website

cc photo credit: cuttlefish

By registering with Movember.com and raising at least £25, you will be entitled to a free hamburger at any Byron restaurant, every day of Movember, from 3–7pm

In addition, since Movember encourages men to change their appearance, Byron are doing likewise and introducing a special hamburger for the month. They’ll donate 50p** from the sale of each “Mighty Mo” to Movember.

The offer runs from Nov 1–30 2010 and is restricted to one hamburger per day from the main menu

Free, Mon 1st-30th Nov 2010, 3-7pm, Byron stores, Store finder

The ETM group of pubs across London will be holding a 10p sale to celebrate their 10th Birthday! Ten selected food and drink items will be only 10p to order – but you have to be quick, be behind the bar between 10pm-10.15pm!

Meals include crispy belly of pork and beer battered fish and chips. Drinks include wine, beer or soft drinks, they are however, limited to just two per person – to avoid the obvious most likely!

The offer is available across the following 8 pubs in London

The Gun Docklands

Prince Arthur (London Fields)

The Cadogan Arms (Chelsea)

The Empress of India (Victora Park)

Down the Well (Clerkenwell)

The White Swan (Chancery Lane)

10p meals, Mon 15th-21st Nov 2010, 10pm-10.15pm, various locations above. Website

Its free waffle time! All courtesy of Wafflemeister, who’ll be giving away delicious home-made Belgian waffles  from 1.30pm-5.30pm on Friday 19th Nov in celebration of their third store opening  in Notting Hill.

The new store is on Portobello Road and will be serving free waffles from 1.30pm-5.30pm, plenty of time to get in there!

Free Waffles, Fri 19th Nov 2010, 1.30pm-5.30pm, Wafflemeister, 137 Portobello Road, W1, Map, Website

cc photo credit: norwichnuts