Their shows are captivating, fun and the chemistry between the boys on stage makes for a performance like no other. Never a dull moment!  They have a wide experience playing  not only in the UK but in France, Germany and beyond. They have supported Lee Rocker of The Stray Cats and played at many prestigious venues.  Their performances have been described as wild, breathtaking, exhilarating and ‘high-octane’…

Their music is however, not just for Rock n Roll fans. All shapes and sizes can enjoy watching what is not just a music concert, but an enthralling show.

Also featuring our hot resident DJ’S ‘BREEZE’ & ‘DAMIEN JAMES’

DOORS OPEN 8.30PM / SHOW STARTS 10.30PMish

Bringing back LAS PISTOLAS!

LAS PISTOLAS hit the road, fresh from their new album release “Deadly Combination” on the infamous Western Star records. They have shared stages with some of  the biggest names in rockabilly and psychobilly from around the globe, be prepared for Rockabilly Mayhem.

With the twang of “Benny the Rooster’s” guitar and thump of “Sideshows” dawghouse, plus drummer “Howlin Hailstorm Howie” they are not to be stopped!

Call them Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Rock N Roll, call them what you like.

The Band is LAS PISTOLAS the Sound is LAS PISTOLAS.

Also featuring our hot resident  DJ’S ‘BREEZE’ & ‘DAMIEN JAMES’

DOORS OPEN 8.30PM / SHOW STARTS 10.30PMish

Buy one Cocktail, Get one Complimentary 8.30-10.30pm

DOLLY DELIGHTS ‘Valentine Villains’

Bi-monthly sell out burlesque showcase. Expect comedic mayhem, Witches, cupids, heartbreakers, valentine villains and a whole lotta fun! The Hostess with the mostess Lily Belle will be sharing the festive sparkle.

This is a jam packed line up, we have many newbies braving the stage as duets and solos!  Headlining KITTY KANE back from her travels in Canada, bringing out her evil inner temptress!  She’ll get you under her spell!

-DIVINE DOLLS
-KITTY’S DOLLS SHOWCASE, braving the stage girls from Kitty Kanes burlesque classes! 2 large groups! Bringing some energetic routines and showcase some new faces to Annabels and to the stage!
-Belly dancing from AMEERA and her AMEERETTES.

There is limited seating, so limited tickets, to avoid disappointment book early!  Last 8 events all seated tickets sold out before the doors open, so for group bookings make sure you get in touch.

So Come Woop and holla to show your support and share the love!
DRESS TO IMPRESS!

Tickets online here http://kittysdollsburlesque.com/Burlesque-Shows(2355518).htm
Advance Tickets:
Front Table Seats (V.I.P)
£8 (limited first to buy will get, only available online), All other advance seating £6 advance
Tickets on the door £7

Doors open 8.30pm / Show starts 9.15pm (sharp) – late

A BIG JUICY HAPPY NEW YEAR to you all!

Without a doubt the Kingdom of Night Time Pleasures is going from strength to strength and we would quite simply be nothing without you. A  MAHOOSIVE THANK YOU for being part of the many magical memories made at Annabel’s in 2011.

The biggest news of the year was the addition of our new brother venue View Two to the family.  It has been an exciting time since August as we’ve settled in making big changes, hosting the Americas Cup Final Party and bringing in more Live Music to this fabulous waterside restaurant and nightclub.

We’ve greatly appreciated your continued support over these past few months and we hope you will join us as we set about our plans to refurb and rebrand View Two into one of the hottest spots on the Barbican.

Annabel’s proudly celebrated it’s fourth birthday last year in Jungle style which went down a storm with The Congo Faith Healers.  They were one of the many outstanding bands we enjoyed this year along with to name a few Voola & the Jayhawks, Rollo Markee & The Tailshakers, The Mamboleros  and Big Boy Bloater.

The show will go on in 2012 with even more dazzling style, flamboyance and flair! Not to be outdone, early this year we are bringing three new rockin bands to the stage….look out for The Rocker Covers, The Boom Booms and The Hound Dogs.

The Dolly Delights Burlesque ladies continue to outdo themselves month after month in their bi-monthly Burlesque Show.  We look forward to many more and also the new addition of ‘Divine Dolls’ featured on the weekends. For those of you who would like to take up Burlesque or Belly Dancing classes will resume on Thursday 12th January. (see below for details with our resident dancers Kitty Kane & Ameera)

Our Club Fandango Comedy Nights named after the legendary nightclub up on The Hoe are still a big favourite night out for you and the next one is planned for Thursday 19th January.

Without further ado have a browse through our website to see the treats planned for January 2012 ….and let’s get this year rockin and rollin!

See you very soon for naughty nights out

and mischievous memories ready to be made…

Love Annabel x

TAKING BOOKINGS FOR ALL CHRISTMAS SHINDIGS, PRIVATE COCKTAIL SOIREES, FESTIVE CELEBRATIONS NOW!

You could reserve an area on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and have a classy cocktail soiree in the sumptuous surroundings of Annabel’s, or a private party with entertainment and nibbles during the week?

Whatever you want to do, please get in touch to reserve or enquire further about what we can offer you.

Annabels – Telephone 01752 260 555 E-mail info@annabelscabaret.co.uk

We have the option of buffets, DJ’s, Live entertainment and more!

Tis the season to PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!!! ]]> http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/taking-bookings-for-all-christmas-shindigs-private-cocktail-soirees-festive-celebrations-now/feed/ 0 http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/new-belly-dancing-classes-with-miss-belly-dance-uk-2011/ http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/new-belly-dancing-classes-with-miss-belly-dance-uk-2011/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:10:29 +0000 Esther http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/?p=4276 Read the Rest...]]> THURSDAYS – STARTING 15th SEPTEMBER 2011 – 8pm TO 9pm

Learn the Art of Belly Dancing with Ameera, resident belly dancer at Annabel’s Cabaret and winner of this year’s national competition “Miss Belly Dance UK”.

She will show you some movements that come naturally to the female bodyshape. You will learn some fun, dynamic and easy to follow routines.

By taking the classes you will be offered the opportunity to take part in Ameera’s show “Jewels of the Night” on Thursday 3rd November at Annabel’s Cabaret!

£6 per session or
£20 4-week course to be booked in advance
£35 8-week course to be booked in advance

No dance experience required. Min age 14.

To book your space
Contact Ameera:
07971 847694
ameera@ameeradance.com
Or contact Annabels:
01752 260555
info@annabelscabaret.co.uk
****************************

French born Ameera who initially trained in flamenco, jive and lindy hop, has since discovered and developed her love and passion for Egyptian Oriental dancing. She has trained and performed internationally on 3 continents, in theatres, nightclubs, restaurants, weddings, hen parties and charity events. She won the award for best oriental dancer in a dance competition in Michigan – USA in 2006. In March 2011 Ameera won a national competition and gained the prestigious title of Miss Belly Dance UK 2011.

Ameera spent some months in Cairo experiencing its vibrant culture, and life as an oriental dancer. She performed for Egyptian women and trained there with the best international teachers and choreographers of “Danse Orientale”. She continues her study and her love of the Egyptian dance, which gives her inspiration for new and exciting material.

When Ameera is on stage, her audience is captivated by her natural flare, grace and elegance. Performer, Ameera is also an experienced dance teacher and a qualified fitness instructor. Her approachable nature and her sense of humour create a safe and fun environment for everybody to enjoy this glamorous dance.

The workshops, a beginners & intermediate, encompass a range of swing dance styles and take place on the first Friday of each month.  This month’s theme is 1920′s Charleston!

