Victorian ghosts, candlelit banquets, and live cello under gaslight—no, this isn’t your average Christmas party. This winter, The Lost Estate invites Londoners to cross a snow-dusted threshold and step back in time to 1843, when Charles Dickens first uttered the immortal words: “Marley was dead, to begin with.” And just like that, The Great Christmas Feast begins.
Returning for its eighth sold-out season, this immersive dining experience has quietly become one of London’s great festive cult hits. Now open for bookings, the 2025 edition promises its most ambitious yet—melding storytelling, music, and gastronomy into a theatrical tour de force that places you, quite literally, in Dickens’ parlour on Christmas Eve.
A Christmas Carol Like You’ve Never Seen (or Tasted) Before
Yes, you’ve heard the tale. But you’ve never feasted your way through it—until now.
Running from 14 November 2025 to 4 January 2026, The Great Christmas Feast doesn’t just retell A Christmas Carol—it resurrects it. As a guest in Charles Dickens’ home, you’ll dine with fellow Victorians while the author himself (played by the captivating David Alwyn) performs his brand-new ghost story, shifting seamlessly between narrator and character. Scrooge grumbles. Marley wails. Tiny Tim melts hearts. You reach for your drink.
Immersive Dining Meets West End Magic
Produced by The Lost Estate—the minds behind immersive experiences that feel like time travel—the production fuses theatre, music, and fine dining into one unforgettable evening. Each element elevates the next: a script that sings, live music that stirs, and a menu that seduces.
Let’s start with the food. Executive Chef Ashley Clarke (formerly of Gordon Ramsay Group and SmokeStak) has crafted a three-course Victorian banquet that echoes the flavours of Dickensian London.
Starters like hot smoked salmon or potted rare breed beef evoke London’s bustling 19th-century markets. Mains include confit Gressingham duck leg or a hearty vegetarian mushroom pithivier, served with seasonal trimmings. And yes, there’s traditional Christmas pudding, topped with brandy ice cream. Even the drinks menu gets theatrical, featuring a “Smoking Bishop” punch, “Pear Tree Cup,” and the wonderfully named “Rumfustian”.
A Score That Moves the Room
While Dickens weaves his tale, a cinematic live score flows through the space—composed by Steffan Rees and performed by a three-piece ensemble. Violin, percussion, and cello combine to form an emotional backbone that breathes life into the performance.
Whether it’s a ghostly crescendo or a quiet moment by the fire, the music doesn’t just accompany—it directs your emotions. It’s no exaggeration to say you’ll feel each note before you hear it.
Enter the Portal: Inside The Lost Estate
Located just off West Kensington’s Beaumont Avenue, The Lost Estate’s venue is a Victorian fever dream brought to life by set designers Darling & Edge (Gingerline, Crystal Maze, Secret Cinema). Guests enter through gas-lit alleys and snow-kissed courtyards, arriving at a richly dressed parlour where velvet, lace, and woodsmoke dominate.
Service is handled by fully costumed Victorian staff, who never break character and always pour with flourish. It’s not just immersive theatre—it’s an atmospheric spell that holds you from arrival to final bite.
A London Christmas Tradition in the Making
With glowing reviews from The Stage and GQ, The Great Christmas Feast is more than just a dinner and a show. It’s a modern ritual, tucked inside London’s festive season. And while tourists head to Winter Wonderland, in-the-know Londoners seek out something deeper—something cinematic, communal, and oddly comforting in its ghostliness.
This is a multi-sensory journey into the soul of Christmas, and perhaps the only place in London where your dinner table becomes a front-row seat to literary history.
Book Your Seat at the Table (Before It Vanishes)
Tickets for The Great Christmas Feast are already vanishing faster than the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Here’s how the experience breaks down:
Classic Dining – From £139.50
Includes shared tables, three-course feast, and the full immersive experience.
Charlie’s Circle – From £179.50
Private table, welcome drink, coat check, and added perks.
Charlie’s Circle Royale – From £249.50
All the above plus champagne, canapés, digestif, and priority everything.
Evenings run Tuesday to Sunday in November, and daily in December, with matinees on weekends and holidays. Book via: christmasfeast.thelostestate.com
Why The Great Christmas Feast Matters
In an era of TikTok “experiences” and overpriced gimmicks, The Great Christmas Feast dares to be different. It’s slow theatre. It’s thoughtful food. It’s history lovingly reimagined through candlelight and craft.
Above all, it’s a reminder that stories—especially ghostly, generous ones—can still bring people together over food, music, and the shared wonder of a well-told tale.
This Christmas, escape the chaos. Walk into a story. Sit at the table. And let Dickens do the rest.