Who’d have though that when 79CXR swung it’s doors open in the Spring of ‘94 that it’d still be still rocking to the rafters eighteen years on.
Greeted with a decadent, shiny new refurb and a bar teaming with familiar faces I knew that it was going be one to remember.
CXR residents Bette Rinse and Mary Mac were our hosts, looking as spectacular as ever, opening the show with a rousing chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’. Relative newcomer, lip-syncer Alexis StClair was the first of the guest performers up and she literally launched herself onto the stage to ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ from Hairspray. By the end of her set the raucous Alexis was flat on her back covered in champagne. The crowd loved it. The uniquely creative Drag With No Name followed with a clever pastiche of Adele’s ‘Someone Like You’.
Cabaret stalwarts Rose Garden, Sandra and Kelly Wilde kept the night buzzing and were interspersed with newer acts, Baga Chipz (aka Kat Slater/Bet Lynch), Son Ofa Tutu and CJ. The night was rounded up with Supasista’s high energy finale including one of my personal favourite tunes of the early noughties, ‘Coffee’ by Supersister (“I like my men like I like my coffee”. How camp? I really love these girls style!
A long but most enjoyable night with many memorable moments, none more so than Bette Rinse’s tribute to the late Adrella (Peter Searle) who sadly passed away last week.
Whilst others have come and gone CXR has stood the test of time; re-inventing itself, when necessary, to cater for changing times and clientele. Congratulations and happy ‘coming of age’ from all at QX.
• 79 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0NE
• Words by Jason Reid
• Photos by Joel-Ryder.com