No previous knowledge is required and you don’t need a partner because the girls rotate around the class so you get to dance with lots of different people.

This Month’s Classes :Friday 1^st July – 1920′s Charleston

7.45pm Doors open, grab a cocktail and have a bit of a natter before the first class starts at 8 o’clock!

8.00pm Beginners Class, suitable for complete beginners and covers the foundations required to get you moving on the dance floor.

9.00pm Second Class, building on material from the first class.

The Charleston dates back to 1920s. At a time of prohibition, people were dancing the Charleston in  the Speakeasies and Juke Joints right across the United States. These establishments were the hedonistic epicentres of illegal drinking & gambling at a time when these pleasures were strictly forbidden by federal law. These were difficult times and people just wanted to escape their troubles and have a jolly good time. That’s what Charleston dancing is all about. It’s wild, it’s energetic and above all it’s rip-roaring fun. Forget your inhibitions and hit the town for a night of 1920s dance mayhem. Charleston can be a solo or partner dance… Duncan and Louise will be teaching couples dancing… don’t miss it!

Class spaces are limited so please reserve your place by contacting Annabel’s on 01752 260555 or email info@annabelscabaret.co.uk

Classes cost £5 each or £8 for both classes which includes FREE ENTRY for the rest of the night at Annabel’s! And there will plenty of chance to try out your moves with ‘MICHAEL CAMPARI & THE SOLAR SYSTEM’ who will be live on stage from 10.30pmish!

MICHAEL CAMPARI & THE SOLAR SYSTEM is a carefully assembled bunch of consummate musicians led by bandsman Phil Hawkes.  The band comprises of Piano, Double Bass , Drums, Trumpet, Trombone, Tenor and Alto Sax. This fresh band launched last Autumn to a glowing reviews.

This fabulous band take the classic swing tunes and breathe a new life and a certain edginess into them, making them relevant to 21st century fans of all ages, with Michael Campari himself at the forefront with his voice sweet, deep and velvety like melted chocolate. that sends shivers down the spine.

Upcoming Swing workshops at Annabel’s:

Friday 1^st July – 20s Charleston

Friday 19^th August* – 20s Charleston Routine

Friday 2^nd September – Club Balboa

Friday 7^th October – Swingtime

Friday 4^th November – Rolling and Strolling

Friday 2^nd December – A Swinging Christmas

*August’s date is not the first Friday of the month!

About Your Teachers: DUNCAN & LOUISE from MAD ABOUT SWING

Duncan and Louise front local dance group Mad About Swing which is now in its 4^th year. They began dancing together in 2003 and haven’t looked back, regularly attending dance classes and workshops all over Europe and Australia. As well as teaching locally, they have also taught alongside Lindy Hop giants Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas and UK Champions Gary and Sara Boon. Their teaching style is relaxed, friendly and packed with energy. The main emphasis of their lessons is to have fun because that’s what swing dancing is all about!

**************************

With everyone being in a Royally good mood due to Kate and Wills getting us an extra day off, well present company excepted, we have really pushed the boat out with a veritable smorgasbord of musical and dancing delights over the four day break.

Last night the Doctors and Nurses had their Pay Day Party, complete with a burlesque showcase organised by Miss Kitty Kane, and featuring her brightest stars, plus our resident DJ Jefferson Vandike spinning in the disco and Company B, banging out the tunes in the Cabaret Room.

If you have never seen Company B, look out for their next appearance!  They are one of the tightest large groups you will hear in Plymouth. Replete with the American GI look circa 1940, this band is highly stylised, but definitely not style of substance. They are quickly becoming one of our most popular and asked after bands, so make sure you see them next Bank Holiday Sunday at the end of May.

Hard on the heels of Company B, is Rockin’ The Joint, tonight taking the musical vibe up a decade or so, these guys get the dance floor in a spin with their Rock n Roll sounds. Come join our regular jump jivers and get rocking the joint!

We continue our musical journey through the years by grooving on into the 60s and 70s with the one and only Boogie Knights. Veterans of the Annabel’s stage, I cant think of a better band to fill the dance floor and get everyone shimmy and shaking into Sunday morning.

From Annabel’s regulars to Annabel’s newbies, the phenomenally named Fujalada take the stage on Sunday picking up where Freshly Squeezed and the Land of Giants left us over the last few weekends. Plenty of funk jams with a jazzy latin twist mean that these guys are one debutant you don t want to miss, so take it easy on Sunday afternoon to ensure your memory is at full capacity!

To celebrate the Bank holiday and especially, the Royal Wedding, I have decided to come up with something delicate and quintessentially English for the weekend; A cocktail that screams class and elegance, with subtle flavours that will have you thinking of a gentle English summer evening.

What could be more English than Gin, who cares that it originates in Holland, we took it, we made it better and we love it. So much so in fact that Gin is believed to have been the biggest killer of the middle class in Victorian England; Now that’s commitment! Of course neither I nor Annabel’s condone drinking THAT much Gin, (or any alcohol for that matter), but we do condone quality over quantity, and as such this cocktail is a perfect example of a good thing coming in a small package.

I had many names in mind, “Will’s Thrills”, “Royally Screwed” and my personal favourite, “Stuck in the Middleton With You”, but I felt that none of these appropriately represented the drink nor the idea behind it. So I decided on “Wedding Belle”, in homage to our future queen.

The drink consists of a Plymouth Gin base, added to fresh lemon juice and some sugar, Calvados and a few dashes of peach bitters. The drink has a floral appeal, where the Gin’s botanicals marry up with the delicate fruit notes. It is a truly refreshing drink with a long lasting and simple flavour. Whether you think its fit for a king is up to you, but give it a try in the name of Queen and Country at least!

So there we have it, we are going through the ages at Annabel’s this week from 40s swing to a very modern marriage, so whatever your era come down and banish bank holiday banality for good!

Friday 6th May marks the start of regular monthly Swing Dance workshops at Annabel’s!!!

Owing to the popularity of Annabel’s debut swing workshops at the beginning of April with the ‘Shirt Tail Stompers’, we’re devoting a regular monthly slot with local swing teachers Duncan and Louise of Mad About Swing!The classes will encompass a range of swing dance styles, with each set of classes focusing on a theme, and are scheduled to take place on the:

1ST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH.

Each evening will kick off with a beginner lesson at 8pm which will be suitable for complete beginners and will cover the foundations required to get you moving on the dance floor.

The second lesson at 9pm will be slightly harder and will build on the material from the first lesson.

No previous knowledge is required and you don’t need a partner because the girls will rotate around the class so you get to dance with lots of different people.

Classes cost £5 each or £8 for both classes which includes free entry for the rest of the night at Annabel’s.

THE FIRST CLASS – FRIDAY 6TH MAY – ‘LINDY HOP SWINGOUTS’

Lindy Hop is the Granddaddy of swing dancing and developed alongside the naissance of swing music in the early 20th Century.Duncan and Louise will guide you through the most classic of all Lindy Hop steps “The Swingout” which is at the heart of the dance. Having accomplished this step, they’ll then mix it up with a handful of variations to really get things cooking!

For Lindy Hop, flat soled shoes are recommended.

8.00pm Beginners Class
9.00pm Second Class, building on material from the first class.

One class £5, both classes £8
Prices include free entry into Annabel’s for the remainder of the night!

