Follow the aroma of smokehouse chicken, buzz of bourbon-fuelled chatter and trail of shimmering sequins to The Lost Estate this March and you’ll stumble upon a Jazz Age Superclub plucked straight from the 1930s. No, it’s not a mirage or wild daydream, this is the outrageous true story of Belle Livingstone’s 58th St. Country Club, brought to life once more. From March to June, The Lost Estate is putting on this immersive experience filled with live music, theatre and dining, transporting you into a smoky prohibition-era world for one spectacular night.
One crisp New York evening in 1930, there was something special in the air above Manhattan. Dusky rays of moonlight bathed the quiet city streets in a cloak of silver, only to be pierced by stiletto heels and the white tips of polished Oxford Brogues as flurries of revellers flocked to the Grand Opening of The 58th Street Country Club. The Manhattan superclub came to fruition in the final years of the prohibition, run by socialite Belle Livingstone. Hollywood Queens, Harlem Kings, and Park Avenue Tycoons all enjoyed this den of delights – secreted away behind the facade of an ordinary townhouse – that is until the club was raided by Federal agents at midnight and closed, never to open again.
Until now, that is. The Greatest Night Of The Jazz Age is being reborn, courtesy of The Lost Estate. The West London experience makers put together fascinating immersive experiences that transport you into new worlds and stories. Fresh off their last production, ‘The Great Christmas Feast’, which drummed up rave reviews, they are now treating London to a night of dancing, drinking, dining and world-class jazz. At the heart of the evening will be The 58th Street House Band, led by star trumpeter Rory Simmons (bandleader for Jamie Cullum and Blur amongst others). They’ll be providing a sensational soundtrack to your evening, full of sizzling Jazz Age classics, while a cast of award-winning actors, vocalists and dancers, led by Suanne Braun as Belle herself, perform a theatrical epic that keeps your eyes glued to the stage.
As well as being a feast for the eyes and ears, you’ll be able to tuck into a delicious three-course spread with drool-worthy New York-inspired dishes such as Battery Point Chowder and Truffle Cornbread, Park Avenue Surf’N’Turf (Smokehouse Chicken and Featherblade, Truffle Shrimp Mac, Astoria Waldorf Salad) and, to finish it all off, a comforting classic: Grand Central Apple Pie with bourbon caramel. Vegan and vegetarian options are also available. Plus, your tastebuds will be tantalised by some mixology magic, with cocktails such as the orange-infused ‘Missing Americano’ or ‘Stella’s Place’; a concoction of bourbon, apricot and burlesque bitters.
Found just a few minutes walk from West Kensington tube station, the experience runs every evening from Tuesday to Sunday at 6pm, with additional afternoon shows at the weekend at 12pm. This experience is not to be missed, make sure you sign up now to lose yourself in the wild wonders of The Lost Estate.