Events with spaces.

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THEATRE TRIPS ESSEX – EVENTS CALENDAR 2026–2028
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Please note
If you have an event booked but the date is no longer showing on this calendar, it is likely that the event is now fully booked.
If you have any questions, please email me rather than commenting on the page, just in case I miss your comment:
nicola@theatretripsessex.co.uk
nicolahaynes@yahoo.co.uk
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COACH ROUTES
Route 1
Southend • Westcliff • Leigh • Hadleigh • Benfleet • Basildon • Grays
Route 2
Canvey • Benfleet • Pitsea • Basildon • Grays
SEPTEMBER 2026
Sunday 20 September
The Lion King / Wicked
From £69.50
Matinee
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Wednesday 30 September
The Lion King
From £69.50
Evening
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OCTOBER 2026
Sunday 4 October
Symphonic Soul & Motown – Royal Albert Hall
£85.00
Evening
OR
The Play That Goes Wrong
£59.50
Evening
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Thursday 15 October
Choice of four West End shows – all matinees
Million Dollar Quartet – £79.50
Les Misérables – £79.50
Moulin Rouge! – £69.50
The Mousetrap – £65.00
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Saturday 17 October
Fawlty Towers: The Dining Experience
£89.50
Matinee
Meal and entertainment included
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Saturday 17 October
Who Killed Marilyn?
£75.00
Evening
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Saturday 17 October

Coach only, free time, drop off Embankment area/ Northumberland Avenue

£19.50

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Sunday 18 October
Love Never Dies Concert – London Palladium
£120.00
£50 deposit
Matinee
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Sunday 18 October
The Lion King
£69.50
Matinee
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Thursday 22 October
High School Musical
£79.50
Evening
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Friday 30 October
V&A Freddie Mercury Exhibition & Free Time in London
£21.50
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NOVEMBER 2026
Sunday 1 November
Peaky Blinders Experience
£65.00
Includes free time at Borough Market
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Wednesday 4 November
Choice of two shows – matinees
Oliver! – £95.00
Cabaret – £99.50
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Saturday 7 November
Choice of two shows – matinees
Wicked – £99.50
Hamilton – £130.00
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Sunday 8 November
Gilbert O’Sullivan
£99.00 total
£49.50 deposit + £49.50 balance
Balance due by the end of September 2026
Evening
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Thursday 12 November
Les Misérables / Jesus Christ Superstar
From £89.50
Matinee
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Thursday 19 November
Kew at Christmas
£65.00
Includes Christmas shopping in Richmond upon Thames
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Monday 23 November
Elvis Tribute Christmas Lunch Cruise
£85.00
Matinee
Stationary London boat with Christmas lunch and entertainment
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Wednesday 25 November
The Snowman
£69.50
Matinee
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Wednesday 25 November
The Lion King
£82.50
Matinee
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Friday 27 November
London Christmas Lights & Covent Garden
£23.50
Canvey Route
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Saturday 28 November
Canterbury Christmas Market
£29.50
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DECEMBER 2026
Sorry, all Thursford trips are now SOLD OUT.
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Wednesday 2 December
Jesus Christ Superstar
£92.50
Evening
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Wednesday 2 December
Covent Garden Free Time & Christmas Lights
£21.50
Evening
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Saturday 5 December
London Christmas Lights
£25.50
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Thursday 10 December
Christmas Lights Tour
£25.00
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Friday 11 December
Mamma Mia! The Party- 02 London Meal and Entertainment
£165.00
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Saturday 12 December
Snow White Panto – Cliffs Pavilion
£49.50
Tickets only, no coach
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Saturday 12 December
Windsor Castle at Christmas
£65.00
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Saturday 12 December
South Bank Christmas Markets & Borough Market
£23.50
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Thursday 17 December

Matthew Bournes Cinderella

£125 pp (deposit to book)

