First Theatre Café Diner opens in London

Pictures: Jack Malin

The UK’s first Theatre Café Diner has opened in the heart of London’s theatreland. Covering two floors at 154 Shaftesbury Avenue, The Theatre Café Diner aims to offer a full theatrical dining experience mixing classic high quality diner food with a waiting team singing musical theatre classics and walls covered in theatrical memorabilia.

The latest venture from London’s first theatre-themed coffee shop, The Theatre Café, the Theatre Café Diner will operate alongside its sister venue and will also be used to host special events including West End Musical brunches and live performances from the stars of the West End and Broadway. The Diner will offer an exclusive space to book for special theatrical events.

Commenting on the new venture, Joe Davey, managing director and founder of Theatre Café, said: “I was truly overwhelmed by the response when we announced The Theatre Cafe Diner. It’s been a really exciting few months full of hard work in order to make sure that we have created a place that will be seen as a key beacon within London’s iconic theatre scene. I can’t wait for everyone to visit so that they can sample the great food, experience the incredible space and be entertained by our amazing new all-singing team in what promises to be a diner like no other.”

The new diner has exclusive areas themed to some of the West End’s favourite productions including Cats, & Juliet, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Shrek The Musical, Kinky Boots and Frozen The Musical. The walls are covered in theatrical memorabilia with exclusive costumes and props from the biggest shows gracing London’s West End. Superfans can also book two special booths custom-designed to celebrate hit shows Six and Heathers The Musical as well as a table in The Theatre Café Diner’s Royal Box, where customers overlook the special Yellow Brick Road stage.

The menu at the new restaurant offers classic diner food and drink with the usual The Theatre Café twist including ‘You Make Me Feel Like a Nacho-ral Woman’ (crispy corn tortilla chips, melted cheddar, jalapenos, salsa and sour cream), ‘I’m Getting Calamari-ed in the Morning’ (battered calamari served with sweet chilli mayo), ‘The B.L.T. That Goes Wrong’ (wholemeal toast sandwich with vegan rashers, vegan mayo, lettuce & tomato), ‘La Vegan Boheme!’ (vegan patty in a burger bun with lettuce, tomato, ketchup, yellow mustard, pickles and diced onion) and ‘G-ribs-abella, The Glamour Rack’ (rack of ribs with BBQ sauce, served with curly fries and creamy coleslaw).

Launched in January 2015, The Theatre Café in Shaftesbury rapidly became a popular destination for theatre lovers and tourists visiting London’s West End.

Already a popular part of London’s theatre district, The Theatre Café took up residence in a new larger space at 99 St Martin’s Lane in June 2019.

The Theatre Café also operates a Theatre Café Merchandise shop at 188 Shaftesbury Avenue, as well as several ticket outlets in the area, which with its new name of The Theatre Café Tickets (formerly family-run ticket agency, London Theatre Bookings) celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.

Angela Thomas