Faulty Towers the Dining Experience

Comedy

West End

Charing Cross Hotel

Until Thu Oct 31

FaultyTowers-Manuel fire 5.jpg

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Time Out says

Wed Oct 31 2012

Farty Towels; Watery Fowls; Flowery Twats; the misspelling of Fawlty Towers's sign was a marvellous running gag. It was never spelt with a 'u', though, as it is in 'Faulty Towers the Dining Experience'. But despite being an unofficial tribute to John Cleese's legendary '70s sitcom, this interactive dinner-show – created by Australian company Interactive Theatre International –?captures the programme's spirit surprisingly well.

Having ordered our drinks at the pricey bar, Basil Faulty (with a 'u', remember) calls each dining group to be seated. My scruffy clothes didn't go down well with the neurotic host. 'Haven't you heard of a shirt and tie?' he asked, disgusted, before directing us to table seven.

Basil, Sybil and Manuel (Polly's 'got the night off', we're told) act as waiting staff, wandering between tables, interacting with guests, and performing longer set-pieces between courses which loosely recreate classic scenes from the series – pet rat, fire drill, goose-stepping etc. The trio are convincing impersonators, expertly nailing Cleese, Scales and Sachs's voices and mannerisms, and mingle seamlessly with the diners, making sure to involve each guest but never humiliate them.

What's disappointing is the lack of a through-line. The skits are hardly linked, meaning the evening doesn't build to much of a conclusion. The food, too, isn't exactly haute cuisine. The soup was tasty, but the chicken and vegetables main course was bland and cheap. But I guess that's faithful to the Towers 'experience'. Despite its flaws, this tribute show is exactly what it sets out to be; a good, solid, fun night out for fans of the sitcom. Just don't ask for more rolls; Manuel looked dizzy enough after one.

10

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Venue details

MAP

Name:
Charing Cross Hotel
Address:
Charing Cross Hotel The Strand
WC2N 5HX

Transport:
Tube: Charing Cross; Rail: Charing Cross
Map
1. Charing Cross Hotel
  - The Strand
    WC2N 5HX
  - 51.508360,-0.124778

Event phone:
0845 1544 145
Event website:
www.faultytowers-uk.com

Categories:
Theatre. West End. Comedy

Faulty Towers the Dining Experience 2013

Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May

Date Time Price information
Thu Jun 20

19:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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Fri Jun 21

19:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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Sat Jun 22

13:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets

19:30
Sun Jun 23

18:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets
Tue Jun 25

19:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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Wed Jun 26

19:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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Thu Jun 27

19:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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Fri Jun 28

19:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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Sat Jun 29

13:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
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19:30
Sun Jun 30

18:30

£43.50-£54, £39-£42 concs. Runs 2hrs
Buy tickets

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Comments & ratings

(6 ratings)

I should like to come to the F.T Dining experience on Sunday 30th June at 6pm as a surprise for my husband's 66th birthday. Have you got availability please and what will be the cost for two over 60 year olds (my husband and myself?) a husband and wife in their 40s; and two daughters of eleven years old? My mobile number is 07711981614? Please remember this is a surprise!! Many thanks. Glenda Powell

Mrs. Glenda Powell About 11 days ago
Rated as: 4/5
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I should like to come to the F.T. Dining-Experience on Sunday 30th June at 6pm as a surprise celebration for my husband's 66th birthday. have you got availability please and what will be the cost for two people (i.e. my husband and myself who are over 60; a husband and wife who are in their 40s; and two eleven year old girls (total six people)?? Please let me know asap. My mobile number is 07711981614. Many thanks in advance. Glenda Powell

Mrs. Glenda Powell About 11 days ago
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visited london to see our daughter ,while we were there booked 4 tickets for a tuesday night show A fantastic show from start to finish. We were on a table with other diners from abroad but it made for a great night as they did not know what to expect .The players were superb the sketches very funny. Have booked to see them at The Hostess Restaurant when they come to Mansfield in Oct . Geoff

geoff walker Tue Jun 4
Rated as: 5/5
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Great night ...full of unexpected surprises. Non stop laughs. Food was what you would expect in Fawlty Towers so don't go expecting haute cuisine. Throughly recommend...a must.

Kate Sun May 26
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Food = Average Experience = Incredible It really is an outstanding, immersive, hilarious show. Best night out in London right now.

Scott Thu Mar 28
Rated as: 5/5
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Best night out in London I've had in ages. Hilarious! http://www.myhiddengems.co.uk/2013/01/fawlty-towers-dining-experience-london/

Maxine Wed Jan 16
Rated as: 5/5
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Really loved all the actors but the food was really cheap (like the real fawlty towers I guess). Leek and potato soup followed by a small chicken breast with mash that required a knife and fork. Pudding was a floppy mousse cake masquerading as a cheesecake. But would Basil have had the front to charge £30.00 for a bottle of sulphate rich Nobilo Sauvignon blanc (you can get six bottles at Tesco for the same price, that's a ridiculous mark-up). Christmas table decor would have been a really nice touch too..

Anon Sat Dec 15 2012
Rated as: 3/5
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Looking to get a group together for this.... Will be much more fun in a group and we can all be as troublesome as we wish...

Esther Wed Dec 5 2012
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Utterly brilliant. The service is appalling, the staff rude and incompetent as you would expect. The food is basic but fine (drinks are extortionate) and is really incidental to the show, which is superbly acted; it's difficult to tell the cast from the originals. After the show, had a chat with 'Basil' who said it's about 60% improvised on the night, which keeps things fresh. It worked well and we were of course delighted to see some goose-stepping and anti-German ranting, a loose rat and Manuel being beaten up. Absolutely hilarious and a top night out (unless you're German)!

Chimney Ben Mon Nov 5 2012
Rated as: 5/5
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Thought you should know that this is the show that consistently gets five star reviews all over the world: 'a sidesplitting show.. outstanding' (FringeReview at Adelaide Fringe), 'utterly delicious entertainment' (Edinburgh Evening News), 'Cleese would be delighted' (The Public Reviews, London West End 2011). Check out the reviews on the website: www.interactivetheatre.com.au

Geri Thu Sep 20 2012
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