Matinee

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Saturday 19 December
Hever Castle Christmas Lunch
£75.00
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Tuesday 22 December
Polar Express – Spa Valley Railway
£95.00
Deposit required to hold your place
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Sunday 27 December
Disney on Ice – The O2 London
£89.50
Matinee
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JANUARY 2027
Saturday 2 January
London Palladium Panto
Featuring French & Saunders and Julian Clary
£120.00
Evening
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Thursday 7 January
Jesus Christ Superstar
£92.50
Matinee
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Wednesday 13 January
Blood Brothers
£50.00
Matinee
Tickets only – no coach
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Thursday 14 January
Harry Potter
£79.50
Evening
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Saturday 16 Janaury

Choice of Hamilton or Wicked or the Lioin King

from £79.50 Matinees

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Monday 18 January
Paddington
£99.50
Evening
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Friday 29 January
Choice of three shows – evening
Mamma Mia! The Musical – £72.50
The Lion King – £79.50
Matilda – £69.50
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Saturday 30 January
Donny Osmond
£139.00
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FEBRUARY 2027
Tuesday 2 February
The Jungle Book
£72.50
Evening
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Sunday 7 February
Chinese New Year Celebrations
£25.00
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Saturday 13 February
Shen Yun
£145.00
Matinee
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Thursday 18 February
Sinatra
£82.50
Matinee
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Saturday 20 February
The Traitors: Live Experience
£79.50
Family session – play the game
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MARCH 2027
Wednesday 3 March
The Phantom of the Opera / Oliver!
From £82.50
Matinee
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Thursday 4 March
Les Misérables
£87.50
Matinee
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Saturday 6 March
Cotswolds Day Trip – Market Day
£39.50
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Wednesday 10 March
The Best of Broadway Musicals & the Philharmonic Orchestra – Royal Albert Hall
£69.50
Evening
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Thursday 11 March
Les Misérables
£87.50
Matinee
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Saturday 13 March
Thriplow
£42.50
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Sunday 14 March
Call the Midwife Tour
£69.50
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Wednesday 17 March
Paddington
£89.50
Evening
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Thursday 18 March
Choice of two shows – matinee
Pride the Musical – £79.50
Witness for the Prosecution – £69.50
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Saturday 20 March
Bletchley Park – Home of the Codebreakers
£59.50
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Wednesday 24 March
Billy Elliot
£99.50
Matinee
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Saturday 27 March
Gin Factory
£59.50
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APRIL 2027
Saturday 3 April
Faversham & Deal Day Trip
£26.50
Canvey–Grays Route
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Saturday 10 April
The Silence of the Lambs
£72.50
Matinee
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Friday 16 – Monday 19 April
Potters All-Inclusive Resort – Hopton
£539.00
Mini break
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Thursday 22 April
Billy Elliot
£99.50
Evening
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Sunday 25 April
Mamma Mia! The Party – The O2 London
£165.00
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Monday 26 April
Paddington
£95.00
Evening
Canvey Route
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Tuesday 27 – Friday 30 April
Amsterdam Mini Break
£499 total
£99 deposit + £400 balance
Balance due by 20 February 2027
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MAY 2027
Saturday 1 May
Long Melford & Lavenham Day Trip
£24.50
Canvey Route
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Wednesday 5 May
Johannes – Cliffs Pavilion
£89.59
Evening
Grays–Canvey–Leigh Route
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Friday 7 – Sunday 9 May
Winchester Spa Hotel Mini Break
£249 total
£49.50 deposit
Includes:
3 days / 2 nights
Bed & breakfast
Spa facilities
Optional day trip to Portsmouth
Sorry, all single rooms are reserved.
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Thursday 13 May
Henley-on-Thames
£29.50
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Saturday 15 May
Turville & Garden Centre Day Visit
£29.50
A picture-postcard day trip
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Sunday 16 May
Columbia Road Flower Market & Covent Garden
£25.50
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Tuesday 18 May

A Cotswolds Day trip on Market day (Canvey to Grays route via Pitsea)

