We don’t know about you, but we always feel like there’s something magical about the nights starting to draw in and the arrival of autumn and winter. While we love summer for getting us out in the fresh air, autumn make us want to cosy up with delicious food in a restaurant, wander twinkling city streets and spend the evening being transported to another world with live theatre.
Better still pair your evening of action and music with dinner, drinks and a stay and we reckon you’ve got the perfect date night or family getaway pre-Christmas. Ready to start planning your perfect weekend out? Leave it to us…
Cobbled streets and more independent cafes and restaurants than we could ever possibly list, St Albans has date night written all over it. Pair that with the range of live music and theatre on the cards at the Alban Arena this season, including this year's fun filled panto Peter Pan, a musical rendition of everyone's favourite Christmas movie Elf, and much much more. Enjoy pre-show dinner and drinks at The Ivy or Loft, or sip local brews from Mad Squirrel, before taking your seats. After all that, why not skip the last train home and spend the night at the stylish Sopwell House?
This December, Stevenage’s Gordon Craig Theatre will play host to a pantomime of dreams, with Sleeping Beauty! Begin your evening of music and magic with a dinner in the Stevenage Old Town in the elegant Rump and Wade brasserie and then round up your night with a stay in Hotel Cromwell’s independently styled rooms.
A Christmas Carol will be at The Old Town Theatre this November, creating plenty of festive magic for the whole family. Bring along the kids and follow the beloved story, retold in front of your eyes, with the magic of the season brought to life. Round off your evening with dinner in the cosy The Bricklayer's Arms in the nearby village of Flaunden and you’ve got an evening to remember.
Watersmeet Theatre brings you the heart warming tribute show of Buble by Candlelight to kick start your season. Allow the smooth melodies to bring the festivities to light, listening to some of the singer's best loved songs while surrounded by candlelight. Head to nearby ZaZa, an Italian food lover’s paradise, to tuck in to some of the best pizza around. While easy train links mean you can be soon be whisked home, we recommend making this into a full weekend with a stay in one of North Hill Farm’s glamourous glamping cabins.
It's behind you! Get transported to the magical world of wonder as Watford Palace Theatre brings you their rendition of Cinderella in this year's pantomime. Lost slippers, pumpkin carriages, and countdowns to midnight await in this year's live production of one of our childhood favourites. For pre-theatre drinks let BloomsYard, followed by dinner at The Florist continue the visual feast.
Watch the story of The Snowman unfold on stage this year at The Broadway Theatre, accompanied by The Hitchin Band to truly surround you with that festive spirit. Afterwards, we recommend heading to L'Artista for authentic Italian pizza and pasta - delicious and always a winner with the little ones!
The Christmas Panto has arrived! Round up your little ones and head to Campus West this Christmas to see a wonderful performance of Robin Hood. You'll be taken on a family adventure full of laughs and thrills, and to mark the the celebration of their 50th anniversary, you'll likely spot a sprinkle of magic in the air... Fancy grabbing some pre-theatre dinner? Close by you'll find many restaurants, also located near to Welwyn Garden City Station.
