The Magic of Christmas at Brick Lane Music Hall

The stunning exterior all ready for Christmas

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There’s something wonderfully comforting about stepping into Brick Lane Music Hall at Christmas — as if London suddenly remembers its talent for joy, sparkle, and a bit of cheeky fun. This year’s festive offering, The Magic of Christmas, delivers all of that in abundance, wrapping up tradition, community spirit, and unapologetic variety-theatre glamour into one gloriously overstuffed seasonal parcel.

The venue itself — now firmly settled in Silvertown (do not go to Brick Lane! Nearest station is City Airport) — feels like part of the event. It’s a story I’ve always loved: when the original Brick Lane home could no longer house the growing ambitions of the show and the development pressures of East London crept ever closer, the team had to move finally finding a derelict church in this unlikely corner of E16 and turned it into one of the city’s most distinctive theatrical spaces. What once seemed an out-of-the-way move has become part of the charm — a pilgrimage to a hall that absolutely knows what it is and who it serves.

Inside, it’s all warmth, glitter, and nostalgia. Scenic designer Chris Floyd, with co-designer Shannon Topliss, has filled the church with details that feel hand-touched and magical but also a bit tongue-in-cheek. It’s the kind of design that never shouts but quietly glows, which is very much the Brick Lane style.

And then the show begins — and “glow” doesn’t quite cover it.

The singing throughout is spirited, rich, and full of personality. At times the treble-heavy sound design pushed the upper notes a little too brightly, but it never dampened the enthusiasm on stage or the joy in the room. What really struck me was the sheer scale of the production values: the number of costume changes alone could give a West End musical a complex. Sequins to tartan to velvet to feathers and to the unfrocked vicar — this is not a show that skimps.

One of the evening’s standout performers, Victoria Yellop, seems to have stepped straight out of a Christmas-card illustration, only with considerably more talent. Effortlessly combining dancing with playing the violin and not just playing, but playing beautifully — she’s a force. Her CV includes performances for the Royal Family, including the late Queen, and that elegance absolutely reads on stage. She’s poised, she’s precise, and she’s a delight.

Watch out for those hands!

But of course, the gravitational centre of the entire event is Vincent Hayes MBE, the founder and host, who looks uncannily like a younger, far better-looking Frankie Howerd. He speaks, however, with the soft, rolling drawl of Jools Holland — an irresistible combination. His sections are pure 1970s saucy humour, but crucially without the unpleasant edges that era sometimes carried. Instead, everything is affectionate, inclusive, and warm. His ad-libs, especially with a coach party of “mature” audience members, had the room roaring. You can feel the community heartbeat he’s cultivated over decades — and the crowd soaks it up.

One of the loveliest touches came when he paused the show to invite the kitchen team, the waiting staff, and even the technical crew to take a bow. It’s rare to see that kind of acknowledgment treated not as a gesture but as a core part of the event. It tells you everything you need to know about the ethos of this place.

The three-piece band — under musical director Scott Hayes — deserve their accolades too. Tight, nimble, and always ready with a musical punchline, they seem to enjoy themselves as much as the audience.

The food is exactly what you’d hope for at a festive variety show: honest, seasonal, unfussy. Tomato and red pepper soup to start; turkey with all the trimmings (or nut roast for the veggies); then Christmas pudding with custard. No theatrics, just solid, well-cooked plates served with a smile that keep the atmosphere social and cheerful.

A couple of tiny quibbles. The country-and-western medley didn’t quite sit comfortably within the rest of the show’s palette — it felt like a shiny ornament that didn’t match the tree. And occasionally the spotlighting leaned a bit too white, washing some of the cast out. But honestly? These are small bumps in an otherwise well-sanded sleigh ride.

Every Christmas needs sparkle and a Dame

The Magic of Christmas is exactly what Brick Lane Music Hall does best: joy, laughter, community, and a reminder that sometimes the most festive thing you can do is sit in a room with strangers, eat something warm, listen to people sing their hearts out, and laugh until your face aches. It’s old-fashioned in all the right ways — and still completely alive.

Brick Lane Music Hall 443 North Woolwich Road, London E16 2DA

Dates: 19th November – 19th December 2025

Matinee with Christmas Tea: £55 p/p

Afternoon with Three-Course Lunch: £65 p/p

Evening with Three-Course Dinner & Dancing: £69.50 p/p

Group rates available

Booking: