“Champagne, theatre and a late-night bite; it's my ultimate night out. ”

For pre-theatre, Bocca Di Lupo offers a selection of dishes to chose from, perfect for pre-theatre grazing and available between 5.30pm and 7pm. Axis at One Aldwych is wonderfully located for theatreland and offers a pre-theatre menu as well as The Lobby Bar which is a great meeting place. Quo Vadis offers a very well-priced set lunch and pre-theatre menu (£17.50 for 2 courses/ £19.50 for 3 courses) in stylish, relaxed surroudings. Restaurant of the moment, Les Deux Salons, does a 'Theatre Supper' between 5 and 7.30pm, Monday to Saturday, at £15.50 for 3 courses. Christopher's is renowned for it's pre-theatre offerings with specific menus available between 5pm and 7pm, and 10pm and 11pm. Joe Allen has a great-value offering of 2 courses for £16, and 3 for £18, where Kettners matches that with 2 courses for £13.50 and 3 for £18.50 before 7pm. And if you're Southbank-bound, Skylon takes pre-concert or theatre reservations from 5.30 and offers 2 courses for £26.75 and 3 courses for £30.75 - the river views are no doubt why these prices seem high.

The restaurants below also offer pre-theatre dining, but are well suited to post-theatre-dining meaning when the curtain comes down, the show can go on. J Sheekey offers the ultimate for theatre dining with its star-covered walls. They have a wonderful menu from 5.30pm until midnight. Likewise The Ivy also takes reservations from 5.30pm and is open until midnight.

Asia de Cuba takes early and late reservations and The Light Bar and Bungalow 8 (also located in St Martin's Lane Hotel) can keep the show on the road till the early hours. Cafe des Amis is open from noon and takes last orders at 11.30pm. The Criterion with its spectacular dining room takes reservations between 5.30pm and 11.30pm and the original Hakkasan on Hanway Place is open until 12.15am, Thursday - Saturday. Rules takes last orders at 11.45pm, Monday - Saturday and though the food is nothing to write home about, Sarastro offers a quirky, opulent, slightly naff (but therefore spirited) cave of live music, with late last-orders.

So that's the food sorted. Now you just need to choose the show.