Proud Cabaret City

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Venue Image
1 Mark Lane (corner of Mark Lane and Dunster Court),
The City,
London,
EC3R 7AH

(020) 7283 1940

The ViewLondon Review

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Review byPru Engel04/02/2010
Bring your sequins, feathers and tassels along for a 1920s-style night of glamour at this all-in-one cabaret club, restaurant and bar.

The Venue
Below the grey and dreary streets of the City, and the staid institutions and concrete streets close to Monument Tube, this burlesque, cabaret and jazz club (the newest addition to the Proud live entertainment venues across London) pumps with colour and life. Hidden behind an ordinary office building you’ll see the windows lit up with bright globes like a showgirl’s dressing room mirror and find the darkened staircase leading you down to an alluring, decadent den dappled with the glow from Gothic candelabras and lavender lighting. Round tables set with starchy white cloths sit expectantly in front of a circular stage draped with heavy scarlet curtains. Leave your blushes at the door, as this stage will treat you to sexy, fleshy performances by top burlesque acts, risque comedy and live jazz. Each day plays host to a different kind of act, so some nights you can enjoy old-school Hollywood jazz and cabaret, while on other evenings you’re treated to burlesque or musical comedy.

The Atmosphere
Flamboyance and theatrics are the order of the day at Proud Cabaret and you’re guaranteed lively entertainment and glamorous displays. Waitresses in flapper dresses or corsets and skimpy shorts attend to a fun-seeking crowd, while friendly bartenders serve with flair when the show is over and the dancing continues till 3am. On Thursdays and Saturdays, the atmosphere is electric as performers from the Tassel Club take to the stage. Entertainers include red-lipped sirens like the curvy Miss Polly Rae, a burlesque performer taking inspiration from 1940s' Hollywood glamour, who elegantly strips down to glittery negligee. For the more demure, there are musical comedy acts that generate some giggles. The eclectic crowd (a mix of young and old, and couples and groups of every ilk) engage with the performers and hosts to create a spirited, enjoyable ambience. Everyone at Proud Cabaret is here to have a good time.

The Food
Proud Cabaret runs a popular supper club, where you can get a three-course meal and a show for £35 on Mondays and Tuesdays, and £37.50 from Wednesday to Saturday. A luxury version of the menu costs £45-£47.50 depending on the day. The great entertainment makes up for the food, which is a little lacklustre. It features traditional British favourites: starters include creamy prawn cocktail or a hearty Jerusalem artichoke soup; mains include slow roast pork; and for desserts there's Eton Mess and Banoffee pie. A winter risotto is quite dry and stodgy, while the special Proud’s shepherd’s pie is aromatic and flavourful but quite odd - it substitutes mash for whole new potatoes.

The Drink
If you’re just dropping in for the show and not having dinner, there are plenty of tipples to tempt you at the bar. There is a huge selection of spirits (at least 10 choices each of gin, vodka, rum and brandy, and over 20 whiskies), starting from £3.20, and a wide choice of original cocktails. With some taking inspiration from glamorous leading ladies, concoctions include the punchy Ginger Rogers (tequila, pineapple and ginger, £8.50), and the crisp and bubbly Bettie Page (Beefeater gin, cucumber, sage syrup and fizz, £8). For a seriously daring hit, try Death in the Afternoon (Pernod, absinthe and fizz). If you’re more straight down the line, there are beers (Stella, Estrella, Heineken, Peroni) from £3.80 and an average selection of softs and juices. A smallish wine list of tipples by the glass (4/5 choices of sparkling, red, white and 1 rose) starts from £3.50. There is much more vino choice by the bottle, starting from £14, with a great mix of old and new world tipples. Good prices, since this is the City after all.

The Last Word
Glitzy, glamorous and down-right entertaining, kicking your heels up at Proud Cabaret has all the makings of a great night out.

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