Class spaces are limited so please reserve your place by contacting Annabel’s on 01752 260555 or email info@annabelscabaret.co.uk

INTRODUCING ‘MAD ABOUT SWING’ – DUNCAN & LOUISE YOUR TEACHERS

Duncan and Louise front local dance group Mad About Swing which is now in its 4th year. They began dancing together in 2003 and haven’t looked back, regularly attending dance classes and workshops all over Europe and Australia. As well as teaching locally, they have also taught alongside Lindy Hop giants Ryan Francois and Jenny Thomas and UK Champions Gary and Sara Boon. Their teaching style is relaxed, friendly and packed with energy.

The main emphasis of their lessons is to have fun because that’s what swing dancing is all about!

So lets get those feet on the dancefloor and get Lindy Hoppin!

KEEP YOUR EYES POSTED FOR THE UPCOMING WORKSHOP EVENTS TOO!

We change pace on the Saturday night with the dead dark sounds of the Red Hot Trio, the only band who can really put the burr in our burlesque theme! These guys are one of the most energetic and fun Rockabilly bands on the scene, and believe me its infectious, so if you see a smartly dressed dark haired man with and ear piece attempting a solo swing dance, don’t worry too much it will just be me clearing the dance floor!

With our customary quality of musical entertainment comes our customary quality of cocktails, and I have another specially made house cocktail for the weekend. Taking its name from our Friday night group and its soul from the ‘Trio, this is a devilish cocktail that has delightful consequences. I call this one “Top Shelf Juice”, I know its not the best name I have ever used, but I had to give a nod to the fantastic Top Shelf Jazz! Note: Red Hot Trio, don’t feel left out your cocktail will come! “Top Shelf Juice” is a bourbon based cocktail, (see my Mint Julep blog for Bourbon information), which provides the fire up against the red and black fruits that give the drink its depth of flavour.

This cocktail combines crème de Mure and crème de Cassis, (that’s blackberry and blackcurrant liqueur to you and I), with a fresh Raspberry, lime and sugar base, add a dash of dry Cranberry juice to balance out the sweet and sour element and you have a fruits of the forest style cocktail

with a big alcohol flavour. It’s ‘Top Shelf Juice’! Served over crushed ice in an old fashioned or straight up, each method gives a different

perspective on the drink. Over ice takes the edge off by diluting the cocktail slightly, making it more palatable for those who prefer not to taste too much

alcohol, however I feel that the best serve is straight up where the powerful, dry flavours can be best tasted.

So with cocktail in hand I anticipate you swinging and jiving the weekend away with us here at Annabel’s. The shot of the week is coming back for summer this weekend, so don’t forget to head outside to see Karina in our bottle bar for a shot and a smile!

See you here!

Olli

FRIDAY 8TH APRIL Introducing THE SHIRT TAIL STOMPERS!

Old school Jazz for the new school vintage! Let the lessons begin… South London’s finest Musicians bringing you the hottest in Swing music, Prohibition, Swing Dance and Cabaret.

The Shirt Tail Stompers are heavily influenced by the great American band leaders and musicians of the 20s, 30s and 40s, recreating the sounds of the greatest swing bands of all time- Fats Waller, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and many more. The London based band are bringing swing music back into the mainstream with their own suave and raucous stamp.  Featuring the great vocalist Miss Salsa!

Equally at home in concert halls, festival stages and cabaret bars, the collective musician’s previous performances include The Royal Albert Hall, Cafe De Paris, Glastonbury Festival, Lovebox and Brighton Fringe Festival. They’ve even travelled across the world, playing to thrilled audiences in Australia, Italy, France, Greece, Austria, Germany and… Cornwall!

Dancing with the band will be the incredible London Jitterbug Champion Sally Young.  As one of London’s top teachers in Lindy Hop, Charleston and Authentic Jazz, she will be holding a Lindy Hop workshop earlier in the evening for those wishing to take up this fabulous, rare opportunity.

And of course our two favourite DJ’s!  Prime-time hosting from Southwest retro spinner ‘DJ BREEZE’ and top disco tunes from ‘DJ JEFFERSON VADIKE’ upstairs!

LINDY HOP BEGINNER’S & INTERMEDIATE CLASSES WITH SALLY YOUNG

Don’t miss this rare opportunity offered at Annabel’s on Friday 8th April to be taught Lindy Hop by one of the very best, “Sally Young” London Jitterbug Champion!

Beginner’s class starts 8pm followed by an Intermediate at 9pm.

And to top it off you can enjoy strutting your fresh new moves for the rest of the night with South London’s finest Swing & Jazz musicians ‘THE SHIRT TAIL STOMPER’S’.

Both classes are £5 each or £8 for both! Including free entry for the rest of the night into Annabel’s.

The class spaces are limited so please reserve your place quickly as they will be snapped up like hot cakes!

Reserve your place…..
E-mail info@shirttailstompers.com
(Payment for the class will be taken on the night.)

Read below for more info on the dance, the classes, & your fabulous Lindy Hop instructor!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Swing Dancing / Lindy Hop / Jitterbug… call it what you want, this is one of the funnest dances around, a very social dance, which once learnt can be danced with anyone across the world.

Originating in the US in the 1920s and 30s it is a partner dance regarded as the precursor to all modern dance and easily bigger than Salsa in popularity.

BEGINNER’S CLASS
(8PM – 8.45PM) £5 including free entry to Annabel’s all night!

Learn to dance in 45 minutes!
Anyone can join in, bring a partner or come by yourself, all are welcome and no experience is necessary.

You’ll be taught some basic moves and get a good taste of what Lindy Hopping is all about and is perfect for anyone looking to try something different, or looking for a fun class.

INTERMEDIATE CLASS
(9PM – 9.45PM) £5 including free entry to Annabel’s all night!

And for anyone that has danced before, there is an intermediates class where we’ll be tackling some more advanced moves but mainly focusing on how to have great communication with your dance partner.

We do suggest that if you think you are intermediate dancer that you come to both classes.

YOU ARE WELCOME TO TO DO BOTH THE BEGINNER & INTERMEDIATE!
(8PM – 10PM) £8 including free entry to Annabel’s all night!

YOUR TEACHER! INTRODUCING ‘SALLY YOUNG’
Sally is regarded as one of the top follows in the UK, gaining 1st place in both the Jack and Jill and “Fast Feet” divisions at this year’s London Jitterbug Championships. She started dancing in London aged 19 and hasn’t looked back since!

Ever since then she has been travelling the world to dance and learn from today’s best instructors. As a teacher herself, Sally taught lindy hop and authentic jazz for London’s Swingland for 3 years before recently moving on to work with international swing band The Shirt Tail Stompers as a performer, choreographer and teacher. She has taught at festivals and workshops including Girl Jam. She is also the chair for the London Lindy Exchange, one of the UK’s largest swing dance events.

Warming us up we have our usual Thursday Showdown with some of Plymouth’s hottest up and coming musical acts. The night is really starting to develop an identity of its own and each week there is an eclectic mix of music with the single common denominator of raw talent.

On Friday we have the first of two performances by the wonderful Congo Faith Healers. I’ve written a blog on these guys before, so just scroll down to read a bit about their pedigree, if you cant be bothered with that then just trust me. These guys are top class. To join in the fun we have Ameera, the queen of British belly dancing, a sultry combination of talents I’m sure you will agree.

Then Saturday, 12th March, is our official celebration with the club being transformed into a scene from Tarzan, with our Jungle theme taking hold. We’re greatly encouraging fancy dress, so we

want to see some tempting tigers, jiving jaguars and of course, plenty of cheeky monkeys!

Alongside the boys from the Congo, we have our original burlesque beauty Coco De Ville! Coco has moved onto big things in the burlesque movement and is renowned as one of the best in the country. This is one occasion when the phrase “Not To Be Missed” truly applies.

With all of that in mind, my cocktail of the weekend has to be something special. Something tropical, tempting and a little bit dangerous. So may I introduce to you, the ‘Coco Loco’!

You can imagine the Coco Loco as the crazy twin of the Pina Colada. The differences between them are both subtle and important. The Coco Loco is basically a mint and coconut daiquiri, made using fresh mint, coconut rum, golden rum, lime, sugar and pineapple juice. The key differences between this drink and the Pina Colada are that the Coco Loco is served straight up not as a long drink and that it has mint in. The herb adds a real cool edge to the drink which is so obviously absent in the instantly quaffable and creamy Pina Colada.
For a colourful twist I am going to drop a couple of dashes of bright red grenadine, which will be sunk to the bottom of the glass, creating a fantastic colour clash between the red syrup and the white/yellow body of the cocktail. The overall flavour combination is surprisingly complex with the lime and mint providing a real edge to the tropical warmth of the rum and pineapple.

Will you like it? Well there is only one person who can answer that but after the success of That Cool Gin Thing during the recent rock’n’roll weekend, I’m confident that at least a few will be brave enough to sample another Olli Mitchell original!

So remember, whereas our birthday may only come once a year, we rock and roll every weekend!!

We are celebrating ANNABEL’S fourth anniversary since opening….with a Jungle themed Fancy Dress BIRTHDAY BONANZA!

LIVE ON STAGE!

FROM LONDON THE CONGO FAITH HEALERS!

MS COCO DEVILLE OUR ORIGINAL BURLESQUE QUEEN!

AND A FANCY-DRESS THEME TO FEAST YOUR EYES ON!

…

JUNGLE FANCY DRESS!

We want you to let your imaginations run hot, wild and untamed for your attire for the evening! Think lions & tigers & bears! Apes, Monkeys & Gorillas, Your favourite Jungle characters…Tarzan & jane, Mowgli and Jungle Book gang, Faith healers, magic & voodoo, wild women, wild men, hunters, mud men & tribesmen, african queens, exotic beauties, indulge yourself!!!

…

THE ENTERTAINMENT!

‘THE CONGO FAITH HEALER’S’

Are you ready for some down and dirty savage swamp infested gypsy blues!?

The Congo Faith Healers are like nothing you have heard or experienced before…..& Annabel’s is proud and excited to have them celebrate this special time of the year jungle style!

Combining down and dirty swamp infested gypsy blues with wild savage guitar playing, voodoo vocals, latin american drum and trumpet grooves. With rockabilly swing double bass and hooks that you will be singing for days, they have one of the most intense and utterly compelling live shows around.

‘MS COCO DEVILLE’

Ms Coco Deville has been smouldering in the underground, experimental and decadent burlesque scenes for over five years and to date has performed in an array of cabaret venues, festivals and clubs night all over the UK and Europe.

Winner of Whoopee club’s tournament of tease heats (April 08) Headliner for the London burlesque UK showcase 09, Featured and interviewed for Bump and Grind-History of Burlesque documentary, as well appearing in many music videos and on band tours.

“Paving the way in innovative burlesque. Enchanting. Flirtatious. Dramatic. Coco Deville is an experimental delight’” -Elysian Nights, Proud Camden, London-

And we are delighted to have her back where it all started!

PLUS!

Featuring top resident retro music spinner and prime-time host DJ BREEZE

With resident upstairs music maestro DJ JEFFERSON VAN DIKE in the disco!

Catch the ‘JUNGLE FEVER’!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNABEL’S!

Doors 8.30pm

Entertainment starts 10pm ish right on til 3.30am!

]]> http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/3047/feed/ 0 http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/3022/ http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/3022/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:29:34 +0000 Esther http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/?p=3022 Read the Rest...]]> Well I have been absent from the blogosphere for a few weeks since the fantastic AM Preacher came to town, and as such I managed to miss writing about the latin sounds of Katie Prado & The Mamboleros. The London based band delivered two fantastic and unique sets last weekend winning plenty of fans in the process, if you were not among the dancing throng, then you missed out big time.

We’re serving up a great big helping of rockabilly and jazz this weekend courtesy of the most energetic bands on the scene, The Red Hot Trio

and some of the most consistent performers of swing in the South West, The Hot House Playboys! We always bring the best acts in the region to Annabel’s and these two bands truly showcase why we manage to have so many varied high quality acts on our stage every week.

As we are making it so “Hot” this weekend, I thought I’d bring back a great drink to help cool down that I used to make plenty of a few years ago. Originally derived from a Gin Garden, my version was named the Lord Flashheart, after the eponymous Blackadder character, despite never sharing any of the same qualities possessed by the man himself! Perhaps a better name is That Cool Gin Thing!, much more 50s and appropriate for our entertainment this weekend.

The drink has a base of muddled cucumber, lime and sugar which forms the beginning of the cool flavours, to which we add a shot of Zubrowska bison grass flavoured vodka from Poland, half a shot each of Hendrick’s Gin and St. Germain elderflower liqueur and then mix it all up in a glass of crushed ice, top up with a dash of apple juice and garnish with a mint leaf. The drink has surprising depth with the sugar, apple juice and Zubrowka providing a warm flavour which opposes the cool cucumber and elderflower spirits.

Hendrick’s Gin is a delicious and unique Scottish Gin which is heavily flavoured by cucumber and rose petal alongside its other botanicals and is made in small-batch production, that is to say, less than 1000 litres at a time, giving the master distiller more opportunity to finely craft his work. The drink is marketed in a kooky way that plays on its uniqueness and harks back to a time of Victorian stylings, just check out their website to see what I am talking about, www.hendricksgin.com.

St. Germain is pushed in a similar way, with 1930s instead of turn of the century forming the base of its promotion and décor. Another artisanal style spirit, this French liqueur from the foothills of the Alps is still handmade, with even the Elderflowers being handpicked by local paysans, as they say themselves, its hard to believe that local potato pickers will be doing the same for you Polish or Russian vodka……

Another interesting point is that the spirit has roughly half the sugar content of most liqueurs and therefore comes across as a much cleaner flavour in our cocktails.

As you can see, from the base to the spirits, this drink is a highly sophisticated fellow, and whilst that might seem at odds with our red hot entertainment, just wait until you’ve danced a few numbers and you’ll be desperate to try one!

See you at the weekend! Olli Mitchell

Having thought about the type of entertainment that we are lucky enough to have this weekend I feel that there can be only one spirit that can accompany it. And that is, the most rock and roll of all drinks; Bourbon.

Bourbon is to the United States is what Champagne is to France, a proper regional specialty that is defined by where it is made as much as what it is made of. A “distinctive product of the United States”, Bourbon is the prized possession of Kentucky, and more specifically Bourbon county in Kentucky. Contrary to popular belief, Bourbon is not legally required to be made in Kentucky, but around 95% of it is, and all of the famous Bourbon distilleries are located in the original and historic centre.

There are a whole host of cocktails that can be made with Bourbon, many generic whiskey cocktails that can be made with Scotch ,Irish or any other type of whiskey. Perhaps the most recognisable bourbon cocktail is the Mint Julep, the staple drink of the Kentucky Derby, the famous American horse race, this drink is made with mint, sugar and lime and resembles a Bourbon Mojito. Proper Mint Juleps are served in a metal julep cup and made the night before and part-frozen at a temperature to keep the drink fresh and a bit slushy. Many real julep aficionados have their own personal cup! We might not be able to give you the personalised glassware but we can certainly whip up a couple of Mint Juleps for you. Just ask one of our bartenders.

