West End theatre submits plans for ‘self-service drinks area’ as part of remodelling

New design proposals have been submitted for a revivified foyer and exterior at the Adelphi Theatre.

The present venue, opened in 1930, was purchased and completely refurbished by the Really Useful Group (now LW Theatres), and is currently co-owned by LWT and the Nederlander Organization.

An application has been published to transform the foyer space in the much-loved Strand venue, which has previously played host to shows such as Waitress, Kinky Boots, The Bodyguard and Cats.

The designs include a remodelled ticket office, as well as mock-ups of a “self-service drinks space” that will “compliment the existing foyer bar area” in order to “alleviate current wait times.” These will be located next to the cloakroom and come with “slip resistant vinyl floor.”

There will also be a complete overhaul of the venue’s exterior, with a new ticket office entrance created where current venue posters reside

The redesign will also create space for a fully compliant wheelchair accessible WC and additional WC adjacent to the auditorium”, with access requirements also bolstered by plans to “introduce a ramp running the full width of the foyer entrance (three sets of doors instead of one set only), creating a single, fully inclusive, access to the building from Strand.”

This redesign of the entrance will coincide with a rejigged canopy, running the full length of the facade, as you can see from the photos below.

If the application is successful, the work is expected to commence in April 2026, intending to be completed by July 2026. This will come after the closure of long-running award-winning musical Back to the Future the Musical.

As far as we’re aware, no West End venue has constructed a fully integrated self-service area (similar to self-service wine bars that have become increasingly popular). The Savoy Theatre, opposite the Adelphi, does have a Moet and Vandon vending machine.