The Novello Theatre has stood on Aldwych since 1905, one of the great Edwardian playhouses of the West End, and for over a decade now it’s been home to one of the best-loved musicals in the world. A night here deserves a proper Italian dinner beforehand, rather than something grabbed on the run.
La Ballerina Italian Restaurant is around 0.2 miles from the Novello’s door on Aldwych, a very close, easy 5-minute walk. It’s one of the nearest proper Italian restaurants to the theatre and has been serving Covent Garden for over 25 years. If you want the evening to feel considered from the first course onwards, this is where to begin it.
What’s On at the Novello Theatre Right Now
MAMMA MIA! Booking until 13 March 2027 | Age guidance: 5+ | Running time: approximately 2 hours 35 minutes, including a 15-minute interval
MAMMA MIA! has been thrilling West End audiences since it first opened over 26 years ago, and it remains one of the true feel-good phenomena of British theatre. Set on a sun-soaked Greek island, it follows a bride-to-be trying to discover the identity of her father before her wedding day, all told through ABBA’s timeless songs. It’s warm, funny, and impossible to sit through without smiling, the kind of show that sends the whole audience out onto Aldwych humming.
Please note: the production contains flashing lights. Everyone, regardless of age, needs their own ticket, and children under 16 must be accompanied by and seated next to an adult ticket-holder aged 18 or over. Children under 3 are not permitted into the theatre.
Performances run Monday to Saturday at 7.30pm, with additional matinees on Thursday and Saturday at 3pm. It’s worth checking the calendar when you book, as extra matinees are sometimes added around school holidays.
La Ballerina: 5 Minutes from the Novello Door
The Novello Theatre sits at Aldwych, London WC2B 4LD. La Ballerina is a very short walk away at 7-8 Bow Street, a comfortable 5 minutes on foot, and one of the closest proper Italian dining rooms to this stretch of Aldwych. No tube, no taxi, no stress.
That’s well worth building into your evening, especially with MAMMA MIA!’s running time of around 2 hours 35 minutes. A 5-minute walk either side still leaves plenty of room for a relaxed sit-down meal without cutting it fine before curtain-up.
Coming Out After the Show?
La Ballerina stays open late — until 11:00 PM Monday to Saturday, and 10:00 PM on Sundays. If you’d rather eat afterwards, the kitchen will still be running.
A 7.30pm evening performance should have you out by around 10.05pm, leaving a comfortable window for a proper late dinner at La Ballerina straight after. A Thursday or Saturday matinee at 3pm wraps up by around 5.35pm, making an early dinner or a leisurely late-afternoon table an easy option too. Either way, a table at La Ballerina works comfortably around Novello’s schedule.
How to Book
La Ballerina fills up on show nights, particularly at weekends, so a call or email the day before is well worth it to secure your table.
📞 Phone: +44 20 7379 6659
✉️ Email: reservations@laballerina.co.uk
🌐 Online: laballerina.co.uk/reservation/
📍 Address: 7-8 Bow Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7AH
Novello Theatre: Aldwych, London WC2B 4LD — 5 minutes’ walk
Whether you’re introducing a friend to ABBA’s greatest hits for the first time or heading back for another singalong, La Ballerina makes the whole evening easier, tastier and a great deal more Italian.