£39.50

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Thursday 20 May
Day Trip to Woodbridge
£27.50
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Saturday 22 May
Ypres, Belgium
Price £99 deposit total £259 (balance due end of March 2027)
Includes war graves, ferry, coach and bed & breakfast & a meal on th Ferry
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Saturday 22 May
Chelsea in Bloom
£23.50
Please note: this is not the Chelsea Flower Show.
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Tuesday 25 May
Isle of Man Holiday
£825 total
£99 deposit
Balance due by the end of February 2027
Includes:
6 days / 5 nights
Half board
Tours
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Monday 31 May
France Day Trip
£169.50 total
£69.50 deposit + £100 balance
Balance due by the end of March 2027
Includes lunch at the château and a hypermarket visit.
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JUNE 2027
Wednesday 2 – Thursday 3 June
Eastbourne Mini Break
£189.00
5-star hotel, bed & breakfast and village visit
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Friday 4 June
Highgate Cemetery & Free Time in Highgate
£59.50
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Saturday 5 June
Day Trip to Oxford
£38.50
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Sunday 6 June
Seal Watching & Dovercourt Beach Day
£69.50
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Monday 7 June
Paddington
£89.50
Evening
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Wednesday 9 June
Miss Saigon – London
£99.50
Matinee
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Thursday 10 June
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
£89.50
Matinee
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Friday 11 June - Monday 14 June

Bristol Mini Break, Incl Bath, Clifton, Cheddar Gorge  , Glastonbury, Didgot Railway

£99 deposit/ total £429pp Twin/Dbl only

Balance due by 30th April 2027

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Wednesday 16 June
Three-Course French Lunch in Islington & Free Time
£65.00
Includes a three-course lunch at a French restaurant in Islington and free time.
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Thursday 17 June
Miss Saigon – London
£99.50
Evening
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Thursday 17 June
Paddington
£79.50
Matinee
Tickets only – no coach travel
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Friday 18 – Sunday 20 June
Stratford-upon-Avon Mini Break – The Swans Nest Hotel
£309 per person
£99 per person deposit
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Saturday 19 June
Ascot
£75.00
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Monday 21 June
Hever Castle in Bloom
£72.50
Includes Castle Gardens and afternoon tea
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Thursday 24 June
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
£89.50
Evening
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JULY 2027
Friday 2 – Sunday 4 July
Disneyland Paris
£525.00
Includes:
3 days / 2 nights
Entry to both parks
Bed & breakfast
Channel Tunnel travel
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Friday 9 July
Stamford Day Trip
£35.00
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Saturday 17 July
Norfolk Broads & Boat Trip
£49.50
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Sunday 18 July
Leeds Castle
£75.00
Includes:
Castle and grounds
Private garden tour
Cream tea
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Saturday 24 July
Day Trip to Cambridge
£29.50
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Saturday 31 July
Day Trip to Marlow
£29.50
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AUGUST 2027
Sunday 6 August
Broadstairs Folk Festival
£27.50
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Saturday 14 August
Brighton Day Trip
£29.50
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Tuesday 17 August
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
£95.00
Matinee
A–H Stalls
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Thursday 19 August
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
£85.00
Matinee
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Saturday 21 August
Whitstable Day Trip
£26.50
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Saturday 28 August
Rye & Battle Day Trip
£26.50
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SEPTEMBER 2027

Thursday 2 September
Charlie & The Chocolate Factory
£89.50
Evening

Thursday 9 September
Paddington
£92.50
Matinee
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Thursday 16 September
Le Touquet Market – France Day Trip
£139.00
£39 deposit to secure your place
Long hold until the balance is due
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Thursday 23 September
Swan Lane
£105.00
Evening
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OCTOBER 2027
Thursday 14 October
Paddington
£92.00
Matinee
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NOVEMBER 2027
Friday 12 – Monday 15 November
Potters Christmas Break – Hopton
£549 per person
£99 deposit
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DECEMBER 2027
Wednesday 1 – Friday 3 December
Bruges at Christmas
£339 per person
£99 deposit
Balance due by the end of June 2027
Includes:
Bed & breakfast
Christmas Market
Mini break
More details coming soon.
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Wednesday 8 December
Paddington
£89.50
Evening
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Friday 10 – Saturday 11 December
Ambassador Cruise Line
£225.00
Includes:
First sitting
Twin cabins with balcony
Coach travel
Dinner
Entertainment
Travel
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JANUARY 2028
Thursday 13 January
Paddington
£92.50
Matinee
CONTACT THEATRE TRIPS ESSEX
Email: nicola@theatretripsessex.co.uk
Website: www.theatretripsessex.co.uk

by Nicola Haynes

Theatre Etiquette & What To Do If Others Spoil the Show

Sadly, two of our lovely customers had their Les Misérables experience spoiled yesterday by disruptive audience members behind them—talking, singing, and generally forgetting they weren’t in their own living room.

