Dinner, Theatre and an Overnight Stay: A Perfect Summer Evening at Kilworth House

British Summer evenings deserve more than a quick meal and a ticket to a show. At Kilworth House, a visit to the theatre can become a full experience, with dinner in the hotel, a performance in the open-air theatre and the chance to stay overnight in the glorious Leicestershire countryside.

For summer 2026, Kilworth House Theatre presents Anything Goes, Cole Porter’s classic musical comedy, running from 23rd June to 2nd August 2026. With pre-theatre dining available at the hotel and the theatre set within the grounds, it is easy to turn the occasion into a relaxed summer escape rather than just an evening out.

Your Kilworth House summer theatre itinerary

4pm: Arrive and settle in

Start the afternoon by arriving at Kilworth House Hotel and checking into your room. With no need to rush back home after the performance, you can take your time, enjoy the setting and ease into the evening properly. The hotel’s countryside surroundings make the theatre experience feel even more special. Rather than heading straight from work to a busy venue, guests can arrive early, unpack and enjoy a slower start to the evening.

4.30pm: Take a walk through the grounds

Before dinner, make time for a gentle stroll around the hotel grounds. Kilworth House Theatre is set close to the hotel, so everything feels convenient without losing the sense of occasion. This is one of the benefits of booking dinner, theatre and an overnight stay together. The whole evening flows naturally, with the hotel, restaurant and theatre all part of the same experience.

5.00pm: Pre-theatre dinner in The Orangery

Pre-theatre dinner is served in The Orangery Restaurant, one of Kilworth House Hotel’s most distinctive spaces. Guests dine beneath our newly restored glass, timber, and ornate wrought-iron ceiling, creating a setting that feels elegant without being overly formal. For evening performances, guests should be seated between 5.00 pm and 5.30 pm, giving plenty of time to enjoy dinner before the show begins. Pre-theatre dinner is priced at £43 per person, and Kilworth House recommends booking dining at the same time as theatre tickets to secure availability.

The Anything Goes pre-theatre dining menu includes a choice of starters, mains and desserts. Starters include sweet carrot and coriander soup, hot-smoked salmon with melon and feta salad, chicken liver parfait, and beetroot carpaccio. Main course options include pan-fried pork cutlet, traditional roast chicken supreme, aubergine parmigiana and pan-fried fillet of seabass. To finish, guests can choose from desserts including Kilworth House strawberry and cream flan, salted caramel and chocolate tart, mandarin cheesecake or a selection of cheese.

7.00pm: Make your way to the theatre

After dinner, there is no need to worry about taxis, parking or travelling between venues. The theatre is located within the grounds of Kilworth House, so guests can make their way over in time for the performance. The open-air theatre setting is one of the things that makes Kilworth House so memorable. It feels relaxed and summery, but still has the atmosphere of a proper theatre evening.

7.30pm: Enjoy Anything Goes under the summer sky

Then it is time for the main event. Anything Goes brings together romance, comedy, mistaken identities and Cole Porter’s much-loved music, including “I Get a Kick Out of You”, “You’re the Top”, “Friendship” and “Anything Goes”. The 2026 production promises high-energy choreography, memorable songs and the glamour of Broadway in Kilworth House’s open-air setting. Whether you are booking for a special occasion, a summer date night, a birthday gift or simply something different to look forward to, the combination of dinner and theatre makes the evening feel complete.

After the show: No journey home, just a short walk back

One of the biggest advantages of booking an overnight stay is what happens after the curtain falls. Instead of getting straight in the car, guests can return to the hotel and continue the evening at their own pace. It takes the pressure out of the night and makes the whole experience feel more relaxed. After dinner, live theatre and a summer evening outdoors, being able to stay just moments from the theatre is part of the appeal.

The next morning: Wake up in the countryside

The experience does not have to end when the show finishes. Staying overnight means waking up at Kilworth House the next morning, enjoying breakfast and making the most of a slower start before heading home. For guests travelling from further afield, it also makes Kilworth House Theatre feel much easier to enjoy, turning a trip to the theatre into a short countryside break.

Planning your dinner, theatre and stay

Pre-theatre dining should be booked in advance, ideally when booking theatre tickets. For evening performances, dinner reservations are seated between 5.00 pm and 5.30 pm, while matinee lunch reservations are seated between 12.00 pm and 12.30 pm. Dining is subject to availability, and Kilworth House advises guests not to arrive later than the recommended seating times. Please note that pre-theatre dining and theatre breaks are not available on selected dates due to exclusive events at the hotel, including 27th June, 4th July, 11th July, 18th July and 24th July.

Theatre tickets and dining options can be booked online or through the Box Office on 01858 881939, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.30 pm.

Make this summer evening one to remember

A summer evening at Kilworth House is about more than watching a show. It is the anticipation of arriving at the hotel, the pleasure of dinner in The Orangery, the atmosphere of open-air theatre and the comfort of knowing your room is just moments away afterwards.With Anything Goes taking centre stage this summer, now is the perfect time to plan a theatre break that feels relaxed, memorable and full of occasion.

Book your dinner, theatre tickets and overnight stay at Kilworth House and enjoy the perfect summer evening in the Leicestershire countryside.