Dickens Christmas House Party - The Royal Hotel
Slip back into the world of Charles Dickens with a captivating weekend at The Royal Hotel, Isle of Wight.
Step into a world of wit, warmth and wonder as The Royal Hotel proudly presents its Dickens House Party - an exclusive new weekend event celebrating Charles Dickens’ works and his rich connection to the Isle of Wight.
What's On
The Royal Hotel, Ventnor, has announced the return of its Dickens House Party, following the success of its inaugural event earlier this year.
Taking place from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026, the weekend will again be hosted by Ian and Gerald Dickens, great-great-grandsons of Charles Dickens, and will feature Gerald Dickens’s much-loved one-man performance of A Christmas Carol.
The February event received glowing guest feedback, with comments including “an absolutely fantastic weekend”, “another Dickens triumph” and “truly memorable.” Now The Royal is bringing the house party back with a seasonal twist, combining Dickensian storytelling, Victorian charm, fine dining, island scenery and relaxed hospitality in one of the Isle of Wight’s most historic hotels. Charles Dickens stayed at The Royal in 1838 - before later staying much longer at Winterbourne House in Bonchurch.
The weekend opens on Friday evening with a welcome drink hosted by Ian and Gerald Dickens, including light-hearted extracts from Dickens’s works and anecdotes from the author’s life and family history, followed by dinner in The Royal’s 2 AA Rosette Geranium Restaurant.
On Saturday, guests can step further into Dickens’s world. Options include following the self-guided Charles Dickens Trail, exploring places connected with the author’s time on the Isle of Wight, or enjoying a closer look at Dickens family memorabilia, accompanied by readings and personal reflections.
There will also be time to explore Ventnor and the surrounding area before the highlight of the weekend: Gerald Dickens’s acclaimed performance of A Christmas Carol, which he has performed to audiences around the world.
The evening continues with a specially created seven-course tasting experience from The Royal’s award-winning Head Chef, Jacob Gough, with guests also able to round off the night with an optional Smoking Bishop, the warm Victorian mulled wine drink famously mentioned in A Christmas Carol.
Matthew Brooks, Director of Marketing at The Royal, said:
“The first Dickens House Party showed how much affection there is for Charles Dickens, for his Isle of Wight connections, and for the unique experience Ian and Gerald Dickens bring to The Royal. For November, A Christmas Carol gives the weekend a wonderful festive centrepiece. It promises to be atmospheric, entertaining and very special — the kind of weekend our guests will remember long after they leave.”
Booking Information
Prices start from £585 per room for a two-night stay in a Classic King/Twin Room including return car ferry and access to the full programme (excluding optional items).
Special prices are offered for Single Room bookings and for island residents.
For more details (including pricing for island residents) and to book, visit: The Royal Hotel Website
or contact the team at The Royal below
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 01983 852186.
Getting There
By car: The Royal Hotel Address: The Royal Hotel, Belgrave Road, Ventnor, Isle of Wight PO38 1JJ
By bus: Take Southern Vectis No. 1 from Newport and change to either number 6 or number 3. Plan your journey here.
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