Although the Mint Julep is representative of America and the sexy south, only one cocktail screams New York City, and its even named after one of the five boroughs; The Manhattan. Like its namesake, it’s smooth and cool which belies its underlying hard edge. The drink is a simple combination of American whiskey, such as a good Bourbon, with dry and sweet vermouth and some bitters to taste. A cherry serves as the garnish. The drink may seem simple but to make a really good version it takes time and the proper preparation method, coating the ice in the vermouths and mixing slowly with the whisky to allow the flavours to develop and mellow. The great thing about the Manhattan is that it can be twisted and modified to cater to different palates, such as much favourite which is a drop of Amaretto instead of the dry vermouth to give a sweet nutty bite to the drink which nullifies the sharp taste. Another great twist is adding a half a shot of ruby port and a big twist of lemon to give the drink a really deep flavour.

Whichever drink you choose, come and enjoy one whilst watching a truly exciting band who may never return to the deepest, darkest Westcountry again! ]]> http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/go-kentucky-mint-julep-or-new-york-manhattan-this-friday-saturday-as-am-preacher-bring-their-raunchy-rockin-burly-q-show-from-the-big-apple-by-olli-mitchell/feed/ 0 http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/make-3-fantastic-dates-for-your-nights-out/ http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/index.php/make-3-fantastic-dates-for-your-nights-out/#comments Tue, 25 Jan 2011 01:08:19 +0000 Esther http://annabelscabaret.co.uk/?p=2884 Read the Rest...]]>

FRIDAY 18TH & SATURDAY 19TH FEBRUARY

KATY PRADO & THE MAMBOLEROS

Annabels is proud to present another superb roots music band for the first time in Plymouth – direct from London, KATY PRADO and the MAMBOLEROS!  Featuring the exotic beauty and sultry vocal stylings of KATY PRADO alongside a top notch band of brilliant move n groove musicians including PHIL POLECAT on stand up bass, The Mamboleros are one of the capitals hottest new acts with sellout gigs at Gaz’s Rockin Blues, Piccadilly’s Pigalle Club and The award winning Lady Luck Club already on their impressive musical CV

REAL music fans can expect a sublime mix of blues/rockabilly/mambo tunes with an emphasis on uptempo dancefloor grooves… just the way we like it!  Two EXCLUSIVE shows folks, Feb 18th and 19th at the most glamourous retro styled club outside of London – this is a weekend NOT to be missed… so don’t miss it!!!!

Featuring exotic bellydancing queen ‘AMEERA’ on Friday and Plymouth’s own burlesque beauty ‘RUBY RASCAL’ on Saturday

Top resident retro music spinner ‘DJ BREEZE’

And resident music maestro ‘DJ JEFFERSON VAN DIKE‘ in the disco!

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Annabel’s continues to celebrate the new decade in style with a swing-tastic line-up that will set both your pulses and dancing feet racing!!!!

Direct from Cornwall for the first time on our stage comes the show-stopping jump-jive band ‘COMPANY B’!, Plymouth’s own retro styled burlesque beauty ‘RUBY RASCAL’, and back in the new year in tip top form – ‘DJ BREEZE‘ and ‘DJ JEFFERSON VANDIKE’ !!!

Resplendent in their matching GI uniforms, COMPANY B are one rowdy, energetic, and vibrant six piece jump-jive swing band that bring an era of classic musical vintage to the fore with a modern day edge! A jaw-dropping performance of tight harmonies, swinging rhythms and horns aplenty are the order of the day!!!!!!!!

Taking their influences from the likes of Bullmoose Jackson, Louis Prima, Wynonie Harris & Louis Jordan, Company B bring the sights and sounds of the 40s and 50s to the fore with style and panache!

The band consists of a driving and swinging rhythm section of drum set, double bass & semi acoustic guitar marinated with a fizzing, licking horn section containing saxaphone, trumpet and slide trombone.  The vocals blend with close harmony and rugged chant to produce the sound that is simply, uniquely, quintessentially Company B!

RUBY RASCAL is Plymouth’s own Burlesque beauty, born and bred! She has captivated audiences throughout the Southwest including charity events and variety evenings. Alluring performances from classic strip tease to her delicious comedy cupcake act, Ruby Rascal aims to Please and Tease…

PLUS top resident retro music spinner DJ BREEZE hosting in the Variety Bar and resident upstairs music maestro DJ JEFFERSON VAN DIKE in the disco!

Attentionnnnnnn!!! Get ready to dance on the double!

www.companyb.org.uk

We start our New Year like we finished the last one with fabulous bands, the likes of which will turn up the heat inside so much thatyou’ll forget that it ever snowed at all!

Not to mention our fantastic cocktails freshly prepared by our fabulous staff, and if that wasn’t enough we have one of the most successful local DJs of all time, the irrepressible Jeff Vandike.

First up is the very talented Mr. Benny Carr and the Hot Rats, these guys have been regulars since the start and have a excellent reputation as some of the most complete musicians in South Devon. The Hot Rats will be jamming out all the swing, jive and blues favourites that are guaranteed to make the dancefloor rock.

On our first Saturday night of the year we have an extra special treat for all of our music fans as we present one of our favourite bands, Freshly Squeezed. If you don’t know this band, then you also don’t know what you are missing. A unique blend of reggae, ska and funk all mixed in with soulful vocals, emceeing and a brilliant brass section.

To prove how much we admire this young band, we have given them the ultimate Annabel’s honour and put a cocktail on the list named after them – well almost. FRESHLY PLEEZED is a sweet and spicy combination of ginger, lemongrass, citrus and sugar muddled and mixed up with lychee liqueur and Wyborowa vodka for some extra dimensions. The drink is at once both subtle and complex, combining an immediate hit of spice and sweetness with longer tones of exotic fruit and the dryness of the Vodka and lemongrass. This one is a close relative of the Dirty Robber, using similar ingredients, but the overall taste is much different with much more heat coming through the spices and giving a lasting taste much different to its sweeter cousin.

What a perfect way to announce 2011, great bands, great drinks and great times. Let’s make it a year to remember at Annabel’s starting from day one.

Happy New Year and make sure at least one of those resolutions is to drink more cocktails!

6 week Block
9pm-10pm
Thursday Nights
6th January – 17th February

£5 class

£25 pre book for full course

Continuous classes, for beginners and intermediate with opportunity to get on stage….Kitty and her dolls have already created a storm at Annabel’s with four Burlesque Showcases last year! (these shows are optional to perform in….but they are serious fun!)

Burlesque acts can be anything from classic striptease to modern dance, theatrical mini-dramas or comedic mayhem. This course will teach you all the basics of the classic bump & grind, burlesque secrets and costumes tips, all to give you a head starts to becoming your very own burlesque queen of tease.

Women of all shapes, sizes and background welcome. The course will work on confidence building, posing for your body shape, classic burlesque move and working with props.

Kitty Kane is a pin-up Model, Burlesque Artiste, Aerialist, Corsetiere and entrpreneur. She has been performing burlesque for over 2 years. To find out more info about Kitty Kane go to: www.kittysdollsburlesque.com

RESERVE YOUR SPACE
EMAIL kitty: mail@kittysdollsburlesque.com

MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE TO HAVE THE DISCOUNTED PRICE.

