REALBrighton.com



Brighton's hotels...

Brighton hotels

Tell us when you're coming and REALBrighton will tell you the best deals available!

search

Brighton's best...

The Black & White Masked Ball 2006

The Black & White Masked Ball 2006

title The Black & White Masked Ball 2006
  Monkey
venue Stanmer House
review date Saturday, 16 December 2006
words by Sam Milford

REALBrighton review

Billed as the most glittering, glamorous event of the season - this party had a lot to live up to. The Black & White Masked Christmas Ball was something very, very special.

From the moment the stretch limousines, taxis and coaches pulled up to the gorgeous manor house it was obvious that this was going to be a night to remember! With lights pulsating all over the building, snow blowing over the entrance, with fire-breathers billowing walls of flames at the approaching vehicles, with stiltwalkers greeting the guests and with everyone turned out in all their black and white finery - the evening got off to a flying start before we'd even set foot inside...

loved it!

Were you there? Did you have a great time? Be the first to tell us what you loved about this event!

You must be logged in to tell us why you loved it - if you're not already a member then our new membership form takes just 30 seconds to complete and can be done by clicking on this link.

the photos...

Carriages at Six...

Carriages at Six...
photos by Sam Milford

VaVoom provided the perfect gathering point for the Black and White crowds as we waited for our transportation to the sumptuous Stanmer House party. Many G&Ts were drunk, many bow-ties re-tied, and many final adjustments to costumes were made as our private bus awaited.

view review

Dinner is Served...

Dinner is Served...
photos by Sam Milford

Loved the food, loved the service, loved the company... surely this is what Christmas is all about.

view review

Cabaret!

Cabaret!
photos by Sam Milford

Obviously no evening of high class festivities would be complete without some very fine cabaret to entertain us after dinner. Tonight Lola Lasagne held the show together with her usual polished professionalism and brought us the very talented Tina C (marry me!), Dolly Rocket (I once ate a pork pie from between her bosoms) and Rowetta - who seemed to have half the audience on stage stealing her show. A truly sparkling evening!

view review

More Cabaret!

More Cabaret!
photos by Tim Nash

Just in case you wanted a few more cabaret pics, here they are!

view review

Dancing the night away

Dancing the night away
photos by Sam Milford

Having had time for the Christmas dinner to settle during the cabaret (although I'm not sure that laughing-until-you-cry is the best way to let your dinner settle), it was time for Stanmer House to convert itself into a nightclub for the remainder of the night.

view review

Black & White Monkeys

Black & White Monkeys
photos by Sam Milford

Just as one party ended, so another was building to a climax. The official after-party for the Black and White ball was held at Monkey, where guests joined the revellers to continue the night well into the not so small hours.

view review

Easy as ABF.

Easy as ABF.
photos by Sam Milford

As the lights finally came up at Monkey the sensible went off in search of their beds. And the rest of us went back to Vavoom for a final, final nightcap. One for the road, as it were. An ABF, as my mum would put it... an Absolute Bloody Final before bed.

view review

REALPridepride countdown

Forthcoming pride festivals...

19 days National Student Pride 2011
24th - 27th February 12

26 days Sydney Mardi Gras 2012
3rd March 12

54 days Exeter Pride
31st March 12

91 days Maspalomas Gay Pride 2012
7th - 13th May 12

95 days Belgium Pride 2012
11th - 12th May 12

114 days Capital Pride 2012 : Washington
30th May - 10th June 12

117 days Birmingham Pride
2nd - 3rd June 12

REALPride carries full details of these events and the major pride and mardi gras festivals around the world.