Greenwich Pre Theater Dinner Picker: Village Plates First

Greenwich gives you three very different kinds of show within a short distance. Greenwich Theatre sits at the foot of Crooms Hill on the edge of the park, Up the Creek has been one of London's favourite comedy rooms for years, and the O2 rises on the peninsula across the water. Each one asks for a different dinner. A sensible pre theater dinner picker here starts by asking whether you will stay in the village or cross the river after you eat.

Greenwich Theatre is the kind of local playhouse that London used to have in every borough. The building is modest, the audience is loyal and the programme ranges from classic drama to family shows and touring musicals. Regulars include retired couples who walk down from Blackheath, students from the university by the river and parents introducing children to their first proper play.

For this theatre, eat in the village itself. The streets around the market and the church are full of small restaurants, cafés and old pubs, and almost all of them are a few minutes from the theatre door. You can take a relaxed table, order without rushing and still have time for a stroll past the shopfronts before the bell rings for the audience to take their seats.

The village dining rooms know the theatre crowd well. Many of them see the same faces every season, and staff often ask what you are seeing before you mention it. If they do, it is a good sign. Tell them how long you have, and let them steer you towards dishes that come out quickly. Slow-cooked specials can wait for a weekend lunch.

Comedy changes the rhythm of the evening. The room is lively, the drinks flow and the acts often start with a compère warming up the crowd. A heavy three-course dinner beforehand is the wrong choice. You want something satisfying but light enough that you can laugh comfortably for a couple of hours, and ideally a meal that leaves room for a drink at the bar.

Pub food suits comedy well. Greenwich has historic pubs close to the river and the market, many with dining rooms that serve generous plates without fuss. Pick one near the club, sit by a window and watch the town go by. If you are in a group, sharing platters keep things simple and save the hassle of splitting a long bill when everyone is keen to get going.

If you do this, leave a generous margin. The journey itself is short, but the queues at the arena entrance and the security checks can take much longer than expected. Finish dinner, walk to the pier or the station and allow time for the crowds. Arriving relaxed means you can find your seat, buy a drink and settle in before the first act starts.

The river boat is the most memorable way across. Watching the lights of Canary Wharf and the dome of the arena from the water turns the journey into part of the evening. It also gives you a moment to digest after dinner. On cold nights, sit inside the cabin and enjoy the view through the windows rather than braving the deck.

Families heading to the O2 for a big show often find the evening easier if children eat a proper meal in the village first. Arena snacks rarely make a satisfying dinner, and tired children cope better with a full stomach. A simple pizza or pasta place near the market is a dependable pick that keeps everyone cheerful on the trip across.

Skip the restaurants on the main tourist approach from the pier if you are short on time. They are convenient and often busy, but they are geared to day visitors and can be slow in the evening rush. A few minutes' walk into the side streets brings you to quieter rooms where the staff have more time and the food tends to arrive faster.

On a weekend, the market area can be crowded right up to the evening, and finding a table without a plan is harder than on a weeknight. Contact the restaurant earlier in the week if you have your heart set on a particular place. On weeknights, walking in and asking for a table usually works well, especially if you arrive early in the evening.

If dinner runs slow, do not panic. For the village theatre, the walk is so short that a few extra minutes rarely matter. For the O2, ask for the bill early and leave dessert. A coffee and something sweet in the arena itself is easier than missing the opening songs. If the boat is full, the Jubilee line is a reliable back-up from North Greenwich.

The Karpo APP can help you choose quickly. Tell Karpo whether you are seeing a play, a comedy night or a show at the O2, how many of you are eating and how long you have. Karpo will suggest places in the right part of Greenwich and explain why each fits, then you can contact the restaurant directly to confirm the details.

Greenwich is well connected, with trains, the Docklands Light Railway and river boats all stopping nearby. Pick the route that ends closest to your restaurant rather than the theatre, then walk the last part. It is a pretty walk through the old streets and gives you a chance to see the town before it gets dark.

Wrap up warmly in winter. The wind off the river can be sharp, especially on the walk to the pier or across the peninsula. A scarf and gloves make the difference between a pleasant crossing and a miserable one. Afterwards, the village is a lovely place for a nightcap before heading home.