Theatre Royal Plymouth

You're settling in for a proper night out, and the last thing you want is mediocre pre-theatre grub that'll have you regretting your choices halfway through Act One. Thankfully, the Theatre Royal's café gets it right – this isn't your typical cultural venue canteen serving sad sandwiches and overpriced wine. The location on Royal Parade puts you right in the thick of Plymouth's theatre district, and the atmosphere buzzes with that particular energy of people gearing up for a show. The menu's more thoughtful than you'd expect, with decent mains that won't leave you hungry during the interval, plus they actually know how to pour a proper drink. It's the sort of place that makes the whole evening feel more civilised – you can grab a bite, have a chat, and slide seamlessly into your seats when the curtain's ready to rise.