It’s always disheartening, especially when people have paid alot of money for their seats and have been looking forward to the show for months. A theatre is a place to watch a performance, not perform one yourself.

If this ever happens during one of our trips, please don’t suffer in silence.

Speak to an usher at the theatre during the performance—they are there to help and can often discreetly resolve the issue.

We always want you to have the best experience, and we’ll continue to do our part by booking excellent seats and travelling in comfort—but we kindly ask all attendees to respect others around them.

Let’s all help keep the magic of live theatre alive—for everyone.

I would add the disruptors were not part of my group!

by Nicola Haynes

What seats do you have in the Theatre?

Theatre Seating & Ticket Info – What You Need to Know

I’m often asked what kind of theatre tickets and seats I offer – so here’s a quick guide to help clarify things!

For nearly all shows, I offer Band A seats, which are just one step down from premium seats for groups, but at fantastic group discounted rates. For some brand-new shows, especially early in the run, I might offer Band B seats – still great views and value.

Theatre Layout Basics:

Most London theatres are arranged as follows:

• Stalls (ground level) - often steps to access your seats

• Royal Circle / Dress Circle (first tier – known as either “Dress” or “Royal” depending on the theatre) (I find better for mobility).

• Upper Circle / Grand Circle

• Balconies

I do not offer Upper or Grand Circle seats for London Musicals as we find these can be a little too high for comfort. My focus is always on ensuring you have a great view and a comfortable experience.

Arenas are very different to theatres — the whole layout is completely unique. You’ll really notice the difference when you take your seats. Unlike the intimacy and tiered structure of a traditional theatre, arenas are designed for scale, with vast open spaces and often a central or end-stage setup. It creates a whole new atmosphere and dynamic for the performance, you will have steps to your seats.

Seat Preferences:

Most customers tend to prefer either Stalls or Royal/Dress Circle. I mainly offer Stalls, but when I do provide seats in the Royal /Dress Circle, I will always specify that – and rest assured, these are never in the high seats - you just may have your own preferences!

As a group booker, I’m allocated specific blocks of seats in the theatre, and I use those allocations to create your all-in-one package, which includes your theatre ticket and luxury coach travel.

by Nicola Haynes

GROUP SEATS UPDATE

Seats offered are usually stalls or first circle seating group rates as a package with travel and in Band A. Band A is one seating level below premium seats.

I am offered seats in certain parts of the Theatre in the stalls or the circle. The circle seating are one level above the stalls.

The seats are know as either the Royal or the Dress depending upon the Theatre (they are the same, one level above the stalls).

by Nicola Haynes

Refunds, Customer booking errors, Cancelled performances please read.

Our events have always been non refundable unless a show is cancelled by the Theatre.

The website charges me a fee for each booking as STRIPE looks after your money and whilst I am not requesting any admin fees for errors you may make when you book (eg, I booked in error,  I can no longer make the date or find someone to take my place etc.) the fee STRIPE charges me will be requested by me to you (it's not usually a huge amount but I am sure you would realise these amounts all add up). Same process applies for double bookings, eg ' I only wanted 4 for Brighton but I clicked twice so it looks like I have 8' ! the addtional 4 incur a  stripe fee for your error.

Due to admin volume I am unable to resell or readvertise your events if you can no longer make the date, however,  you can resell (at no additional cost and not on social media) and advise me who is taking your place and where they are boarding the coach.

If we arrive in London and the show is cancelled I still have to pay for the coach.  I will adjust the refund accordingly to offset the coach payment I have to make (that's if the show has been cancelled and we've arrived in London or wherever the show may be).

For me to be able to offer these events going forward the less admin burden I have then the more time I have to find shows and days out for us all to enjoy.

Stripe's payments platform lets me accept credit cards, debit cards, and popular payment methods around the world—all with a single integration. 

Love to you all, N x 

Just a reminder refunds are not available once you have booked.

by Nicola Haynes