Balthazar to celebrate Independence Day with a pie throwing pop-up

American restaurant Balthazar is encouraging Londoners to throw a pie in the face of their friends, colleagues or family as part of Independence Day celebrations on July 4.

The Covent Garden venue, which opened in New York in 1997 before launching its London outpost five years ago, is hosting a week-long celebration of the US holiday with a focus on pies.

Next Wednesday, on July 4 itself, Balthazar will transform into “The American Pie Shop” with Londoners encouraged to drop in and throw a pie in someone’s face.

Diners will be encouraged to pie friends, colleagues or loved ones by using a giant installation based on the children’s game Pie Face. Players put a cream pie or a wet sponge on the mechanical hand, which catapults the mess into their faces at random. The restaurant will also be selling a range of treats as part of the #yougotpied week in honour of Independence Day.

It will sell a range of individual and giant pies in flavours like key lime, banoffee, apple & blueberry, pear and plum and a New York cheesecake.

Each will be served with a choice of cream, ice cream or custard and can be ordered in advance for any July 4 parties. Pre-orders start tomorrow.

Head pastry chef and pie creator Regis Beauregard said Balthazar will be “exploring our American roots and having a bit of fun!”

4-6 Russell St, WC2B 5HZ, balthazarlondon.com