Eat, Drink and Be Merry – Inside London’s Joyous Christmas Tradition at Brick Lane Music Hall

Tucked away in East London, Brick Lane Music Hall has become a festive pilgrimage for generations of Londoners. Each winter, founder and host Vincent Hayes MBE transforms the venue into a glittering celebration of community, comedy, and Christmas spirit - complete with music, laughter, and plenty of mince pies. This year’s brand-new production, The Magic of Christmas (running 19th November – 19th December), continues the tradition in true music hall style: part show, part party, and all heart. Vincent tells us why the festive season at Brick Lane is unlike anywhere else, how audiences set the tone night after night, and why keeping the “eat, drink and be merry” spirit alive matters more than ever.

Brick Lane Music Hall’s Christmas production is now a long-standing highlight of the festive calendar. Why do you think it’s become such a tradition for so many people?

Brick Lane Music Hall is a unique venue, and many of our regulars have been coming for many years. For the Christmas show in particular, we find that people like to bring along friends and family - how many places are there where you can find three generations of one family around the same table?

The Magic of Christmas offers different experiences depending on the time of day, from afternoon tea to lunch to dinner and dancing. How does the atmosphere change between those performances?

Music hall has always been a combination of the three elements - eat, drink, and be merry. Once people have had their meal, they’re much more relaxed to be able to enjoy the show. People are often more relaxed in the evening, so that can have an effect, and sometimes audiences can be a bit quiet until they’ve had their afternoon tea (which is served in the interval), so can spring to life in the second half - but it very much depends on the audience on the day. Some groups can be very quiet (what we call those that “smile loudly”) but then say they have had the best time ever, others almost form a conga line coming in through the door (you know who you are…)!

Music halls originated in 18th-century taverns where people ate, drank and joined in with the performers. Is Brick Lane Music Hall keeping that legacy alive for the newer generations who often associate entertainment with screens?

Without a doubt. Fashions may come and go, but tradition remains constant. Even the young people that come and say they don’t know any of the songs find that they do! Whether they realise it or not, music hall is in their DNA.

How does Christmas at Brick Lane Music Hall compare to your memories of Christmas growing up?

It’s a complete contrast, and probably why Christmas at Brick Lane Music Hall is so special for me. As a child growing up in London as part of an Irish Catholic family, we never celebrated Christmas at all - it was centred around the 11o’clock mass on Christmas Day. So, I’ve been able to create my own Christmas experience, to acknowledge the time of year and to celebrate it: as a time of family, of closeness, of celebration.

The show runs from 19th November to 19th December; how do you keep the energy and magic alive across a month of performances?

Well, really the audience does it. Our shows are all audience-driven, and every show the audience are there for the first time. So, we do the show through their eyes, so it’s never stale, it’s never repetitious, it’s always a first night. 

The Magic of Christmas runs at Brick Lane Music Hall from 19^th November to 19^th December. For tickets and more information, visit: https://www.bricklanemusichall.co.uk/