Dress code: Wear Clothing that is comfortable and easy to move in (if you feel daring dress up but not essential)  Shoes: Preferably heels you can dance in.

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‘GET EXOTIC’ Belly-dancing classes with AMEERA

8pm – 9pm
Thursdays
£6 per session

Starting 13th January

Or to be booked in advance…

£20 4-week course

£35 8-week course

Learn the Art of Belly Dancing in a course with Ameera, danseuse orientale at Annabel’s cabaret. She will show you some movements that come naturally to the female bodyshape. You will be taught the basics and the secrets of belly dance in a fun and friendly atmosphere. This course welcomes women of all abilities and ages (min 15 yrs). No dance experience required.

HERE ARE A FEW TESTIMONIALS ON AMEERA’S CLASSES…

“…Belly Dancing has changed my life and made me a more confident person…I’ve lost a stone and I’m now learning driving!” D.F.

“…I am so looking forward to my Belly dance classes every Thursday, it lifts me up!” E.L.

“…Ameera’s performances are so beautiful every time, it’s amazing to be taught by her!” H.B.

Ameera is the Premiere Belly Dancer of the Southwest and has been performing internationally for over 9 years. For more info about Ameera visit her FACEBOOK PAGE.

To book your space Contact Ameera: ameera@ameeradance.com

OTHER ENQUIRIES

Contact Annabel’s: 01752 260555/info@annabelscabaret.co.uk

Hailing from the infamous ‘Vandike’ family, Jeff has become one of the most respected and renowned D.J’s in Plymouth and indeed the South West.

Having played at the majority of Plymouths’ most legendary ‘musical’ nightspots over the years including : Rockafellas, Club Fandango and The Warehouse.

He has also received acclaim both nationally and internationally with plays and residencies at major clubbing venues across the U.K and in Germany, Switzerland and Cyprus to name but a few.

So come get down and groovy upstairs in our disco with a highly experienced eclectic D.J with a flavoursome approach, playing a wide range of music from Funk, Soul and Disco to Rock, Indie and Chart…

It’s going to be an exciting 2011 with JEFFERSON VANDIKE as he sets the dancefloor alight on New Year’s Eve in ‘ANOTHER…LAST NIGHT OF DECADENCE’ and every weekend to follow!

BRING IT ON! XX

The Kingdom of Night Time Pleasures
invites you to

‘ANOTHER… LAST NIGHT OF DECADENCE!!!’

ANNABEL’S

HOT AND MISCHEVIOUS, RAVISHING & REFINED

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY!

HOT BLUES RHYTHMS AND SOUL,

SAUCY BURLESQUE AND BELLY-DANCING,

& DIRTY, FILTHY COCKTAILS!

A NIGHT OF MUSIC, DANCE & DECADENCE!!

WHAT A PARTY TO BRING IN THE NEW YEAR!!

Live on Stage ‘BETH AND THE BLACK CAT BONES’!

“A dynamic young 4 piece soul/blues band based in London, formed by regulars to the acclaimed blues jam at Soho’s “Ain’t Nothin’ But A Blues Bar. With plenty of energy and a bit of old fashioned grit Beth and The Black Cat Bones will give you a night to put on your dancing shoes!”

LOCAL LEGEND ‘CAMPARI’ CROONING LIKE A CROONER!

EXOTIC BELLY DANCER, ‘AMEERA’ DAZZLING & DELICIOUS!

SAUCY BURLESQUE BEAUTIES- TEASING & PLEASING…!

TOP  RETRO SPINNER ‘DJ BREEZE’ GROOVIN N’ MOVING!

OUR RESIDENT DJ RAISING THE ROOF IN THE DISCO!

Plus it’s Annabel’s birthday

so it will be double the naughty trouble!!!

DRESSCODE: strictly NOJEANS! THINK Vintage and Voluptuous, Sexy and Swing, Opulent and Frivolous, Gangsta, Molls, Burlesque,Heaving Bosoms, Cool Cats, Ravishing and Refined!

Doors 8.30pm to Carriages at 4.00 am-ish!

STRICTLY OVER 21′S

TICKETS: £10.00 each

(BOUGHT IN ADVANCE ONLY – AND MUST BE COLLECTED!)

Free glass of bubbles for early arrivals!

RING 01752 260 555 AND LEAVE A CLEAR MESSAGE OR EMAIL US AT INFO@ANNABELSCABARET.CO.UK

So, just one more weekend until Christmas and it’s a extra special one at Annabel’s this year with it being the final Friday and Saturday nights open before our “Last Night of Decadence”; New Year’s Eve. With three nights of live entertainment and DJs bringing the quality that has come to be established with Annabel’s Cabaret. We have two of our most revered and respected bands on the stage with the epitome of fun frolics, Boogie Nights, and the smooth stylish notes of the Hot House Playboys. Both guaranteed to banish the winter blues.So whether it’s a final night out before a relative filled holiday period or the final resting place of your office party, we have everything covered from an entertainment stand-point.

Of course, Annabel’s just wouldn’t be Annabel’s without some brilliant drinks to go with our top notch live bands and DJs. Our fine bar staff will bring you all the classic and house cocktails that we deliver week-in week-out along with our their own favourites, so how about trying something different before we slip out of the ‘noughties’ and into the teens? (no pun intended….!)Each week I try to tie in a special and unique cocktail with our entertainment, whether they be singers, dancers or bands. However, as Christmas is on the horizon I feel I have to bow to the pressure and bring you a cocktail full of festive flavour! I won’t lie, it was a tough choice which direction to pursue; Brandy Snaps? Sherry? Mince Pie? Turkey?! Eventually after dismissing the possibility of a gravy based drink, I settled on Christmas Pudding, a flavour representative of both the Christmas holidays and the pagan festivals that existed before it.

The Christmas-tini has all the elements and flavours that we associate with this time of year. We take a base of Jacquin’s “Rock n Rye “, a spiced American whisky and add fresh zesty lemon juice, the spice of Dubbonnet, (a heavy aperitif full of festive smells), fruity sloe gin, a dash of orange bitters and some Campari for more citrus flavour and finally some nutmeg! What might seem like an unusual amount of ingredients simply reflects the busy and warm qualities everybody loves about the traditional desert in question. Just like the Christmas Pudding, we don’t enjoy this drink for its simplicity of its subtlety; We enjoy it for the flavour, the feeling and the fun.

So essentially Christmas is just like our special Christmas-tini and the age old Christmas Pud, something to enjoy for all the right reasons as long as you don’t take it too seriously and accept it for what it is. So come down and shake off the holiday stress by grabbing a drink, having a dance and listening to some really good music provided by some of the surest hands in the business.

Merry Christmas everyone…….!!!

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE…THE NIGHT BEFORE’

…and all will be stirring at Annabel’s on Thursday 23rd December, in a sparkling magical Christmas SHOW!

Mulled Wine and Festive Cocktails, 10 Very special Christmas acts performing ‘Christmas Classics’, A naughty mischevious Hostess, A mesmerising Belly-Dancer hot off the plane from Egypt, and to bring the party into Christmas Eve the sexy, funky, fabulous ALEX HART BAND!

PLUS! THE DRESSCODE is Winter glamour and glitz or if you ‘fancy’ it (and please please please do!) Elves, Santas, Lady Christmasses, Candy Canes, Christmas Puddings, Reindeers, Scrooges(yes I will allow them), Christmas Tree Fairies and Angels need I say more!

