A short walk from the Hippodrome stage door

Before the curtain

Why eat here before the Hippodrome

The Birmingham Hippodrome is the country's biggest receiving theatre outside London — a 1,900-seat house running musicals, ballet, opera, comedy and panto. Curtain is usually 7:30 pm; matinee shows run 1 or 2:30 pm. The Hippodrome sits at the bottom of Hurst Street; we're up at St Martin's Square by the Bullring, a short walk away — about seven to eight minutes, straight down Hurst Street.

That means: you can finish dessert, walk down to the theatre in under ten minutes, and be in your seat in good time. We've run this rhythm with hundreds of theatre tables since 2018 — it works.

How it works

Three courses before 5, à la carte after

Eating before a matinee, or getting in early for an evening show? The Pre-Dinner Special is £24.99 a head — any starter, any main, and a Vietnamese coffee or dessert — served every day from 12pm to 5pm. There's nothing to book and no voucher to bring: just tell your server when you sit down. It's the same kitchen and the same full menu, so a theatre table can still run summer rolls, a bowl each and a coffee to finish.

For a 7:30 curtain you'll most likely be sitting down after 5, and that's à la carte off the full Vietnamese menu with the courses paced to the clock. Either way, tell us your show time when you book — and flag any dietary needs and we'll point you to the right dishes.

Drinks run at the same pace as the kitchen — cocktails from £9.50, a Lychee Cooler or Rhubarb Breeze poured to land before your starters do. The team keeps an eye on the clock so you're not waiting on a bill at 7:20 pm.

Timing

When to book if your curtain is at 7:30

5:30 pm — comfortable. 90 minutes for three courses and a drink, unhurried, time for a slow Vietnamese coffee at the end. Recommended.

6 pm — works fine. The kitchen pulls a bit faster but the table is unhurried. Most theatre tables sit here.

6:15 pm — tight but possible if you stick to two courses. Recommended if you want a drink and a pho before a 7:30 curtain.

After 6:30 pm — pop in for a one-bowl pre-show. Pho or bun cha plus a cocktail, out the door in 35-40 minutes. Just flag the curtain at the table.

After the show

Late seats and matinee turnarounds

Matinee crowds (1 pm and 2:30 pm) eat with us before the show or after — the kitchen runs continuously through the afternoon, so a 4:30 pm post-matinee dinner is no problem. Evening shows: better to eat before — a 7:30 curtain ends around 10 pm, after Mon–Thu last orders at 9:30 (8:30 on Sunday). Fri/Sat the kitchen runs later; call 0121 798 1426 if you want a late table.

Getting between us and the theatre

Walking, parking, the practicals

Walking from us to the Hippodrome: out onto St Martin's Square and straight down Hurst Street — about seven to eight minutes. From the theatre back to us is the same in reverse. Parking: the Bullring car park is closest to us; the Hippodrome's Thorp Street car park is best for the theatre end and cheaper for the longer evening; book it online before you arrive.

Public transport: Grand Central / New Street is a 5-minute walk, all buses via Moor Street Queensway are a few minutes. After-show taxis: there's a rank on Hurst Street; Uber works fine, pickup from St Martin's Square or the Bullring.

Book it

Lock the table now

Bookings via the widget — pick a date, tell us the curtain time in the notes, we do the rest.