Upon receiving an invitation to my first immersive dining encounter, I pondered its potential to entice and captivate audiences who typically opt for the more conventional pre-theatre meal followed by a West End show for a night’s entertainment in this great city of ours. The experience combines both, offering a convivial, entertaining, and tasty evening.

Gingerline has hosted various themed dining adventures over the years aiming to take you on an adventure where taste helps tell the story. Each of their productions pulls together an impressive list of experts in their fields - actors, chefs, set designers, artists and more to bring their vision to life.

Since 2010 Gingerline has been creating experiential dining experiences. In 2020 they set their sights on expanding their remarkable culinary journeys worldwide. After ventures in Shanghai, Shenhzen and Soeul, Korea they have landed back in London with a revamped version of their GRAND EXPEDITION experience, initially introduced in 2018. This updated version features fresh destinations, costumes, menus and a secretive new location (though they do hint at the general area upon booking). Throughout the reservation process, guess can specify any dietary restrictions and if booked separately they can request to dine with specific companions. While there is no dress code, attendees are given ideas to consider if you wish to dress to the theme of the evening.

Searching for the location leads you down a rather ordinary looking  mews-like East London street to the door of a shipping container structure, making the venue look misleadingly small, As you enter, one descends stairs and we began weaving, winding and ducking down a dimly lit corridor of suitcases and glowing hurricane lamps toward the Travel Emporium bar for a welcome cocktail, which you then carry through the “clouds” to a large warehouse where you find an impressive fleet of hot air balloons.

We met a couple who had travelled from Portsmouth and had attended many of these evenings. Meeting enthusiastic return customers boded well for what lay ahead.

After all the guests had settled in, we were welcomed over the speakers (with a few housekeeping notes) and the evenings proceedings began. Throughout the night audience participation is encouraged so one must arrive with the mind set of getting stuck in whenever possible. The hot air balloons are fired up (with the help of a giant match box set, a ladder and a few volunteer guests) - we have lift off! Guests are transported across the globe to far flung locations. As the fleet of hot air balloons travel between place to place, the space is transformed by the moving projections on the walls, the suspended table centrepieces, simple decorative changes around the room and the performer’s costumes.

Not to reveal too much of the details and ruin the surprise I can tell you it is an “Around the World 100 Minute Journey”, travelling without leaving your seat, eating, and drinking your way through the world, and no passport required!

The 4-course menu reflects the locations you visit beginning with the Coxhill’s Concoction which is poured from a teapot into a glass cup and saucer with an orange and herbal garnish and celeriac “sugar cubes” to add along with. In keeping with involving the audience, the miming gibberish speaking cast of performers will prompt different guests for each course to read a card introducing our new location and details of the dish in front of you. Some require assembling, others a sprinkle of a last ingredient to complete the dish. Everything was flavoursome and well considered. The evening was dotted with folk dances, theatrics, acrobatics and more, keeping everyone active and entertained throughout the evening.

With no basis of comparison, we asked our dining companions if it was as good as previous events. Overall, they were very happy but mentioned the seating arrangement slightly hampered one’s ability to participate in the same way as they had in the past.

As the evening ended everyone spilled out of the dreamworld we had just experienced into the night feeling very satisfied indeed.

Location: Film Shed, 28 Millers Avenue, Dalston, E8 2DS. Price: Tickets are available in Standard and VIP options starting from £99 per person. Book now. 

Words by Natascha Milsom