Basiiiil, Sybil, chaos: dinner is served! 

Round & About

This week we learned of the sad passing of Prunella Scales. Liz Nicholls finds her comedy legacy lives on thanks to the hilarious Sybil & co in Faulty Towers Dining Experience 

We Brits love a bit of organised chaos, don’t we? Fawlty Towers might have only run for two series, but it’s lodged permanently in our national funny bone. And the award-winning Faulty Towers The Dining Experience is an absolute hoot, inviting guests to step into the nation’s best-loved sitcom for comedy capers, making themselves a target for thrown nuts and Basil’s withering insults. 

From the moment we took our seats in Iffley on a dark wintry night, the energy was high and the atmosphere deliciously off-kilter. Our hostess for the night, the incredible “Sybil” (Nerine Skinner) ruled the roost and had guests in stitches throughout, staying in character and that perfect bouffant wig. Sybil’s iconic outfit, as well as her trademark snark and screeching laughter were alive and well to tickle everyone’s funny bones, which felt spookily poignant on the same day as her creator, Prunella Scales, died. 

Basil, played by Stanley Eldridge, was a revelation. His tightly-wound rage, perfectly timed outbursts, and iconic moments – including the unforgettable goose-step – had the audience roaring. Every twitch, glare, and muttered insult captured the very essence of the legendary hotelier, making it impossible not to be both terrified and delighted in equal measure. Stanley’s anchored the chaos with brilliance and comedic precision. 

And then there was Manuel, played to perfection by Adam Rhys-Davies. In all his pathetic, sweaty chaos, he had the room in stitches, from collecting “dirty bowels” to coaxing a reluctant guest into being a bull for his matador antics. Every flustered stumble and exaggerated gesture was met with delighted laughter, proving that slapstick never goes out of style. 

By the time dessert rolled around, it was clear that everyone was having a ball. I haven’t seen such enthusiasm in a room for years, everyone fully embracing the good old-fashioned fun brought to life by this talented cast, even with bread rolls chucked at them, as well as accusations of being a communist aimed right at a fellow vegetarian diner.  

Faulty Towers: The Dining Experience serves chaos, comedy and sheer entertainment in equal measure, and we were really well fed (I did feel for the real hotel staff, trying to serve food amid the volleys). There are lots more UK dates around the country, including a Christmas special. Arrive early to hit the bar and sit back to enjoy some proper old-fashioned belly laughs.