It is Christmas Eve, 1843. Snow falls outside, candles flicker, and in a West Kensington parlour, Charles Dickens is about to unveil a story that will change festive tradition forever. This winter, Londoners are invited to step through a hidden door and experience The Great Christmas Feast, a dining and theatre event that combines performance, live music and Victorian hospitality.
Running from 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, the show transforms The Lost Estate’s home into Dickens’ world. Guests become the first audience to hear A Christmas Carol, seated around candlelit tables as the tale of Scrooge, Marley and Tiny Tim unfolds in a mix of storytelling, music and feasting.At the heart of the performance is David Alwyn (Secret Cinema, War of the Worlds Immersive Experience), who takes on the role of Dickens, slipping between narrator and character as the story unfolds. His performance is underscored by a live score from composer Steffan Rees, performed by violinist Guy Button, percussionist Beth Higham-Edwards and cellist Kieran Carteron. The music shapes the atmosphere throughout the night, adding depth to both the lively and quieter moments.Food is central to the experience. Executive Chef Ashley Clarke (Gordon Ramsay Group, SmokeStak, Temper Soho) has designed a menu that draws on the flavours of Victorian London. Starters include potted rare breed beef, hot smoked salmon or potted cheese, followed by a main of confit Gressingham duck leg with festive trimmings or a vegetarian pithivier of king oyster mushroom. Dessert is traditional Christmas pudding with brandy ice cream, while the drinks menu offers wine, ale and seasonal cocktails including the Smoking Bishop, the Pear Tree Cup and the Rumfustian.The setting, designed by Darling & Edge (Gingerline, Secret Cinema), takes audiences into a snow-dusted Victorian world of lantern-lit alleys and Dickens’ richly decorated parlour. Victorian waitstaff serve throughout, heightening the sense of stepping back in time. Director Simon Pittman (Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre) returns for his fourth year with the production, reimagining the parlour and its atmosphere for a new season.The Great Christmas Feast runs from 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026 at The Lost Estate, West Kensington. Tickets start from £139.50, with higher tier options available.
