Stage Side Sips

Stage Side Sips comes to the Theatre Royal on Wednesday 26 August, a one-night-only wine tasting that puts you right on the stage rather than in the stalls. It's run with Plumpton Estate, the local vineyard, who'll be pouring five of their wines while you look out over the venue's auditorium.

There's something about the perspective that makes it. The Theatre Royal is a Grade II* listed building that's been entertaining audiences for more than 218 years, and it's one of the oldest theatres in the country, still staging pre- and post-West End shows. Usually, you're the one looking at the stage; here, you're on it, with the 219-year-old auditorium stretching out in front of you. The tasting itself is straightforward: five Plumpton Estate wines to work through over the course of the evening.

It's an over-18s night, so you'll need a valid ID at the door. The box office opens 90 minutes before the performance, and there's an access bar serving drinks and snacks before the show and during the interval. If you've come from across town, there's a cloakroom available for a charge.

The tasting starts at 19:30 and runs for an hour and a half, with tickets at £30.00. It's a single night, so if you want in, you'll need to book ahead.