From Heroes Lounge drinks to Ricky Gervais’s signature digs at modern life, Rob Rees enjoys an evening of live entertainment, done properly…
There are worse ways to spend a Friday night than watching Ricky Gervais from a plush seat on the ALL Accor Terrace at Wembley. A chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc in one hand, the low hum of 12,000 people waiting for the lights to drop – this was comedy with a touch of luxury.
Who — or what — is ALL Accor?
ALL, short for Accor Live Limitless, is the loyalty programme of the French hotel group behind names like Sofitel, Fairmont and Pullman. But it’s more than a way to earn points for your own free private nights away. Members can book access to concerts, chef masterclasses and major sporting events around the world. In short, it’s hospitality that follows you out of the hotel lobby and into real life — and, on this occasion, to a sold-out comedy arena to enjoy Reading’s most comedic and controversial export.
The ALL Terrace at Wembley
Access began at a discreet VIP entrance tucked behind the OVO Arena. No queues, no jostling, just a quick check-in and a wristband for the Heroes Lounge. Inside, the atmosphere was calm and clubby: soft lighting, helpful staff and enough time for an stress-free, pre-show drink in comfort before the doors opened.
From there, the ALL Terrace itself was a revelation – roomy velvet seats, table service and a commanding view across the stage. The deal includes three drinks and a food item, which might not sound extravagant but feels very civilised when you’re sipping a proper glass of wine while the crowd below wrestles with their pints and waits in line for dodgy hotdogs.
If you’ve ever wished for a concert or comedy night that didn’t involve sticky floors and endless queues, this is it. The combination of space, service and comfort makes live entertainment feel like a treat again, especially after a hard day in the office or a mad dash up to Wembley.
Ricky Gervais: sharp, familiar, funny
And then came Gervais. His new show, Mortality, promises a meditation on life and death but is really an hour and a half of classic Gervais – swaggering, sardonic and irreverent. He strides the stage, tin of Fosters lager in hand, poking at the sacred cows of social media, celebrity, religion and political correctness.
When he’s good, he’s still very good. There are moments that cut through the noise: jokes about ageing, death and the absurdity of modern virtue-signalling that land with a satisfying thud of recognition. Insights into his five times as compère for the Golden Globes depict Hollywood in all its vain ridiculousness. His timing remains impeccable, and his mock-indignant delivery keeps the arena roaring.
A lot of the show feels familiar but somewhat unstructured – riffs on cancel culture, the perils of saying the wrong thing, the ever-shifting moral high ground of the internet. The provocation is polished but no longer shocking; Gervais knows his audience and gives them what they came for. It’s more a scattergun rant than a tightly structured 90 minutes. But from the comfort of the ALL Terrace, that hardly mattered. The sheer occasion – the lights, the laughter, the sense of shared mischief – reminded me why Gervais can still fill arenas.
I was lucky to enjoy an overnight stay at Accor’s Novotel on Olympic Way, a 5 minute walk back from Wembley Arena. It’s perfectly located opposite Box Park, the casual dining emporium. There’s ample parking under the hotel. Rooms were generously sized and the view of the floodlit Wembley arch will excite even the most cynical visitor. The hearty English breakfast – with perfect poached eggs cooked to order – banished any lingering indulgences.
The verdict
As a night out, it all clicked. The ALL Terrace turned what could have been another crowded gig into a genuinely enjoyable, classy experience: no fuss, no queues, just good food, better views and a brilliant show.
Mortality might not be Gervais’s most daring work, but it’s a night of solid laughs from a comic who remains unrepentantly himself. Paired with the ease and comfort of Accor’s hospitality, it made for a reminder that a great evening isn’t just about what you see on stage — it’s about how you see it.
If this is what “Limitless” looks like, I’m happy to sign up and make this my “go to” for future gigs.
For more information about Limitless members programme and the benefits at ALL Accor, please visit ALL.com.
For more information about Novotel Wembley, visit www.all.accor.com. And for details about Ovo Arena Wembley, including information about futures shows and what’s on, please visit www.ovoarena.co.uk.
