The Gift immersive dinner show at The Old Market, Hove, 2-23 December

Part gig, part theatre, the audience-led show runs for three weeks until 23 December. Tickets are £47.50 and include a shareable feast.

Tim Graichi Cucarella

Published 21:01, Saturday, 14 November 2026 · Updated 21:24, Saturday, 14 November 20262 min read

The Gift, the immersive midwinter dinner show at The Old Market, Hove, 2 to 23 December

The Old Market in Hove is bringing back The Gift, its immersive midwinter dining experience, for three weeks from Wednesday 2 to Wednesday 23 December 2026. The venue describes it as part gig, part theatre and fully fun.

Book tickets: theoldmarket.com, The Gift, or call the box office on 01273 201 801 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm). Tickets are £47.50 and include a shareable feast.

It is co-produced and hosted each night by award-winning director and writer Mella Faye, artistic director of Pecho Mama. A cast of cabaret artists, musicians, clowns and performers sets the evening going, but where it ends up depends on the choices the audience makes. No two shows are the same.

"Last year, we came to The Old Market with a crazy idea: what if we did whatever the audience desired and made a show out of it? The result was three weeks of experimental, joyful, funny and moving experiences that surprised us all."

Mella Faye says this year's show digs deeper into how to build worlds from a spontaneous wish from the audience. The press release says it was inspired by Berlin's Social Muscle Club, Burning Man in America and Colombia's Theatre of the Senses.

Tickets and food

Tickets cost £47.50 and include a shareable feast, with a new menu from The Old Market's food partners Circa featuring hearty festive dishes to share. Menu choices are made when booking. Group discounts are available and groups are guaranteed to be seated together. Shows are for ages 16 and over, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.