AS PART OF THE BALLARAT WINTER FESTIVAL
Wintertide by Candlelight
A fireside celebration at Craig’s Royal Hotel
Hidden Rooms Tour • 2-Course Dinner • Live Cello Recital
A beautiful, Winter Evening to Remember
This special evening by Hidden Lanes for the Ballarat Winter Festival continues the tradition of grand dinners in Craig’s Royal Hotel ever since the goldrush. Guests are invited to enjoy an evening of candlelight, live music, fine food, and stories in one of the city's most beautiful heritage settings.
Your ticket includes a behind-the-scenes tour of Craig's Royal Hotel, one of the oldest hotel in Ballarat, live cello recital, a two-course dinner and one included drink.
A candlelit winter evening of music, dining and stories in the historic Prince's Room at Craig's Royal Hotel. Limited to just 24 guests.
Your Evening Includes
• Guided heritage tour of Craig's Royal Hotel
• Stories of Ballarat's gold rush era and colourful past
• Two-course dinner in the historic Prince's Room
• Traditional roast turkey (or vegetarian option) with vegetables and gravy, followed by sticky date pudding.
• Live cello performance during dinner
• Candlelit atmosphere and open fireplaces
• Hosted by Hidden Lanes as part of the Ballarat Winter Festival
Event Details
Venue: Craig's Royal Hotel, 10 Lydiard Street, Ballarat Central.
Duration: Approximately 2.5 hours
Group Size: 15 to 24 people - limited to maintain a cosy and welcoming festive atmosphere
Dress: Vintage attire, or evening gowns, cocktail dresses, suits, or a collared shirt with jacket are also perfectly suited to the occasion. This is your chance to enjoy a touch of old-world elegance and become part of the atmosphere of the evening.
The Experience: As part of the Ballarat Winter Festival, Hidden Lanes invites you to experience Craig's Royal Hotel after dark. Wander through historic rooms and hear the fascinating stories of gold rush fortunes, famous guests, grand celebrations, and remarkable characters who have passed through its doors over more than 160 years.
Then settle into the elegant Prince's Room, lit by candlelight with the fireplace glowing, with a beautiful live cello and violin recital, bringing in the cosy atmosphere of a Victorian winter evening.
Enjoy a specially prepared two-course dinner while surrounded by the beauty and history of one of Australia's grand hotels.
This intimate experience combines heritage, music, storytelling, and dining to create an evening unlike anything else on the Ballarat Winter Festival program.
Photography & Video
Some photography and video recording will take place during the evening to help us capture the atmosphere of this special inaugural event.
“We were on the Craig’s Royal Hotel tour with Jarrod this afternoon and it was an amazing insight into the history of the hotel, delivered with knowledge and humour by our host.”
- Caine
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Meet in the main foyer of Craig’s Royal Hotel, 10 Lydiard St, Ballarat
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This experience goes for approximately 2.5 hrs
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On street parking is available on Lydiard Street, or in surrounding streets.
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For assistance in booking please email hello@hiddenlanes.com.au or call 0455528741 or 0455528733
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We can accommodate vegetarian, gluten-free and dairy-free requests with advance notice. As this is a set-menu event, we are unable to cater for allergies, coeliac disease, or severe dietary requirements.
This tour was developed on the Country of the Wadawurrung who have performed age old cultural ceremonies, celebrations and traditions here for thousands of years. We would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Elders past and present.