By Charlotte Edwards
Christmas and New Years are now over, but there is still another special day just around the corner, Valentines day.
This Valentine’s day, the Candlelight Club is inviting guests to step back into the 1920s.
Following on from two successful Christmas and New Years parties, the club is welcoming guests to “relive the giddy glamour” of the twenties at a secret location in South London.
Plans for the night include live jazz from Elise Roth and her High Standards, cocktails, burlesque performances and DJs playing vintage vinyl into the night.
Clayton Hartley is co-founder of the club behind this elusive event, and others like it. Talking to the South London Press, he explained how the concept was born out of a chance Encounter.
He said: “The idea came about when my original partner, who is half-American with a family history of running clubs and restaurants, and who had paid his way through university by putting on parties, visited New York in 2010.
Candlelight club is welcoming guests to “relive the giddy glamour” of the twenties (Picture: Supplied by Clayton Hartley)
“He noticed that a number of bars were playing up their Prohibition-era speakeasy heritage and wondered if there might be scope for events with this theme.
“Meanwhile I had been running The New Sheridan Club, a light-hearted social club for vintage enthusiasts and happened to be running a summer party one night in August when the other chap walked past.
“Noticing all the people spilling out in vintage costume he decided to speak to whoever was behind it.
“We got talking and the Candlelight Club was born”.
The club has no permanent premises but schedules regular events at different locations throughout the year.
Each promises a carefully curated cocktail menu, versatile dining options, dancing to live jazz bands, retro-DJs and cabaret performances.
Dressing up is also encouraged, as Mr Hartley explained: “I think the opportunity to wear glamorous period outfits is half the appeal and may go some way to explaining why the Candlelight Club is particularly popular with women—there are always more women than men present, which is unusual for a nightclub environment.
He added: “It’s quite a mixed demographic: every event will have people from their early twenties up to their fifties or sixties.
Plans for the night include live jazz, cocktails and burlesque performances (Picture: Supplied by Clayton Hartley)
“My guess is that, because the 1920s theme is so removed from modern life, it’s not really ‘owned’ by any age group.
“Our events are popular with groups looking for an unusual way to celebrate, say, a birthday or hen party, but we’ll also get couples coming along or sometimes just curious individuals.
“I think that the theming and dressing up can bring people together.”
In keeping with their Speakeasy image, the location of each party is kept under wraps until a couple of days before the event – though Mr Hartley is happy to disclose a general area.
He added: “We’ve used several different venues over the years, ranging from an old warehouse that is now an arts space, which has an intimate, makeshift feel, to grander civic Halls.
“The venue we’re using at the moment is a ballroom in Balham.
“The name of the club comes from the fact that the space is always largely, or in some cases entirely, lit by candles”.
The club holds special events for Valentine’s, Halloween, Christmas, as well as parties with more niche themes such as 1920s Paris, Havana or Shanghai.
You can find out more about the New Year’s Eve Event here: https://www.thecandlelightclub.com/events/valentines-ball-2024-78dwk
Pictured top: Candlelight Club (Picture: Supplied by Clayton Hartley)