A trip to the theatre is a pretty special occasion, regardless of how frequently you are able or willing to enjoy the experience. But there is something else you can do to make the experience even more enjoyable, as I found recently during a trip to the
Lichfield Garrick theatre in Staffordshire to see a new play. A new restaurant had just opened literally across the pedestrianized street from the Garrick, so it would have been very remiss of me not to give it a try.

The 55 Wade Street restaurant
The
55 Wade Street restaurant is, not surprisingly, located at number 55 Wade Street, pretty much in the middle of Lichfield City Centre. The restaurant had only been open a couple of weeks or so before I visited, although the building had previously been in use as The Malt Bar. In fact, 55 Wade Street goes back a lot further than that as it was originally home to Lichfield's Old Court House.

The rear dining area
Because of its location just steps from the Lichfield Garrick Theatre, the restaurant is perfectly situated for theatre-goers to enjoy a pre-show meal or drink. And the 55 Wade Street menu clearly reflects that with a section entirely dedicated to Pre-Theatre Dining. As the restaurant makes clear, its pre-theatre menu is designed to get people to the show on time. As a result, the menu is suitably available between 5pm and 6.30pm on Monday to Saturday, giving theatre-goers plenty of time to make 'curtain up' at 7.30pm.

The impressive bar area
So it was that my wife and I turned up for the Tuesday night pre-theatre menu which consisted of Burger Club. The restaurant, which has been delightfully done out in a modern, bright and contemporary style, has two main seating areas, one at the front of the premises looking out at the Garrick theatre and the other at the rear, with the stylish, well-stocked bar in the middle. There is also a small seating area on the front pavement offering a café-style drinking experience when the weather allows it.

The new restaurant has a comfortable, contemporary style
The complete menu starts with a Breakfast & Brunch selection available from 10am to 12pm, followed by a variety of other dishes from midday. These include 'lighter options' such as minute steak, sea bass and mini fish & chips, a range of themed burgers including Blue Boy, Angry, and The Colonel, plus salads, sandwiches and pizza. Then, into the evening, the restaurant offers a choice of starters and mains from 5pm including sirloin, fillet or rib-eye steak, French trimmed lamb, Chicken Kiev, or pork belly. As it was Burger Club Tuesday, my wife and I both opted for USA! USA! with the 100 percent beef accompanied by bacon, Monterey Jack cheese, barbecue sauce and coleslaw. The burgers on their own cost £11.95, the same price as the pre-theatre menu which also includes a beer or a glass of wine.

Seating on the front pavement for when the sun comes out
55 Wade Street, which offers a range of regularly changing beers as well as an extensive variety of gins and a cocktail menu, also provides appearances from live bands and DJs, offering customers something different when they're not popping across the road to the theatre. For more information, either view
online, email info@55wadestreet.com or call 01543 415524.