We came to The Magic Hour with high expectations, and while we did enjoy parts of the evening, we left feeling disappointed overall. Tony Middleton is clearly passionate about magic, and I particularly enjoyed the storytelling that ran throughout the show. There were some genuinely impressive moments, especially in the second half which was noticeably stronger than the first. However, much of the opening half relied on fairly basic magic tricks that you’d expect to see at a children’s party, such as the cut-and-restored rope and a disappearing handkerchief trick. They have their place, but they didn’t feel in keeping with a premium-priced evening show. The biggest disappointment was the pricing. We had Premium tickets, which cost almost £80 each - around £30 more than the standard seats. On arrival, we discovered we were in the front row of a hotel function room with only three rows of seating, making the additional cost feel impossible to justify. Even the Super Premium tickets, at around £130 each, were simply the seats next to ours with a small side table and a glass of champagne. To be honest, I don’t think even the standard ticket price reflects the overall quality of the show, let alone the premium options. Unfortunately, the audience also affected our experience. There were two families with very young children who were extremely disruptive throughout the performance. The children repeatedly shouted out, while parents’ phones rang loudly several times and typing sounds were heard. This was incredibly distracting for the other audience members and Tony himself. One mother even complained that her child hadn’t been chosen as a volunteer. It really took away from the atmosphere. For a show that starts at 8pm and is marketed as a premium evening out, I think the minimum age should be reconsidered. More broadly, the show needs to decide who it’s aimed at. The ticket prices suggest an adult experience, but several routines felt geared towards young children. Trying to cater to both audiences meant it didn’t fully satisfy either. Overall, there were certainly enjoyable moments, and the second half showed what the show is capable of. However, we still left feeling disappointed. We were fortunate that our tickets were a gift, because had we paid almost £80 each ourselves, I genuinely think we’d have been asking for a refund. I really wanted to love this show, but sadly I don’t think I could recommend it at its current price point.

Ssd to say this wasn't a good event. I could see most of the sleight of hand, swapping a clock from behind the stand. The tricks were really basic, nothing exciting. Also the advertising makes it look like the event is in a cool old room where it is actually in a bit of a dead space in the hotel. Not worth your money. Sad to have paid so much for my partners birthday present.

Wonderful theatrical and entertaining show from the charismatic Sonic. The Sheraton Grand is also a perfect setting for the atmosphere and charm of the show. Don’t miss it!

A really excellent time. Even a hard hearted committed cynic such as myself can admit how genuinely entertaining and legitimately impressive this is. Sonic is a charming host and finds a great balance between taking his own craft seriously and being winkingly self aware about it. A very pleasant surprise, highly recommended!

Really enjoyable and intimate experience in a lovely room at the Sheraton with a great atmosphere. Sonic is very approachable and sets the scene really well and builds up the evening really well.