***Christmas Show starts 9.15pm Hosted by ‘LUCY WALKER’

Peforming Christmas Songs! RANGATANGA / RUPERT LEIGHTON / BEN LAVERICK / THE BERNIES / PANDA BEAR JONES / ONE POINT FIVE / STEPHEN SAMPSON / DAVID BENASSI / ESTHER ALEXANDRA / SUZIE MCQUILLEN / ALEX HART / and FRANKINCENSE RELAX!

SEAT RESERVATION FOR THIS PART OF THE EVENING RECOMMENDED!
Please ring 01752 260 555 or e-mail info@annabelscabaret.co.uk

***Christmas Party Time! 11.30pmish

The eastern magical belly-dancing AMEERA!
Bringing in Christmas Eve with THE ALEX HART BAND! a highly experienced, energetic ensemble who deliver an exciting blend of top quality pop, rock, disco and funk music. They perform a fantastic set including songs to make your heart and soul get into the party mood, and your feet onto the dance floor! Backed by skillful and versatile musicians, Alex Hart has a vocal range to die for and together they are a force to be reckoned with.

Doors open 8.30pm-£5 entry

Wishing you ‘a night before…the night before to remember!!!!’

On Friday we have the Congo Faith Healers, who have performed on Jools Holland and have graced the same bill as Supergrass, Finlay Quaye and KT Tunstall! True quality.

Our other headline act is one of Plymouth’s most popular bands and a guaranteed sell out wherever they play. Mad Dog Mcrea have been around for years, impressing all who see and hear them with their unique brand of Irish folk rock. Anyone who has seen them at Annabel’s before knows that they are a band who can certainly turn a nightclub into something more like a stadium rock gig!

Such is the calibre of our entertainment this weekend I thought it only fitting that both should have their own cocktail on offer to their adoring fans.

Mad Dog already have their own concoction which represents all the things that make Mad Dog McRea such an exciting act…

…the smokiness of scotch, the beating Irish heart of Jameson’s and the heat and spice of fresh ginger and chilli. This is a serious cocktail created a couple of years ago by myself and fellow Annabel’s mixologist Harri Pettit-Wade.

To create the drink we expanded on the usual bourbon sour that we regularly drank and added a ginger kick and then the red chillies to really make the flavours pop. The intense spice plays off against the sweet and sour base of the drink and also the woody notes of the whisky. The drink was so insanely good that the name Mad Dog had to be used. Eventually the drink was modified to reflect the Celtic soul of Mad Dog McRea and bourbon was substituted for Irish whiskey with a dash of Laphroiag Scotch.

If all that sounds a bit too intense for your tastes, opt for the Friday night specialty the “Congo Bongo”, a tribute to our London visitors. Again I have tried to reflect the attributes of our guest band in the drinks ingredients, resulting in a sweet, tangy and enjoyable cocktail that will leave you wanting more. Jamaican rum provides us with a sweet, dark base, lime, pineapple juice and lychee liqueur add the exotic fruit flavours and the sugar and Cointreau add something sweet and sour right at the last.

If all that was not enough we’ll have our regular homemade shot ready to pour from the outside bar, so don’t worry about the cold because that will surely warm you up.  All in all it’s a pretty tasty looking line up at Annabel’s this weekend. I would advise you to get there early in order to take advantage of it because you certainly do not want to be left outside in the cold when our entertainment is so hot!

See you at the bar……

For our part we’ll be doing all we can, starting with Miss Kitty Kane’s Burlesque beauties on Thursday at her “Dolly Delights Showcase” and then supplying the fantastic London based band “The Dirty Robbers”, who will bring their own brand of sexy blues and rock n roll to our stage for not one, but two nights.  Neither are to be missed, and the freezing weather is not an excuse to stay in, unless you are already here at Annabel’s!

The previous “Dolly Delights Showcases” have proved to be exceptionally popular, selling out before the event starts, so make sure you get in quickly to purchase your seats. The theme is ‘Frosty Frolics’, so be assured that a sexy Santa or two and a few naughty elves will be dancing about for your pleasure….

The Robbers are one of our favourite out of town acts, and they bring with them a great blend of fun and musical excellence that is hard to match. Such prestigious performers they are that they have their own Burlesque routine, (another accomplishment of the wonderful Miss Kitty Kane), as well as their own cocktail on our menu, the incomparable “Dirty Robber”, hopefully this shows you just how highly thought of they are down here at Annabel’s and if you still don’t believe it this weekends they’ll show you why themselves.

The “Dirty Robber” is one of our most popular cocktails, looking every inch the part of what a cocktail is meant to be; Sexy, colourful and served up straight in an iced Martini glass. The shot of Champagne on the side does nothing to detract from the delight of the customers either! If you are one of the rare customers who have not tried it yet, let me paint a picture. A whole passion fruit is mixed with Vanilla sugar syrup, lemon juice, Stolichnaya Vanilla vodka and Lychee liqueur, mixed up hard in a shaker before being strained into your glass and served with the aforementioned shot of Champagne. It truly is style and sexiness in a glass.

If that doesn’t whet your appetite for another weekend then I don’t know what will!  We really do have it all at Annabel’s this week, from burlesque to belly dancing and from music to mischief , so come on down and warm your cockles one way or another starting from Thursday at 8.30pm!

Finally the end of November is upon us and that can only mean two things. Firstly, Christmas is looming ahead and your lives will now be filled with poorly made Christmas decorations, annoying television adverts and office parties that go a little bit too ‘far’. The second and much more important is that it’s the climax of the “Movember” celebrations and I can finally shave off my ridiculous ‘tache. For those who don’t know “Movember” is raising money for prostate cancer in a bid to get people to take men’s health more seriously. Many of us here at Annabel’s have been doing the whole month whilst many more will opt for the softer option of a ‘one-night standle bar’! So please come down sporting a real or fake piece of upper lip topiary and support our charitable work.

In honour of our “Movember” celebrations we will be serving a great cocktail, that although sounds unusual, is a real delight and comes with the bonus of giving you a temporary ‘tache as well! The Guinness Daiquiri was taught to me by Annabel’s former bartending superstar Olly Dyson and I’ll be using a slightly sweeter variation of his recipe that reflects the upcoming festive mood and the flavours of winter, with a zesty orange kick that balances out the rich tastes of the Guinness and chocolate. The flavours might at first seem contradictory but the all do work in unison, and on reflection its not that surprising as you will see the individual flavours paired with other with regularity, even Guinness with chocolate cake is an old Irish favourite!

The cocktail is a combination of Mount Gay rum, lime and sugar, (the classic Daiquiri recipe), with a dash of orange bitters, Grand Marnier and Mozart chocolate liquer added to it, this is then all shaken up and served straight up into a classy Martini glass, on top of the drink a shot of Guinness is carefully poured in order for it to float on top which creates a fantastic colour chart ranging from green to black to white. It looks great and tastes even better. And the best thing about the Guinness Daiquiri is that the thick white foam of the Guinness float will furnish your upper lip with a perfect one night mo’!

IT’S MOVEMBER!!! Start growing your mustaches and join us on Saturday 27th November and Let’s “Change the Face of Mens Health.”!!!

During Movember (once known as November), men(Mo Bro’s) put down their razors for 30 days and grow a moustache with the aim of raising funds and awareness for men’s health.

The role of a Mo Sista is to support the Mo Bros in their life – brothers, boyfriends, Dads, uncles, cousins, husbands, workmates! But all faux mo’s welcome too!!!

We have signed up as a Mo Sista and are looking for Mo Bro’s and Mo Sistas to join our team!

