I grew up on a diet of Fawlty Towers; there were only 12 episodes ever made, and my three siblings and I used to watch the videos repeatedly, laughing our little heads off at the hilarious and ridiculous scenes.
So, when I got the chance to experience the spin-off, Faulty Towers, a two-hour immersive dining experience that swaps Torquay for Bloomsbury, London, I didn’t need any persuading.
The show has been running for more than 13 years, and while I won’t reveal all the jokes and scenes – much as I’d love to – I can say it was a riot from start to finish.
From the moment you arrive, you’re thrown headfirst into the gloriously dysfunctional world of Basil, Sybil and Manuel (no Polly, I’m afraid, or the Major).
The three-course meal is a celebration of 1970s beige (soup, chicken and potatoes, cheesecake), which may purposely sound unappealing, but it’s tasty, and of course fits the theme perfectly: it’s a lovingly recreated nod to the kind of meal you’d have received at Fawlty Towers.
As you dine, the performance takes place around you, in a suitably unremarkable hotel restaurant, with waiters (and chaos) popping up unexpectedly. The trio wander about, interacting with guests in the manner they might at the hotel. One moment you’re being asked to stack bowls, or if you’ve found false teeth in your soup, the next there’s a fire drill or Manuel showing off his ‘Siberian hamster’.
There’s lots of improvisation, too, to engage the guests. I was told off for wearing trainers (“this is a respectable establishment!” bellowed Basil), and a muscly young Spanish chap at our table was ridiculed by Basil – and then seduced by Sybil.
It’s communal seating, so unless you’re a group of four or more, you’ll be sat with other guests. We discovered that some had never seen Fawlty Towers, but were still roaring with laughter. They were probably rather alarmed at some of the jokes – which may not have aged so well in today’s society – but for my friend and I, and all the other folk older than us (one couple were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary), the nostalgia and humour make for an excellent night out.
The humour is constant and rapid-fire – misheard lines, awkward moments, innuendos and iconic quotes. Sybil sings “Happy Birthday” and “Happy Anniversary” to various tables, Basil storms about in a high-pitched fury, and Manuel’s confused loyalty brings it all to life. It’s theatrical, energetic, and often very physical – jumping, pointing, crouching, bordering on gymnastics.
In short, it’s bonkers, nostalgic and very funny. You’ll laugh, cringe and be surprised – and you’ll definitely want to rewatch the episodes afterwards. The evening ended with the old-fashioned theme tune, and we left grinning. If you’re after fine dining, look elsewhere. But if you want a brilliantly silly night of British comedy, the Faulty Towers Dining Experience delivers.
Just don’t expect things to go smoothly…
The Faulty Towers Dining Experience at the President Hotel, 56 Guilford St, London WC1N 1DP. For more information, and for bookings, please visit www.interactivetheatre.com.
