We both love theatre. Before Arshan was born, when we lived in central London, we were frequently seen running to catch a West End show in the evening. This obviously became difficult with a child and then we moved to outer London. Every once in a while we reminisce those days and wish we could go back. So when we stumbled upon the “Show & Stay” offer from Amba hotel and Fawlty Towers, we immediately decided to go.
The “Show & Stay” package consists of entry tickets for two to the Faulty Towers The Dining Experience (which is a 2-hour evening performance with 3-course dinner) and overnight stay for two at the Amba Hotel Charing Cross with breakfast.
We have stayed at Amba hotel before in a junior suite which was amazing so we had an idea of what to expect. Check in time was a tad bit late at 3PM but the receptionist was lovely and handed over 3 room key cards in no time. You get a double room in this package which is quite large. You get all the things expected from a 4 star hotel like king size bed, complementary bar, complementary coffee, smart TV, a personalized iPad, local magazines, in room breakfast/dining option etc. The room and bathroom were spotless, the bed very comfortable and the decor modern and very tasteful. The view from the room was also decent as we could see both the London Eye and the Shard. Within 10 minutes of checking in I got a call from reception asking if everything was ok. I appreciate these little things and I think they add to the satisfaction level and value of a hotel.
Dinner was at 6:30 with pre-dinner drinks starting from 6PM at the bar. We left Arshan with one of our friends and hurried down. We were comfortable knowing Arshan was just a few floors above us. Soon Basil, Sybil and Manuel arrived and the fun started. One by one they led us to our dining table. I wore a Star Wars t-shirt and was picked on even before I made it to the table. Be prepared to be picked on hard. We were picked on several times and we loved it. Seriously, if you are easily offended and expect political correctness everywhere then this show is not for you. Otherwise, the show is one hilarious roller coaster of laughter and all three actors were brilliant and captured the essence of the original Fawlty Towers. I’ll be honest. I wasn’t aware of the original Fawlty Towers show before this. So if you haven’t seen the show, I strongly recommend that you watch the first episode on Youtube before you go. This will greatly add to your appreciation of the experience. We are glad we did. From the reviews in Trip Advisor I was a bit skeptical about the food quality but I am happy to report that food was really good. It was a 3 course meal with soup and bread as starter, main was a choice between chicken breast or vegetarian option and dessert was chocolate mousse or fruits. I doubt you will need top-up to be full after this. Besides, you don’t come here for the food.
Next morning at breakfast, we kept remembering and discussing the night before. Breakfast was good with buffet option of English breakfast, cereals, cheese, smoked salmon, variety of breads, juices and tea. We checked out at 12 feeling very happy and entertained.
At £265, this isn’t the cheapest experience out there. But the “Show & Stay” package is not really for Londoners. It is targeted towards people who are celebrating something and want a memorable day/night out and for guests visiting London. Except us, all the people at our table were from outside of London, here to celebrate something. Considering this, I think the package offers excellent value for money. Regular ticket prices are £59.00 Thursday/Sunday dinner and £69.00 Friday-Saturday dinner.
I highly recommend this hotel to anyone wanting to stay near Central London the show to anyone looking for a good laugh.
