It’s a sun-kissed spring evening in Kemptown and a sense of decadence hangs in the air, for tonight sees the grand opening of Proud Cabaret Brighton (formerly the Hanbury Ballroom). The preview promises a taste of what they’ll be offering ongoing from their easily accessible position in a corner of Kemptown – fine dining, top class burlesque entertainment, tasty treats and luxurious bubbly.
So, after a few splashes of cologne we don our very best suits and find ourselves being escorted along a magenta-red carpet by exquisitely-dressed usherettes into the newest venue in the infamous Proud franchise.
The decor inside the newly refurbished ballroom is stunning, with marble flooring, antique paintings and plush velvet curtains framing a modestly-sized stage as the main focal point.
Stylish chandeliers provide the perfect mood lighting, with candles dotting each table for that authentic speakeasy ambience. A grand staircase leads us to the bar which offers a fine selection of wines, spirits and (of course) champagne, all served with a smile by smartly dressed gents and gorgeous young ladies in full Moulin Rouge-style attire.
After taking in the decadent atmosphere over a few sips of bubbly, we’re invited to take our seats for the imminent show. As we slide into our luxurious snakeskin-trimmed booth, proceedings are kicked off by our hostess for the evening, who sets the mood with sexy but fun frivolity. There’s a host of entertainment on the cards tonight, including a live Jazz vocalist, plenty of tongue-in-cheek comedy, a unicyclist striptease (yes, you heard right!) and some of the finest burlesque performers on the circuit today.
To top it all off, the food is excellent, with thoughtful, elegantly presented dishes to satisfy even the most seasoned appetites (the pork belly was to die for) . After the grand finale, the tables were cleared to reveal the marble dance floor in all it’s glory, with DJ’s and dancing into the wee small hours. We came, we schmoozed, we drank, we loved it.
Words by James Watts.
brightonballroom.com