To join ‘ANNABEL’S’ Movember team go to http://uk.movember.com/mospace/295496

Movember is about having fun, growing a moustache and raising much needed funds and awareness for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer. What many people don’t appreciate is that one man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK, more than 35,000 men will be diagnosed this year and that prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK.

The more that join us, the more we can “change the face of men’s health” through raising awareness and the money that will be raised. Let’s do this – register and grow a moustache as a Mo Bro, or sign on as a Mo Sista.

ON STAGE – 10.00PM MOLLY BROWN!

JUDGING MUSTACHES 11.30PM ON STAGE!

After an unprecedented triple encore last time, Annabel’s can’t wait to welcome the awesome Molly Brown back to our stage! This top Midlands based 4-piece generate a warm mixture of ‘Blazz and Bling’ (that’s blues, jazz and swing to you and I), and their love and passion for music, combined with a desire to entertain, has delivered a welcoming response from audiences around the globe since forming in 2003.

As a semi-acoustic outfit featuring outstanding female stand-up bassist/vocalist Kelly Elliot , Molly Brown are light on the ears yet loaded with fun rockin tunes that will have you dancing and smiling from start to end. ‘Playing their own brand of ‘good-time, feel-good music’ you can’t help but be impressed and knocked out by the unsinkable Molly Brown!’ Don’t miss it!

www.myspace.com/mollybrownband

PLUS the Southwest’s TOP retro record spinner ‘DJ BREEZE’ not missing a beat for your dancing shoes and our resident ‘DJ JASON BLOOMFIELD’ upstairs keeping that ‘feeling good feeling’ flowing upstairs to the disco!

DON’T MISS THEM …

AND BRING YOUR DANCING SHOES & MOUSTACHES! x

 The one that really sticks in my head is the fantastically named, “Kitty Kitty Bang Bang”, named after our favourite burlesque dancer, Miss Kitty Kane, who you can catch dancing here at Annabel’s on Friday 14th and Sat 27th November.

 The Kitty Kitty Bang Bang is as striking as its namesake, its dark red colour and strawberry garnish hint at the sweet heavy flavours that lie within the Martini glass in which it is served. The secret ingredient in the drink is a bar spoon of balsamic vinegar, which catalyses the sugars in the fruit and alcohol and offsets them perfectly against the bitter citrus provided by the fresh lemon juice.

The base spirit is Wyborowa vodka from Poland, (the home of all the best vodkas!), which is a robust but smooth spirit that is malleable enough to merge with the fruit, vinegar and citrus without compromising the taste as a spirit with a more noticeable flavour would. If the drink was made with a gin which had large amount of botanicals, such as herb and fruit flavourings, then the drink would not work as the spirit would be in effect fighting against the flavour of the strawberries and vinegar.

 Wyborowa is one of our most popular vodkas, and can be used to make innumerable cocktails due to its easy drinking nature and the characteristics which I explained previously, try to with apple juice, mint and a hint of lime, a twist on the national drink of Poland. Wyborowa is a good alternative to Smirnoff, being smoother than its Russian counterpart, and therefore a better option for those like their mixed drinks to go down a little smoother.

 Wyborowa is a little known Vodka for many of our customers which is surprising as the brand was the first Vodka to have an international trademark and in the 1960s constituted 60% of the UKs imported Vodka. However, the brand was almost bankrupted and had to rely on booze giant Pernod-Ricard to save its distillery in Poznan. Having claimed over 29 medals in international competitions to date, its no wonder that the brand is increasing in popularity, truly living up to its translation; Wyborowa means “Selected”, and if you try it out in one of our Kitty Kitty Bang Bangs or on its own over ice, I am sure the Vodka lovers among you will understand why…….

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by olli mitchell

I trust you have all recovered from last weeks epic Halloween celebrations, I know it took me a couple of days to recuperate following the Spyders performance, not to mention the cocktails!

Don’t think you can breathe too easy just yet though as we have another “explosive” night lined up for Fireworks Night and beyond, and whilst we might not have fireworks inside we certainly have them in spirit with our entertainment!

Not a man to be outshone, even by the best fireworks the Hoe has to offer, we have LOU JORDAN  as Elvis in the building for two nights this weekend!  Lou performed last week alongside Shirley Bassey in the Royal Albert Hall to an audience of six thousand! So be sure to grab yourself a ringside seat for top quality entertainment!

Looking into the drinking habits of Elvis I hoped to come up with a favourite cocktail or spirit to work with this week, however, unsurprisingly in many ways, Elvis’s drinking was a murky area with some claiming that he never drank and others that he was a secret binge drinker – talk about extremes of information!

However, I do know for a fact that the legendary Lou Jordan, (our Elvis for the weekend), is a big fan of brandy, so I’ve decided to use this classic spirit as the topic for this weeks Barman’s Blog.

The story and description of brandy is as murky as Elvis’s drinking past, with many different spirits generally being called Brandy, in fact almost any spirit being distilled from a fruit base seems to attract the name Brandy, however I feel that if we are talking serious about the stuff we need to only accept the good stuff; grape based French brandy. Although there are other types, notably Armenian brandy, which was Winston Churchill’s favourite, most of us will be familiar with French brands from the Southwest of the country, such as Remy Martin, Martell and Hennessy.

Brandy cocktails abound, due to the continuous popularity of the spirit, the most famous being the Brandy Alexander, the Sidecar and Annabel’s favourite, The Champagne Cocktail. I have decided to pander to the weather and create a rather warming cocktail that should help stave off the cold and produce fireworks in your mouth!

Elvis has a plethora of songs for me to pun on, but I feel that “Delicious Minds” is the most apt! The cocktail is a combination of Martell brandy, pear liqueur and Calvados, an apple spirit, ‘All Shook Up’ with sugar, lemon juice and a dash of cinnamon. This is a proper winter warmer cocktail in which the cinnamon combines with the orchard fruit to bring out the dark flavours of the brandy. Delicious Minds can be served straight up or over ice if you’d prefer.

So ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ and head on down to Annabel’s this week where Elvis is in the building!

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Well Winter has truly arrived now…

As we head towards longer nights and colder days we can thank our lucky stars for the distractions of Halloween Night at Annabel’s, where you can quench your thirst with shots of Bloody Mary and our special spooky cocktails!

So to all Frankenstein’ monsters, Wicked Witches and people with white linen sheets thrown over their heads, Annabel’s Cabaret is calling you to its chamber of horrors…….

With top band Spyders providing some devilish music as our soundtrack, help yourself to one of three special and spooky cocktails designed by our bartenders to help you find your wild side! Get your fangs and start sucking!!!!!…Our first is the “Silver Bullet”, the only sure fire way to rid yourself of a Werewolf, not to mention your inhibitions, with this by your side you’ll be safe for sure in midst of all those ghosts and ghouls. It’s a beguiling combination of Gin, citrus and peach bitters, sweetened with a dash of sugar.The “Zombie Killer” is a twist on the classic rum based cocktail and it’s guaranteed to rouse you from your weekday slumbers. Combining lime, three types of rum and a trickle of ‘blood’ it’s a real Caribbean voodoo treat that should make your night go off with a bang!After you have done with your Zombies and Werewolves you might feel the need for some “Bloodlust”, a wicked wine cobbler that proves its so easy to be naughty and nice all at once.

If you hadn’t guessed we love Halloween here at Annabel’s so why not become a creature of the night and join us in all things spooky, scary and sexy on Saturday 30^th October!

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