Dinner and Theatre....

PrincessPink_2

Hello everyone.
Has anyone ever booked a Theatre and Dinner package with Lastminute.com? There are some good offers available that Im looking at and a dinner and show package for the show/date and time I want and was wondering if its any good? Im a worrier and concerned I would be panicking and rushing to the show. Also....worried the tickets may not be at the Theatre when I get there!! Any idvice appreciated!? Thank you

mbamick

I booked one of these deals about two years ago. The meal was in a restaurant, less than 400 yards from the Theatre; it was a 2-course affair, which was OK - but nothing special. The meal was available between 1700 - 1930 hrs. we had a similar concern, so were there for about 1715 hrs - and out again by 1800 hrs.

The tickets were waiting at the box-office, but were situated high up [in the Gods].
Lastminute must have been doing these deals for 5 years or more by now, so you'd expect it to be a pretty slick set-up. I think your concerns are unfounded, but I would take a few moments to choose a pacvkage that offers a decent seat.

Enjoy the show(s).

PrincessPink_2

Thank you mbamick! I appreciate your advice! My concern is the of seats I will have included in the package. Im assuming its very unlikely that good seats are given away with the meal package.

There is an offer on with Lastminute.com with half price ticket offers. I am wondering if its worth paying £22.50 for a ticket that is supposed to be £45 instead of paying £20 for a ticket and dinner offer and risk the chance of bad seats!?

mbamick

PrincessPink wrote:

My concern is the seats I will have included in the package. Im assuming its very unlikely that good seats are given away with the meal package.

I have just reviewed the lastminute.com page for half price tickets at here.

Let's use The Producers at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, as our example. By clicking on the link for that show, you can scrtoll down and find "ESSENTIAL INFORMATION", where the 3rd bullet point tells you that you are buying BALCONY SEATS, which would normally cost £20 per person.

We NEED to get a feel for the show and the seats, so let's go to Theatremonkey.com/. Click SEARCH BY VENUE NAME on the left-hand side, click on "T" to find THEATRE ROYAL DRURY LANE, then click on that theatre.

The page will give you a synopsis of the show, as well as a range of opinions & reviews that you may wish to read. CONTINUE TO SCROLL DOWN the page, and you'll come across Seat prices - showing that balcony Rows C - L cost £20 during the week. SCROLLING FURTHER DOWN you will find information on the BALCONY SEATS, and can also click on a SEATING PLAN.

This is the approach that I would take, to try and assure myself that I was getting value-for-money. It isn't fool-proof, Princess, but should increase confidence a little.

PrincessPink wrote:

I am wondering if its worth paying £22.50 for a ticket that is supposed to be £45 instead of paying £20 for a ticket and dinner offer and risk the chance of bad seats!?

I tend to go into Town far less these days, and often at short notice. So I ususally turn up at the Ticket Sellers in Leicester square, see what is available [and what Mrs Mick wants to watch], grab a bite to eat, then go to the show. Check it out at Leicester Square. You can only buy on the day, and you can use the ON SALE TODAY link on the left-hand side.

If I was being put on the spot, I'd suggest that Lastminute offer better deals - provided that you spend a few minutes researching the deal [including the restaurant for the meal]. Try and take the view that one doesn't make mistakes with something like this, one simply has a learning experience which could be good or not-so-good.

I sincerely hope yours is a good one, Princess.
Mick

LilacLillie

I've done a few of these. The seats have been both very good and very bad. I think it states (used to anyway) 'Best seats available', so that's anyone guess.
If there are empty seats around you when the show starts you can always move forward.
Once we were so far up we could barely see the show. Luckily it was The Rat Pack, so mostly singing (and I had seen it 9 times before!!), so wasn't as bad as if it'd had been a play.
As for the food, usually ok, set meal so cooked and ready, although again once it wasn't and we had to leave most of our main course.
I rang the manager the next day and complained. I said it had spoilt our evening and he agreed. Next day in post I had a complimentary voucher for a meal up to the value of £70.
Only paid £15.95 each for meal & show (tickets that time were v good), so was happy with the result.
Don't forget the drink prices are often high in these places as well, paid £3 for tap water before now!
If its for a special occasion I wouldn't take the risk, but if its just a night out, instead of in front of the box...................give it a go.
LL

rebl43

Hi, I did one of these meal and a show deals last month. The food was delicious (pizza express) and the show (blood brothers) was great, not brilliant seats but still well worth the money.
Have a great time!