For the first time in history a renowned luxury Indian restaurant in London, Colonel Saab (near Trafalgar Square) has joined forces with the multi-award-winning West End musical Kinky Boots to create a pre-theatre dining experience inspired by the show’s uplifting true story and beloved film adaptation.
Directed by award-winning Nikolai Foster (Grease and The Wizard of Oz), this West End and Broadway favourite features music and lyrics by pop icon Cyndi Lauper and is running at the London Coliseum for a strictly limited season.
The Colonel Saab experience
To mark the new production of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning musical, theatre goers can elevate their evening with a lavish four-course menu at the opulent Trafalgar Square restaurant, complete with cocktails and an amuse-bouche designed to set the tone before the curtain rises.
From the dining room, it is just a one-minute walk to the London Coliseum, where audiences can see Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe and Matt Cardle in this joyous story of a struggling shoe factory owner who joins forces with the dazzling drag queen Lola to save his business.
The culinary experience begins with the Kinky Boots cocktail, followed by amuse-bouche: guava cone heels served with red raspberry sauce, tamarind chutney, spiced cream and crisp noodles. Guests can then choose between two starters, before selecting from two main courses.
The edible story ends on a high with Raise You Up, a dessert of rabri, Chantilly cream with pineapple jalebi, pistachio kulfi, crisp tuile and pistachio-infused oil.
Guests can book this pre-theatre dining experience from 5pm and choose one dish from each stage of the four-course menu, with vegetarian options thoughtfully woven throughout. From the moment we were seated, the service heightened the sense of occasion, with each course arriving like a small performance in its own right.
On our visit, Prince, who is originally from Bangalore, guided us through the menu with warmth, ease and quiet charisma, adding a personal touch that made the evening feel all the more memorable.
The food was, as expected, excellent. Each dish arrived like a jewel on the plate, its colours vibrant and theatrical, with aromas that immediately drew you in. Flavours were bold yet beautifully balanced, shifting from fragrant spice to cooling sweetness with real finesse.
Portions felt generous without ever becoming heavy, and the visual flair of every course mirrored the exuberance of the show itself, recalling Lola’s flamboyant costumes and larger-than-life stage presence.
Stepping into Kinky Boots
Kinky Boots tells the story of a struggling shoe factory owner who finds an unexpected lifeline when he teams up with the dazzling drag queen Lola to create a line of bold, thigh-high stilettos that could save the family business.
Inspired by true events, the musical unfolds as a joyful, big-hearted celebration of empathy, self-expression and the courage to defy expectation. As Charlie Price and Lola forge an unlikely friendship, they not only transform the factory’s fortunes but also challenge those around them to question old assumptions and embrace a more open-minded way of seeing the world.
On stage, the production bursts with infectious energy, pairing show-stopping vocals with slick choreography and a riot of colour, sparkle and attitude. Lola dominates the spotlight in the most electrifying moments, bringing glamour, wit and emotional depth in equal measure.
The result is a feel-good musical theatre experience that is as exuberant as it is heartfelt, celebrating acceptance, individuality and chosen family, all powered by Cyndi Lauper’s irresistible, award-winning score.
