Following its four Olivier nominations and critical and audience acclaim for the new British musical THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, The Ambassadors Theatre are thrilled to launch a new custom-built pub at the venue, ‘The Pickled Crab’, based on the fictional drinking house on the North Cornish Coast, where Benjamin Button meets the only woman he will ever love. The newly designed space invites audience members to experience the world of the production in a unique theatrical setting in London’s West End.
The Pickled Crab is open six days a week, providing Cornish treats, from pasties to ales, including Proper Job on draught. The space is open to the public ahead of each performance and remains open until the end of the interval. During double-show days (Tuesday and Saturday) the bar continues to trade between shows. Full opening times below.
It is designed by the show’s creator, writer and director Jethro Compton and constructed by Datum Production Solutions.
The show’s creator, writer, director and designer, Jethro Compton said, “It’s so exciting that we’re the first theatre to build our own pub right in the heart of the West End. “The Pickled Crab” is the drinking house in the show where Benjamin falls in love – to actually bring it to life was such a joy. It’s filled with all things Cornish and hundreds of little details that expand the world of the show out into the streets of London.”
The foot-stomping new musical,THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is now playing at the West End’s Ambassadors Theatre until 30 August 2025.
Who’s in the cast?
Olivier Award nominee Clare Foster stars as Elowen Keene, alongside Olivier Award winner John Dagleish as Benjamin Button.
Completing the company are Katy Ellis, Matthew Burns, Jonathan Charles, Oonagh Cox, Anna Fordham, Philippa Hogg, Damien James, Elliot Mackenzie, Ann Marcuson, Jack Quarton and Benedict Salter.
Creative team
With a breathtaking soundtrack brought to life by an extraordinary actor-musician ensemble, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic short story is relocated to a fishing village on the north coast of Cornwall by writing team Jethro Compton and Darren Clark.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is based on the short story of the same name by F. Scott Fitzgerald, author of The Great Gatsby and The Tender and the Damned.
What’s the show about?
An electrifying journey through the timeless tale of a love that defies all odds, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON is an enchantingly beautiful and truly unordinary musical that reminds us to make every second count.
Under the light of a full moon, something most curious occurs… Benjamin Button is born old. Bound to the fate of growing younger each day, Benjamin wants nothing more than to live a little life. But will he ever find a place to belong? Only time and tide will tell…
What did I think of THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON?
Watching this show made we realise how much we need to see an actor-muso (where the actors on stage also play the instruments) production of Come From Away – that would be sensational. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON has just won the Olivier Award for Best New Musical and so I was very excited to finally get to see the show everyone has been raving about. I started my night with a drink in the ‘Pickled Crab’ – a new pop up bar outside the front of the theatre. It was a lovely experience as the sun was shining and I went back at the interval as the line for the bar was much shorter than inside the auditorium (top tip there).
The show itself is very cute. Set it Cornwall, it’s a folklore tale with music to match. Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic short story, which was turned in to a 2008 Hollywood blockbuster film starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, it is the story of a man who ages in reverse. It’s a strange concept and not something I would think to translate into a musical. The man is born old and about to die but day by day he gets younger until eventually he is so young he disappears.
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button is a very good new musical and I hope it stays around for a long time. I’m glad I saw it, and if you go you’ll have a lovely time.
★★★★
Tickets to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Additional information
Booking until
30 August 2025
Show Times
Mon – Wed at 19:00
Thu – Sat at 19:30
Tue at 13:30
Sat at 14:30
Running Time
2 hours 30 minutes incl. interval
Theatre
Ambassadors Theatre
Age Recommendation
12+
Access Performances
Signed Performance – Wednesday 14 May 2025 19:00
