A trip to the theatre wouldn’t be the same without a bite to eat; be it from a brilliant chippy or a three-course dinner. Here we give you the ultimate guide for the best places to eat near your local theatre...
1. Bep Viet
@BepVietUK
📍Close to New Victoria Theatre, Woking
If you are seeing a matinee show, Bep Viet is an excellent choice. Open from 9am-5pm, this family-run Vietnamese restaurant is incredibly good value and very authentic. Seating is only available outside, but takeaway is available; it’s worth it for the generous Satay Chicken Banh Mi for only £5 or the enormous and satisfying Duck Pho for just £5.
2. Latino
@latinoitalianrestaurant
📍Close to New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Latino is an independent Italian restaurant, located only a five-minute walk from the theatre. Pasta is particularly good and gluten-free pasta is available on request. Latino opens at 5 pm, so easy for a quick bite before a show, or there is an excellent set menu at lunchtime for only £10.95 for two courses or £13.95 for three.
3. Jeitta Restaurant
@JeittaLebaneseRestaurant
📍Close to New Victoria Theatre, Woking
Jeitta is a very authentic Lebanese restaurant a two-minute walk from the theatre. The Moutabal is rich and smoky, the Falafel are crispy and they have a brilliant Lamb Shawarma wrap for just £5. There is no alcohol served, but you can bring your own bottle for just £3 per person. They are open all day, every day, so perfect for a pre or post-dinner.
4. Franco Manca
@FrancoMancaPizza
📍Close to Orange Tree Theatre and Richmond Theatres
Franco Manca might be part of an emerging chain, but it is well worth a visit as it is simply a brilliant and authentic pizzeria. The Richmond branch is an eight-minute walk from the theatres. The choice is not extensive; there are only seven pizzas, but the quality of ingredients is consistently high and there are always specials. Prices start from a paltry £5 and the branch is open all day from 11.30am.
5. Bacco
bacco-restaurant.co.uk
📍Close to Orange Tree Theatre and Richmond Theatres
Bacco is a lovely independent Italian restaurant literally opposite the Orange Tree Theatre and a five-minute walk from Richmond Theatre. They have a smart dining room and a nice outdoor terrace. A pre-theatre menu is offered at lunchtime and then from 5pm-7pm for £14.50 for two courses or £17.50 for three. Much of the pasta is homemade and the Zucchini Fritti are legendary.
6. The Duke
http://www.foodandfuel.co.uk
📍Close to Orange Tree Theatre and Richmond Theatres
The Duke is a traditional, yet smart and cosy pub just off Richmond Green, a five-minute walk from the theatres. They offer a two-course dinner for £12.50, with the addition of pudding for £15.50. This is served 5.30pm-6.45pm. They do excellent platters if sharing is your thing and have an extensive wine list.
7. Cappadocia
@CappadociaRestaurant
📍Close to Rose Theatre, Kingston
Cappadocia is well-established and incredibly popular Turkish restaurant in the heart of Kingston, about a ten-minute walk from the Rose Theatre. It is always busy, due to the authentic menu and buzzy atmosphere fostered over nearly twenty years. Their Pide (Turkish pizza) is particularly good.
8. Riverside Vegetaria
@RiversideVegetaria
📍Close to Rose Theatre, Kingston
Riverside Vegetaria has been serving excellent and imaginative vegetarian food to the people of Kingston since 1989. Located a two-minute walk along the river from the theatre and open all day, this is a perfect place to try something a bit different. The Masala Dosa is particularly flavoursome and the organic Jamaican Stew is spicy and zingy. Most of their excellent wine list is also vegan and/or organic.
9. Chakra
@CHAKRALONDON
📍Close to Rose Theatre, Kingston
With another branch in Kensington, Chakra is an excellent Indian restaurant, only a 7-minute walk from the theatre. Situated right on the riverside, they offer a huge amount of vegetarian and vegan dishes, as well as a fabulous Butter Chicken and a wide range of Indian street food. They open from 5.30pm Monday to Thursday and all day Friday and Saturday.
