Prelude at Norwich Theatre Royal is an absolute find. I’d walked past the shiny gold doors whilst attending a previous performance and even had a snoop inside at the beautiful modern Art deco surrounds but hadn’t really given it another thought. Why? Well honestly because it looked so posh I’d wrote it off as somewhere for the fancy to go or for a one off special celebration.
I was wrong, this is affordable luxury at its very best and folks like us can enjoy the locally sourced freshly cooked food at a relaxed pace before going to a show. You don’t feel rushed at all because the table is yours for the entire evening. I shouldn’t have worried about our late arrival… Andy nearly drove the roof box into the underground carpark! The table is yours for two hours pre show so there’s plenty of time to be fashionably late.
Interval drinks and dessert orders can be all ready for you. There’s even a cheese and Cognac option post show or coffee is you prefer. Perfect for discussing how epic Effie was in Dreamgirls before performing you’re own rendition of ‘Youre Gonna Love me’ in the carpark, or maybe that’s just me. Regardless its great way to dine out before seeing a show!
The Food
Andy had the fishcakes to start and I plumped for the Marsh Pig Chucuterie board. I love that they are using small local businesses. Both starters were well presented and my bread was soft and warm. Portion sizes were just right which meant we went for all three courses. At £25 for three courses or £21 for two I think its great value for such a fab experience to boot.
For Mains Andy went for the burger, he’s so predictable. The chunky chips were a hit along with the carrot coleslaw. I went for Hake and Chorizo with new potatoes the flavours contrasted nicely. The sauce was a little bit unseasoned for me but nothing a little sprinkle of salt couldn’t solve. Again both were well presented and just the right size so no food waste. I might of helped Andy out with a chip or two, purely for research purposes of course.
Although our bellies were already quite full, we soldiered on and both ordered pudding, which arrived promptly and looked amazing. I’m not usually a desert fan but the Bakewell Tart with stem ginger ice cream was a flavour combination I had to try and it did not disappoint. Andy went for the Chocolate Cheesecake brought together with raspberry coulis sauce. He ooo’ed and ahhh’d through every mouthfull and I can concur it was pretty splendid.
Post show Elle our waitress convinced us to share a cheeseboard and it was the perfect end to a great night. We decided to pass on the Cognac this time its was a school night after all.
Drinks
Drinks are competitive priced especially for a theatre venue. A glass of prosecco will set you back £7 and a latte just £2.70. There’s some decent wines listed too. I would of liked to see some more local gins and spirits as we have such a wealth in Norfolk and my prosecco could have been colder but that really is my only slight niggle.
The venue looks like it has recently been renovated its fresh and clean with plenty of light and an art deco feel with lovely plush chairs in the windows. If you can, try to request a window seat we loved watching the theatre guests arriving in anticipation for the show.
Toilets
The toilets were clean, functional and located in the restaurant so literally no queue in the interval huzzah!
Accessibility
The restaurant is up about 6 steps from the ground floor. It’s quite spacious, and the main seating area isn’t fixed so moving around shouldn’t be problematic. The toilets are located near the door. The staff are incredible helpful and accommodating.
Service
The staff in Prelude at Norwich Theatre Royal were really nice, and the food and drinks we ordered were produced promptly. Regular check ups and a friendly relaxed manner. Nothing was too much trouble. Our waitress Elle made me feel really comfortable in what initially felt quite daunting especially as i’d ran in alone. she looked after us all evening, made great suggestions and you could see she really enjoyed her job and being part of Prelude team.
Prelude at Norwich Theatre Royal Summary
Prelude at Norwich Theatre Royal feels luxurious without the bougie price tag. This is down to the excellent service, fresh surroundings, relaxed atmosphere and a space that’s completely yours for the whole evening.
The food is locally sourced, promptly served and scrummy. Portion sizes are just right so you can take advantage of the set course price tag. We’ve been told the menu changes quite regularly and although not extensive there was a good selection including vegetarian/vegan options. We were asked as soon as we sat down whether we had any dietary requirements and I’m quietly confident that if we had these could have been accommodated.
We will definitely be back we loved the whole experience. It wasn’t like your typical pre show meal at a nearby chain, served with an anxious wait for the bill to ensure you’re at the theatre on time. The Prelude team perfectly executed the whole night so you felt relaxed and like Theatre Royal VIPS.
We’d recommend to book well in advance (along with your tickets) to avoid any disapointment.
Thanks for Having us Prelude. It was a dreamy evening!
Disclaimer: Prelude at Norwich Theatre Royal invited us to experience their restaurant but as always my words are my own.