London can be a tough mistress sometimes. The daily rat race, the constant FOMO and, well, even just facing the tube in the summer is enough to make you want to run away. But every now and again there’s a moment, and event or a happening that reminds why I love this city and last week, that was going to experience Chambers_, a new multi-sensory, multi-room, multi-verse experience from Gingerline, the pioneers of London’s immersive dining scene.
Please note, I was gifted this experience in exchange for coverage.
I’ve never done anything like this before, or at least not to this scale. It’s also hard to write about because to give you all of the details would be biggest spoiler alert going. So much of the joy is in unknown. This is the first rule of a Gingerline experience; to reveal nothing. You don’t even know the location until the day of the event when you receive an anonymous text.
I will jump in right away here and say, if you aren’t the type of person willing to put your hand up, to be the first to walk into a room or make a fool of yourself, then this isn’t for you. I don’t get why anyone would come to something like this then go mute. You will get as much out of this as you are willing to put in. Dive in and loosen the shackles of normality.
Even before your session has started, your experience is underway, the holding area, with bar, is as much of the experience as the following 120 minutes of fun is. Throughout the experience, you are treated with five flavoursome courses served within incredible sets from the absurd reaches of the imagination, populated by a host of mischievous characters. There’s also a palate cleanser and a welcome drink.
The set design of the whole experience is unbelievably impressive. Every last little detail is thought out as you join a group of like-minded explorers on a multi-dimensional culinary quest.
You’re given the option of buying drinks to be served to you within the experience. You pre-buy at the bar and they join you about 30 mins in. There’s a recommended amount, but this will up the cost of the evening. But having at least one is worth it for the journey. Having done it, a bottle of wine for two is the most cost-effective for the evening.
Once the experience begins you head into the multi-verse to map its delicious dining secrets through a series of storytelling adventures, plot twists, baddies, and heroes.
For those with special dietary requirements, or are vegetarian or vegan, have no fear. These are collected during the booking and you are meticulously looked after throughout the experience with specialized menus.
I loved all of the food we ate. I wouldn’t say any of it was mind-blowing, and it was probably overshadowed by the theatrical experience, which I couldn’t decide if it was a good or bad thing. But it was all enjoyable and very satisfying.
Example dish from a previous event
Tickets start from £55 and go above £70 for peak times. With the added drinks you (almost feel like you need to) will probably buy, it’s not a cheap night. At first, I wasn’t sure if I thought it was too much. But on inspection, with all of the personnel involved, 120 minutes of non-stop showmanship and theatrical entertainment (an average show length), plus five courses, I couldn’t disagree with the cost price when leveled against how much fun I’d had. Now I’ve done it, I’d most likely pay to do it again. We met some great people and had a lot of fun, I’d imagine it would be even better if you went with a larger group of friends, too. It couldn’t have come at a better time, after feeling run down by the daily grind of the city, this was the perfect tonic and a reminder to not take things to seriously, and have a little fun.
The event has been sold out for ages, but tickets for October have been released here.
Tickets are non-transferable or refundable when booked. Don’t forget to check out the ticket Ts&Cs here
Don’t just trust me, here’s what everyone has been saying
“The rooms vary from eclectic to off-the-chart bonkers. One may give me actual nightmares forever. A fun night out for the open-minded” - Stylist
“Think portals, surprises around every corner and interactions with mischievous characters along the way” - Heat Magazine “Amazing things to do in London”
“Each of its secret immersive- dining experiences is totally unique, rather bonkers and brilliant fun. Be brave and book.” - Conde Naste Traveller
“Wacky and wonderful immersive dining experts Gingerline thrill with their latest multi-dimensional dining experience” - ***** Culture Whisper
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