Dine Like A Noble With Henry VIII
Tower Hill District, London, United Kingdom
Cuisine Style: British, Banquet, Medieval European
Average Price: $$
Overall Rating: 3/5
Dined in: October 2010
By Sean Overpeck (CFE)
**A full article and index glossary of restaurants, wines, recipes and travel for
Wine Dine and Play are in the pages section above, or by following these links:
The Medieval Banquet restaurant is hosted at the Ivory Vaults; situated within the historic vaulted cellars of the Grade II listed Ivory House at St Katharine Docks. Nestled near the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, it is perfectly located around all major happenings in London. The 10,000 square foot venue seats up to 450 people. The 200-year-old structure is perfect for going back into history and enjoying a banquet as nobles would have done five hundred years ago.
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| The dining room |
Food and Drink
There are beer tankards on the table for all the drinks and you can ask for more goblets if required. Every table has big jugs of water, then jugs of ale and carafes of red and white wine are brought to the table and replenished as often as needed.
There's a ceremony about bringing the food as your 'wench' stands in front of the tables with large cauldrons.
Banquet Menu
▪ Vegetable soup made daily with market vegetables
▪ A platter of meat, pate and cheddar cheese with salad & pickled vegetables
▪ Roasted chicken in a traditional medieval sauce served with roast potatoes & roasted vegetables
▪ A rich fruit filled pie served with cream
Vegetarian Option
Available upon request at time of booking
▪ Vegetable soup made daily with market vegetables
▪ Tomato & mozzarella tower with baby exotic leaves & balsamic reduction
▪ Roasted Butternut Squash filled with a root vegetable & butterbean cassoulet topped with cheddar cheese.
▪ A rich fruit filled pie served with cream
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| Basic menu, picture courtesy of the Medieval Banquet |
You are the royal guests, invited (after you pay to enter!! LOL) to dine with King Henry VIII (a fat dead guy) and his theatrical production team, along with wait staff where you shout for your wench to get you some Wassail while you sing with knights and bang the table with your goblet pint in appreciation. This is a recreated experience of the Kings Court where you get to have a four coursed meal, with music as balladeers play and sing ancient songs, and the acrobats and the jesters entertain you. This was my father and I’s experience.
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| King Henry VIII |
The dining room offers:
• Individual vaulted private dining areas
• Full Medieval Show with over two hours of entertainment
• Bold and skillful fighting knights (with real swords)
• Aerial acrobat and contortionist
• Jugglers and hand balancers
• Costumes for you to dress up in (extra fee applies)
• Drink with a unique range of goblets that you can take home
• Drinks reception as you arrive and champagne throughout the night
• Have a dance class before your evening begins.
All together you have Henry VIII and his court of knights, troubadours, contortionists, magicians, jugglers, minstrels, dancing wenches, and medieval tumblers, and though you are in the 21st century now, a thousand years ago the Middle Ages was taking place, beneath your very feet. The music selection is from the Medieval and Renaissance courts of Europe and covers the periods of the 12th, through the 16th centuries. Then at the conclusion of the evening the music switches to 21st-century dance.
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| Magicians, jugglers, and minstrels |
A history of the Docks:
Around the middle of the 10th century ‘King Edgar the peaceful’ (AD975) granted to thirteen knights in his retinue a soke (parcel of land) in exchange for services rendered to the crown, namely regular jousting tournaments. Before the land was granted, legend has it that the knights were asked to perform three deeds to demonstrate their worth; one above the ground, one below the ground and one in the water. The Normans continued to respect and uphold the charter of the English tradition, and then in 1120 the knights’ descendants gifted the land to the Priory of the Holy Trinity and a hospital was erected on the site.
This hospital was dedicated to St Katharine, a fourth-century saint who was martyred by the Roman emperor Maximinus. Due to be put to death on the torture wheel it shattered when she touched it (the work of angels it was claimed) but this didn’t save her from her fate, instead, he had her beheaded. She was particularly influential in the Middle-ages with her saint day celebrated on November 25, but her memory has been better transmitted to everyone today by firework wheels which bare her name in honor of her death.
