In preparation for their second UK opening, Marugame Udon will be taking over London’s iconic O2 arena to celebrate joyful Japanese culture with MARUGAME MATSURI ​​祭り (the Japanese term for festival). On Saturday 23rd October, Marugame Udon invites Greenwich locals and O2 visitors around the UK to honor Japanese culture with an exciting programme of drummers, calligraphers, and shamisen performances, along with the restaurant’s lively open kitchen serving up oodles of Japanese noodles.

On a mission to introduce udon to all, Marugame Udon will give away 502 FREE bowls of steaming hot udon on Saturday 23rd October. New to the UK, Marugame Udon O2 will also launch a Kids ‘Chibi’ menu, which is the Japanese phrase for small. The menu will offer one Chibi bowl, juice, piece of fruit and activity pack all for just £4.95. Chibi bowls will include Chicken Paitan, Beef Nikutama, Curry Udon plus many more – perfect for keeping kids happy during the upcoming October Half-Term.

After a successful opening at Liverpool Street which saw hundreds of hungry diners’ queue across the opening month, Marugame is bringing the party to the O2 for their second launch. MARUGAME MATSURI ​​祭り will give Londoners a glimpse into a traditional Japanese festival, combining solemn rituals with joyful celebration of music, arts, dance, and delicious food. The line-up will include Taiko Drummers 太鼓, a fascinating form of music that ensembles rhythmic drumming and choreographed moves that has been a part of Japanese culture for centuries; Shodo Japanese Calligraphy 書道, one of the oldest and most profound traditional art forms in Japan and a way of life to express beauty and writing; and a traditional Shamisen Performance by Hibiki, Akari and Luke from DENSHONEN.

The 4,500 sq ft Marugame Udon restaurant at The O2 with 150 covers is the second UK site since launching in the capital with their debut Liverpool Street restaurant in July 2021. Keep an eye out on @marugameuk over the coming weeks to grab your free Udon bowl and join the Marugame Club to collect ‘Bowl Stamps’ on each visit to earn treats and rewards. Visit www.marugame.co.uk/jointheclub.