FOOD + DRINK
THE GREEN ROOM AT THE MARLOWE THEATRE SMART SEASONAL DINING TAKING CENTRE STAGE BY SAMANTHA READY
Tucked adjacent to the stage door of Canterbury’ s iconic Marlowe Theatre is the Green Room, a glass-fronted, light-filled dining space offering views over a leafy waterway with a menu that more than deserves a standing ovation. Designed as the theatre’ s dedicated preshow restaurant, it’ s also open to the public throughout the day and early evening, offering everything from light lunches and cakes to two- or three-course pre-theatre menus that cleverly balance indulgence with the need to stay alert for the curtain call.
Visiting on a particularly moody May evening( the kind that can’ t quite make peace with the season), the Green Room provided the perfect pre-show refuge aided by its floorto-ceiling windows, warm wicker ceiling lights, potted trees cleverly positioned to create intimate dining nooks and rustic chalk board proffering the daily specials. Welcomed warmly by the wonderful Nicole( courteous, relaxed and effortlessly accommodating), my guest for the evening was my lovely mum who typically makes her dining decisions based on accessibility, from ease of location to menu choices that meet with seasons and portion control. We settled in by the window with a view of swaying trees and the gentle flow of the river beyond. A rare blend of buzz and calm, the space hums with pre-show anticipation while offering the comfort of a standalone dining destination in its own right.
The menu, thoughtfully curated by consultant head chef Jim, focuses on fresh, local ingredients and dishes that nourish without sending you into a food coma before Act One. Whether you’ re popping in for a salad at lunch, meeting friends for a quick coffee or supper, or settling into something heartier before an evening performance, it flexes beautifully( and sustainably) for all occasions.
To start, I opted for what’ s quickly becoming a house signature: the Marlowe Scotch egg, a soft-yolked, free-range beauty wrapped in perfectly seasoned and savoury Hedger Family Butcher’ s sausage meat and served with punchy house piccalilli that brought just the right touch of heat and crunch. Mum, while lured by the warmth of the soup of the day, chose the Caesar salad, a flexible dish that the team have made available either as a classic starter or a dish that can be built up into a main with additions of grilled chicken and creamy avocado. The twist? A dusting of garlic crumb instead of traditional croutons; an ionnovative, flavour-packed upgrade.
For mains, I strayed toward the restaurant’ s standout dish, the Whitstable Pale Ale battered cod cheeks, but was beaten to the pick by mum after Jim’ s recommendation. It was clear to see why this has become a Green Room favourite already; plump, flaky white fish encased in whisper-light batter served with crisp fries and an imaginative curry leaf mayo that’ s made for dunking, it was a bona fide hit. For me, the chilly weather( and another enthusiastic Jim recommendation) won out, and I leaned into comfort with the slow-braised and griddled Angus beef short rib. Deeply rich, tender and glossy with a sticky jus, it was paired with golden skin-on fries and a dressed salad for a necessary touch of green.
Desserts here offer a gentle and sweet close to the show, cleverly offered in convenient
incarnations including a slice of the daily special cake to pair with coffee, or the option to return for pud during the interval if you’ re dining before a performance and need a little three-course respite. We stayed put, spoons at the ready. My peach melba was delicate and summery, proffering roasted, skin-on peach slices nestled among plump, sweet raspberries, Kentish of course, and served with silky vanilla ice cream. It was the white chocolate panna cotta that truly stole the scene, however: airy, light and beautifully offset with a malted biscuit crumb and the citrus lift of blood orange. Declared by my mum( an expert in these things) as“ the best panna cotta I’ ve ever had”, it was polished off in record time and fittingly aligned with the announcement for doors opening.
Green Room has struck an elusive balance. It works seamlessly as a theatre restaurant, but also more than earns its place as a standalone spot for laid-back, high-quality dining in the city. Whether you’ re catching a matinee, grabbing a cake and coffee, or setting the tone for a night of drama and delight, this is one pre-theatre experience that absolutely deserves a bow … And arguably an encore, too!
Green Room is open from 10am Monday- Saturday, with hot food served from 12pm, or 2.5 hours pre-show on Sundays and bank holidays. You can enjoy a two-course pre-theatre menu for £ 25, or three courses for £ 31. Reservations are recommended for show nights.
marlowetheatre. com / your-visit / the-green-room
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