10. La Casita
@petters_molly
📍Close to Yvonne Arnaud/GLive, Guildford
Meaning ‘little house’ in Spanish, La Casita is a very popular and good value tapas restaurant, a short walk from the Yvonne Arnaud theatre. Dishes are varied and very authentic with great seafood and an extensive paella selection. If you are heading for a matinee show, they offer a great value set menu from 12pm-3pm, Monday to Saturday. For just £10.95 you get two selected tapas and a glass of wine or a soft drink.
11. The Albany
@guildfordalbany!
📍Close to Yvonne Arnaud/GLive, Guildford
The Albany is a buzzy pub located just a minute from GLive. If you show your ticket for any show at GLive, you get 25% off your food bill, so this is a great option if you want good-value pub grub. There is nothing fancy about the menu, but popular dishes such as Fish and Chips and Sausage and Mash always hit the spot.
12. Rum Wong
@RumwongGuildford
📍Close to Yvonne Arnaud/GLive, Guildford
Located right next to GLive, Rum Wong has been turning out authentic Thai food since 1976. Food is fresh, authentic and delicious and service is always extra-courteous. They provide the usual curries and Thai fish cakes, but they also have an amazing selection of vibrant and spicy fresh salads that can be made less hot, if that’s not to your taste. Their special pre-theatre menu is just £11.95, served from 6-7.30pm.
13. Stage Door
https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk
📍Close to New Wimbledon Theatre
Stage Door is an eclectic, family-run steakhouse that was established in 1984. In addition to a huge variety of steaks, they also offer an extensive Greek-Cypriot menu, with excellent mezze dishes. Situated right opposite the theatre, they open at 5 pm, so perfect for a pre-show bite.
14. The Vintage Fish
@vintagefish1
📍Close to New Wimbledon Theatre
The Vintage Fish is more than just your average chippy. Serving only sustainable fish, it gets daily deliveries from Billingsgate fish market. They offer takeaway, which you can order using their app, but also have a lovely, bright restaurant with a brilliant range of dishes for fish-lovers. They also do fantastic handmade pies too. The restaurant is located about a 10-minute walk from the theatre and they are open from midday until 10 pm every day except Sunday.
15. Mai Thai
@maithaiwimbledon
📍Close to New Wimbledon Theatre
Mai Thai is located one minute from the theatre and has been serving high-quality Thai cuisine for over 30 years. Unlike a lot of Thai restaurants, they also have a good wine list. They don’t have a specific pre-theatre menu, but are open from 5 pm Monday to Saturday and are open all day Sunday.
16. The Lyric Bar and Grill
https://www.bookatable.co.uk
📍Close to The Lyric, Hammersmith
The Lyric theatre has its own Bar and Grill, located on their roof. The very pretty terrace offers cracking views and a short, but interesting menu. The theatre also has an innovative option to choose pre-theatre food when you book your tickets, with homemade burgers, chips and either a draught beer, small glass of house wine or soft drink for only £12.50 per person.
17. La Petite Bretagne
@lapetitebretagne
📍Close to The Lyric, Hammersmith
If you are tired of artisan burgers or sushi, La Petite Bretagne offers a delightful alternative, just a one-minute walk from the theatre. This atmospheric restaurant is a sweet little French creperie, serving a wide range of excellent sweet and savoury crepes. All crepes are made to order and as they use buckwheat flour, all are gluten-free too. Open every day from 8 am until 10 pm.
18. Patri
@PatriRestaurant
📍Close to The Lyric, Hammersmith
Patri, named after the Indian railway lines, is an excellent and authentic Indian street food restaurant, only a six-minute walk from the theatre. Food is based on what can be found at India’s railway stations and onboard its trains. Dishes such as Girlfriend Chaat (which is cooked on the platform and handed to travellers through the train windows) are delicious and layered with flavour. Patri offers a generous pre/post theatre ‘Share and Chaat’ menu from £21.95.
