Don't mention the Waldorf

Fawlty Towers is brought to life for run of Irish dates

- DEREK FOLEY

I'M SITTING in the dining room of what appears to be a very famous hotel in Torquay from the 1970s.

Owner Basil is shouting at the Spanish waiter the madcap Manuel - and Sybil's condescension permeates the air.

Welcome to the "Faulty" Towers Dining Experience, which is taking place at House venue in Dublin's Leeson Street, to the delight of fans of the old BBC series.

A smash-hit in London, it's now come to Ireland, where shows take place in Dublin, Kildare and Cork over the next month, starting off with a five night run in the luxurious city spot.

The swish venue has been transformed for a week into that chaotic, dysfunctional, functional hotel, set in the seaside town in Devon.

It's just like being on the set of Fawlty Towers, the classic comedy written by and starring John Cleese and often voted the best sitcom in TV history.

Hard to believe only 12 episodes were spread over two series, written by the famous Monty Python comedian Cleese (Basil) and co-star Connie Booth, who plays the waitress Polly in the shows.

Diners at House become a guest in their own Fawlty Towers' world and interact with the show's three main protagonists.