Key Points
- Long-standing Lewisham restaurant Babur has launched a limited-edition botanical menu titled “Together in Bloom” to celebrate two milestone anniversaries in South London.
- The collaboration marks the 125th anniversary of the Horniman Museum and Gardens and the 41st anniversary of Babur.
- Developed by Executive Chef Jiwan Lal and Head Mixologist Rupam Talukdar, the menu runs from 17 July to 20 September.
- Culinary creations feature locally grown herbs and botanicals—including wild lavender, catmint, thyme, and rosemary—blended with traditional Indian spices.
- Key dishes include Devon crab tartlet, filo-coated hung yoghurt kebab, charcoal-grilled pandan chicken tikka, and tandoori rack of lamb with a catmint jus.
- The culinary partnership incorporates a retail component, offering a commemorative gift set of two bottled cocktails available at both venue shop locations.
Lewisham (South London News) August 12, 2026– Long-standing South London Indian restaurant Babur has officially unveiled a limited-edition culinary menu titled “Together in Bloom” to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Horniman Museum and Gardens alongside its own 41st anniversary. Running from 17 July to 20 September, the botanical-infused menu incorporates fresh herbs and flora inspired directly by the historic 16-acre display gardens located in Forest Hill.
As reported by Emily Davison of London Now, the special menu was crafted through a direct collaboration between Babur’s Executive Chef Jiwan Lal and Head Mixologist Rupam Talukdar.
The culinary offering is available as both a multi-course tasting menu and an à la carte selection, blending signature Indian spice profiles with botanicals such as wild lavender, catmint, thyme, and rosemary.
According to reporting by The Upcoming, the joint venture originated from a site visit to the Horniman Gardens last year, designed as a community-led initiative to celebrate local heritage in the Borough of Lewisham. As detailed by founder Emdad Rahman in statement provided to The Upcoming:
“With every year Babur celebrates another milestone, we reflect on what it truly means to be part of this community. Forest Hill has given so much to us over the years, and our 41st year is all about giving thanks”.
What Dishes And Drinks Feature On The “Together In Bloom” Menu?
As outlined by Emily Davison of London Now, the food menu showcases a series of inventive starter, main, and dessert options tailored to emulate garden flora. Among the starters, the menu features a Devon crab tartlet served with brown butter, roasted garlic, and chives, alongside a crispy filo-coated spiced hung yoghurt kebab accompanied by pink peppercorn, dill oil, and roasted green mango jelly.
For the main courses, diners are offered options such as:
- Charcoal-grilled pandan chicken tikka paired with mustard mayonnaise and mint-coriander sauce.
- Dark spiced lamb neck accompanied by blue cheese and rosemary naan.
- Pan-seared sea bream served with a green mango-coconut sauce and samphire fritter.
- Roasted beetroot and goat’s cheese dumpling.
- Tandoori rack of lamb with mixed lentil kedgeree, wild thyme, pumpkin seeds, and catmint jus.
To refresh the palate between courses, the restaurant serves a kiwi and basil lolly. The menu’s cocktail selection, designed by Rupam Talukdar, heavily incorporates garden botanicals. Furthermore, as reported by The Upcoming, Babur and the Horniman Museum are selling a commemorative gift set featuring two bottled cocktails for £12.95, available across both locations.
How Did The Local Institutions Collaborate On This Project?
The collaboration represents a structural partnership between two of Lewisham’s most prominent cultural and culinary entities.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens originally opened in 1901 following a gift by tea trader and philanthropist Frederick John Horniman. The site houses roughly 350,000 objects alongside its acclaimed display gardens, Butterfly House, and animal walk.
Babur, established in 1985 in Forest Hill, has operated in the neighbourhood for over four decades. The restaurant holds two AA Rosettes, was awarded Best Restaurant at the Mayor of Lewisham Business Awards, and has frequently appeared on lists of top UK curry establishments.
Executive Chef Jiwan Lal and Head Mixologist Rupam Talukdar utilized the natural surroundings of the museum to influence ingredient selection, weaving localized herbs into classical Indian cooking techniques.
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Background Of The Particular Development
The Horniman Museum and Gardens reached its 125th anniversary milestone as an iconic South London institution, having grown from a private collection into a major public museum attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually.
Throughout its history, the museum’s gardens have served as a living educational archive, featuring specialized botanical beds, medicinal gardens, and ecological conservation displays.
Simultaneously, the UK hospitality sector, particularly independent dining establishments in Outer London boroughs, has faced evolving economic landscapes over the last decade.
Restaurants like Babur have increasingly turned toward localized heritage storytelling and cross-sector partnerships to foster customer loyalty and boost local footfall.
Community partnerships between cultural spaces and hospitality businesses in London have expanded post-pandemic as institutions seek mutually beneficial promotional platforms.
By linking gastronomy directly to local history and horticulture, independent operators leverage shared heritage to construct distinct brand experiences that stand out in competitive urban food markets.
Prediction: How This Development Can Affect South London Diners And The Local Economy
This collaborative development is likely to deliver measurable impacts across several target groups within the local ecosystem:
- Impact on Local Diners and Food Enthusiasts: Resident food lovers in Lewisham and broader South London gain access to an immersive, hyper-local dining concept that bridges culture and cuisine. The novelty of botanical Indian gastronomy encourages higher engagement from seasonal diners seeking experiential dining without traveling to central London.
- Impact on Cultural Tourism and Footfall: The cross-promotional tie-in, bolstered by retail merchandise like the co-branded cocktail gift set, creates a direct pipeline between day visitors at the Horniman Museum and evening patrons at local dining spots. This symbiotic relationship drives sustained footfall to Forest Hill’s high street businesses during the summer season.
- Impact on the Regional Hospitality Industry: Successful execution of the “Together in Bloom” campaign offers a clear blueprint for suburban independent businesses. It demonstrates how local cultural assets can be integrated into menu development to generate media interest, deepen community investment, and differentiate independent restaurants against chain competitors.