The Banquet
The Doors open 30-45 minutes before the entertainment starts. At the door, you get a ticket which notes you're seating area and then downstairs you are led to your table. Each section has two long tables so you will be seated with other parties, a good way to meet new people, as was done during the days of the court. The sections have different names to them such as the Tower of London and the Kensington Palace to name a few. Once you've got your allocated seating you can go to choose a costume (if you paid the extra fee). Men have lots of long tabards, and the women's dresses have a lot of stretches so there should be something to suit everyone.
The Show
When the entertainment starts you stay in your seat during the performances but you are welcome to get up while the food is being served. There's entertainment between each of the courses culminating with a sword fight finale. Instead of clapping, you bang your fists or goblet on the table and make a lot of noise to show your appreciation. Some of the singers will walk between the tables and sit down to join the diners. It was a wonderful experience, and worth the deviation. Yes, there are many fine restaurants to dine at when you in London, some of them with two or three Michelin stars, but little out of the way places like this can be a greater adventure with half the price.
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| The sword fight |
Dessert:
The fourth and final course was a classic apple pie or ice-cream for kids. When you've finished your meal, the sword fights begin, which last usually ten minutes. Once the victory is declared you applaud once more, then you can choose to stay longer and dance to the modern music in a disco style environment, or bid farewell. It had been a long day going to see Les Miserables at the O2, so I was tired, and bid farewell.
Please see these guidelines for Tipping in Restaurants and on following proper etiquette, customs, cultures, and avoiding assumptions when you dine out.
Other Noteworthy Banquet or Buffet Articles & Restaurants:
A Taste of India Casual curries of North & South with Buffet in Brandon, Florida
Boma, A Place Of Eating Taste of tribal Zimbabwe cuisine with a buffet in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Bourj Al Hamam Restaurant Levant, Jordanian, and Lebanese cuisines with a buffet in Amman, Jordan
Brasa Brazilian Steakhouse Rodízio buffet and churrascaria in the Hilton, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
Café Arabesque Contemporary Middle Eastern and Levant buffet in the Hyatt Park, Dubai, UAE
Fogo de Chão Upscale Brazilian chain with 49 locations. Review based in Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia
Fugitives Drift Lodge and Zulu Battlefields African Cuisine Buffet, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Junsui An eclectic taste of Asia with buffets at the Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Mount Nelson Afternoon Tea Banquet of pastries & sandwiches at the Belmond, in Cape Town, S. Africa
The Dutch Kitchen Buffet of Dutch and French cuisine at the Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam
See the whole list by visiting “The Wine Dine and Play Article Glossary”
Other London restaurants and articles on Wine Dine and Play:
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Modern British cuisine in Art Deco Space
Theatre District, London, UK
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Vibrant Pan-Indian Cuisine
Colnbrook, Slough, England, UK
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1800s warehouse dockside style British pub
London, UK
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Final notes, review basics, observations and more pictures:
Most reviews are subjective, depending on the writer; but they should also be responsible, and respectfully written, upholding the truth, and accurately conveying the experience to the best of the writer's knowledge, even if it includes metaphors the restaurant may not like to read about. My ratings are by the stars I award (from 0 to 5). The rating is calculated on a point accumulation of six separate factors based on individual experience. They include wine and other beverage selections, plate presentation, customer service, restaurant or café ambiance, food quality, and wow factor. To see more details of this rating list, read this article:
Overall from this experience, and the score factors outlined in the ‘about page’ section, based on my individual experience and rating, I give the Medieval Banquet a 3 out of 5 stars, meaning that they exceeded my expectations and were far above the average dining experience of most restaurants.
Scores are detailed in the chart below
Formula Factor Conclusions and Overall Ratings
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Max Points Possible:
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Total Points Awarded:
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Total Points deducted:
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Ambiance
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10
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7
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3
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Food quality
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10
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8
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2
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Plate presentation
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10
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7
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3
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Customer service
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10
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8
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2
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Alcohol and other beverages
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6
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5
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1
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Total regular points awarded
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46
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35
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11
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Total percentage — less the Bonus
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0.760869565217391
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“Wow” factor BONUS
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5
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2
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0
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Total bonus percentage
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0.0434782608695652
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Total percentage and bonus for a final star rating
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0.804347826086957
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Stars Awarded (see chart below)
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0 - 5
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3
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**A full break down and explanation of the observations and point disbursement is available in the linked article above.
