QX Magazine

26/01/12: LAWD have mercy! We always prepare ourselves for an evening of booze-fuelled hilarity when we sashay into Halfway II Heaven – but this night was particularly drunktacular.

Once you realize everyone you know is there, coupled with the cream of London’s cabaret talent, both on and off duty, and a secret special guest star off the telly, we were pretty much resigned to staggering out of there come closing time like a lame, scabby horse.

It was Bette Rinse’s 50th birthday bash (the second we attended in one week!) and ravishing Rinse was on top form with her inflatable walking frame, lapping up the birthday adulation and special performances from some of our favourite gurls, including Baga Chipz, Mrs Moore, Rose Garden, Mary Mac (who were all on top form) amongst others.

As soon as Lady Lloyd burst into the room, we knew we were in for an ‘anything goes’ kind of evening… and Cookie from Big Brother must have been crestfallen at realizing she wasn’t the most famous reality TV star in the house. Yes, X Factor nutbag Kitty Brucknell took to the stage and sang a powerhouse acapella version of Goo Goo GaGa’s ‘Born This Way’. Say what you like, the gurl can sing.

But tonight wasn’t about people rinsing (ha ha) their last fifteen minutes of fame; this was all about the West End’s original blonde bombshelter, Bette! Cackling like a saucy bar wench throughout, she deserved the fuss, and we hope to see her strutting around the West End for another fifty years.

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7 Duncannon St, Charing Cross, WC2N 4JF
Words by Lee Dalloway
Photos by Marc Abe