ON IN London visits… Copacabana at The London Cabaret Club
Ever wanted to step back in time and experience life in a different decade? Thanks to a new experience in the capital, you can.
Introducing Copacabana – a fiery dinner and show hosted at The London Cabaret club in Bloomsbury, where you’ll be transported to the 1940-60s, with a sprinkle of the 80s for good measure.
As the well-known song by icon Barry Manilow goes, this is ‘the hottest spot north of Havana’, with music and fashion always the passion.
ON IN London visited the venue last week and it was a colourful – and unforgettable – affair from the moment we stepped inside the doors, listening to the dulcet tones of a singer while sipping champagne cocktails in the lounge.
But this was just the warm-up.
Everyone was dressed to the nines, with stilettos, suits and glittering outfits as far as the eye can see. Top tip: don’t wear jeans. This is central London at its finest.
We’re all ready for a good party and the Copacabana crew aims to please.
The main performance takes place next door in a grand hall located in the basement of the Grade II-listed VictoriaHouse, and the building’s neoclassical decor perfectly suits the occasion.
There are so many layers to this production.
From electric group performances to sultry solos, an acrobatic duo who defy the laws of gravity, and a whole host of dance styles – like salsa, meringue and samba, with music blasting through the speakers.
The outfits are well-thought-out and just as important as the performance itself, with a carnival theme inspired by Rio de Janeiro (think feathers, glitter, bum cheeks on display) plus evening wear, skintight gowns and a few Hawaiian shirts here and there.
And there are endless outfit changes. This is a fashionista’s dream, if you don’t mind a bit of light almost-nudity with your sequins.
It’s difficult to explain just how enigmatic these skilled dancers are. There are also four singers, two women and two men, and one artist in particular has a booming voice that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up in the best way possible.
Our favourite set includes a corde lisse circus act with the aforementioned acrobat couple swirling through the air with nothing but a thick red rope suspended from the roof to support them, as well as the final group performance and the inevitable conga line that forms towards the end of the night – with the crowd cheerfully joining in.
There are a few solo guests in attendance (we love to see this kind of power move) as well as couples, hen dos, birthday party groups and more. Basically, everyone is welcome, which just makes the experience even better.
Dinner is served as the show goes on, with those holding ‘Diamond tickets’ seated on a raised platform; it’s an excellent viewpoint though we can’t help but want to be closer to the action. The service is superb with the waiters and hosts swiftly moving around to avoid interrupting your viewing.
Our scallop starter was delicious, but there was only one little solo scallop on the plate – we were left feeling peckish before the main arrived. It came in the form of a beautifully cooked steak (hats off to the chef, it will melt in your mouth) with an unfortunately overcooked potato.
The dark chocolate mousse dessert was nice but just a tad too heavy in flavour, and needs something sour or sweet to balance it out like a dollop of raspberry sauce. On the whole though, we were pleased with the meal.
There are several food options, including vegetarian choices. A host will present you with a menu when you first arrive at the club and ask you to choose your dishes so that the service runs smoothly once the dancers take to the stage.
The drinks list is pricey (and that’s putting it lightly) but this is central London, after all.
As for the show, we have (almost) no complaints. Most of the performances were incredible, barring two; a set with two dogs that didn’t really add much to the production (one of the animals looked very uncomfortable) and a bizarre, slightly more modern dance act by a group of women wearing skimpy lingerie.
Unlike the showgirl performances we had seen so far, this wasn’t sensual or sexy, but felt more like something you’d see at a strip club.
These momentary disappointments aside, the rest of the show was a smashing hit.
If you’re bored of weekend pints at the pub or bottomless brunches, we definitely recommend you visit the Copa-copacabana.
But beware, Manilow’s hit song will stay in your head for days afterwards…
Ticket prices range from £40 to £130 depending on what kind of package you choose. The party continues until 21 October every Thu, Fri and Sat. To book tickets, visit https://www.thelondoncabaretclub.com/copacabana
Written by: Almara Abgarian