To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
To receive a detailed copy of your score, feel free to contact me at any time and I will provide it to you.**
***
Overall Star Rating:
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3 of 5 Stars:
80% Rating with a 2 point “wow” bonus
Exceeded All My Expectations
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Restaurant style:
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Casual dining
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Cuisine style:
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British, Banquet, Medieval European
Allergen or dietary accommodations:
Vegetarian
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Reservations:
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Required
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Dress code:
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Casual or Conservative attire
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Child policy:
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The Restaurants reviewed on this site may have a kids menu or cater to them; however, for full enjoyment of food and wine, it is recommended that kids not to be in attendance, unless they have been trained in proper etiquette.
If not then:
Hire a Babysitter!
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Experiences:
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Contemporary, Good for special occasions, Tourist grabber, and a Neighborhood Gem.
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Payments:
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Cash, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express
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Parking:
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Street meter parking
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Wifi
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The restaurants reviewed on this site may have Wi-Fi, but do not require you to go online, because the excitement of the food and wine alone will keep you too entertained instead of checking your social media and emails.
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Noise level:
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Medium to Loud, WHAT
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Smoking:
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Nonsmoking restaurant
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Patio or terrace:
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No
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Food Prices
(excludes, alcohol, taxes & 20% gratuity’s)
$£€¥ - Under 50.00 (inexpensive)
$£€¥ x 2 - 51.00- 99.00 (moderate)
$£€¥ x 3 - Over 100.00 (pricy)
$£€¥ x 4 - Over 200.00 (expensive)
$£€¥ x 5 - Over 400.00 (very expensive)
**Currencies reflect the world’s major travelers, restaurant, or wine connoisseur’s**
Currency:
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Price
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United States Dollar (USD)
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$$
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Great Britain Pound Sterling (GBP)
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££
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Canadian Dollar (CAN)
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$$$
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Chinese Yuan (CNY)
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¥¥¥¥
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European Union (EUR)
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€€
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£50 per person
• Interactive medieval entertainment
• Four-course feast
• Ale and wine with your meal
• Disco to conclude your evening
Choose from these options per person:
Hats from £5
Full costume rental £10
Dance class £25
Sparkling wine reception £5
Goblets £10
All of the above for minimum groups of 10 £50
Birthday cake £50
The Medieval Banquet:
Ivory House, St Katharine Docks
London, E1W 1BP
United Kingdom
Contact Information:
Restaurant website:
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Maître d or host:
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+44 20 7480 5353
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Online reservations
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Email Contact:
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Serving hours:
Greenwich Mean Time
British Summer Time BST
(GMT, Zulu, or UTC - BST Offset + 1:00)
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Dinner: Wed-Thur
7:15 pm - 11:30 pm
Fri-Sat
7:15 pm - 12:00 am
Sun
5:15 pm - 9:30 pm
Mon-Tue
Closed
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Social Media
&
Accolades:
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****
The worlds best restaurants is a subjective list of who is writing it and changes on a regular basis. The Wine Dine and Play best experiences are based on my highest rated stared restaurants, meaning that the visit was an outstanding or extraordinary experience. From cafés, chains, mom + pops, hole in the walls, to fine dining including a few Michelin spots. Visit the Top 100 page to see the entire list.
A few to tease you with…
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Modern Italian and Southern
St. Petersburg, Florida, USA
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Classy American fare with steak and seafood
Griffin, Georgia, USA
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High-end elegant steakhouse with sustainable seafood
Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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Other Pictures:
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| Les Miserables 25th Anniversary at the O2 |
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| The Valjean's, Les Miserables 25th Anniversary at the O2 - Colm Wilkinson |
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| The Wenches deliver the grub |
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| The Queen entertains |
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| Jugglers |
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| The Wench assigned to our table |
“Culinary perfection consists not in doing extraordinary things,
But in doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.”
-Angelique Arnauld (1591-1661)
Who is John Galt?
TTFN
