The Limelight Club - not what I expected

[my marina bay]

Not on your own we didn't  enjoy it either. Can't remember who was on but agree it was the wait while everyone got served. We so happened to be the last to be served despite being nearest the kitchen. In fact they forgot to bring my main course and we had to ask. Said they'd run out and offered alternative. Like you we expected some background music in between but nothing. Poor experience we wouldnt repeat and told them so.

Edited November 18, 2021 by my marina bay

[zap99]

10 minutes ago, my marina bay said:

Not on your own we didn't  enjoy it either. Can't remember who was on but agree it was the wait while everyone got served. We so happened to be the last to be served despite being nearest the kitchen. In fact they forgot to bring my main course and we had to ask. Said they'd run out and offered alternative. Like you we expected some background music in between but nothing. Poor experience we wouldnt repeat and told them so.

On the staycation cruises on Britannia and Iona, the Limelight was pretty much sold out every night. Folk seem to enjoy it.

[pennib]

Yes, we visited the Limelight Club on Britannia’s maiden Caribbean cruise and were seriously underwhelmed. The food was poor, the act even poorer so we left early and drowned our sorrows in the Glasshouse. We won’t be repeating the Club experience. 

[yorkshirephil]

52 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

 

We had a local nightclub/casino called Club Baba and was hosted by the hilarious, local comedien Charlie Williams. There were some good acts, although not 'famous', John Rowles and the Fantastics are two I remember,

My favourite nightclub was Batley Variety, where we saw the fabulous Roy Orbison. Also Freddie and the Dreamers, Sacha Distel, remember him?  Shirley Bassey and MIcheal Bentine are a few that come to mind. Good times.

Avril

I wonder how they would deal with Charlie Williams today, a coloured Barnsley bloke taking the mickey out any religion colour or creed. My favourite comedian in t'houd days. Proper comedian.

[zap99]

10 minutes ago, pennib said:

Yes, we visited the Limelight Club on Britannia’s maiden Caribbean cruise and were seriously underwhelmed. The food was poor, the act even poorer so we left early and drowned our sorrows in the Glasshouse. We won’t be repeating the Club experience. 

We too were on Britannia's maiden Caribbean fly cruise. November 2018. We thought the 3 acts were quite good. Which one did you see?.

Edited November 18, 2021 by zap99

[pennib]

Tbh I can’t remember but there was a female “singer”.

[zap99]

52 minutes ago, pennib said:

Tbh I can’t remember but there was a female “singer”.

On our cruise were. Gareth Gates £25. Chesney Hawkes £22 and Sherilyn Baker £20. We splashed out £22 and had a good evening. He did a few promotional songs around the pool.

[Adawn47]

1 hour ago, yorkshirephil said:

I wonder how they would deal with Charlie Williams today, a coloured Barnsley bloke taking the mickey out any religion colour or creed. My favourite comedian in t'houd days. Proper comedian.

The problem is not the comedian Phil, but the 'politically correct' crowd. There's a saying  about having to be able to laugh at yourself before you can laugh at others, and that was what  Charlie did. All his jokes were aimed at himself. He made jokes about  his colour and his accent, and we laughed with him. His humour was clean, if a little risque, and he was a well known and well loved Barnsley Tyke.

Avril

[zap99]

12 minutes ago, Adawn47 said:

The problem is not the comedian Phil, but the 'politically correct' crowd. There's a saying  about having to be able to laugh at yourself before you can laugh at others, and that was what  Charlie did. All his jokes were aimed at himself. He made jokes about  his colour and his accent, and we laughed with him. His humour was clean, if a little risque, and he was a well known and well loved Barnsley Tyke.

Avril

Some of the dinner shows we went to years ago had Jim Davidson. In his youth we often saw him at a pub in the old Kent road. His act wouldn't be allowed today.🤔

[Happy afloat]

We saw Kiki Dee in 2015 in the limelight on Brittania. Don't remember the order of meal/entertainment but she was exceptional, and the food excellent. Loads of audience interaction and happy to pose for photos and chat afterwards. Met her in the gym a couple of days later and once again,  we chatted for ages.

[Interestedcruisefan]

3 hours ago, zap99 said:

On the staycation cruises on Britannia and Iona, the Limelight was pretty much sold out every night. Folk seem to enjoy it.

That's not guaranteed

 

You only go once on a staycation. 

 

So makes no odds whether people enjoyed it or not

 

Like I say I still enjoyed it but it should be a lot better

 

And would check out the schedule for the night before ever booking again as a result

[Interestedcruisefan]

3 hours ago, yorkshirephil said:

I wonder how they would deal with Charlie Williams today, a coloured Barnsley bloke taking the mickey out any religion colour or creed. My favourite comedian in t'houd days. Proper comedian.

Charlie Williams at the jewellers

 

Eighteen carat?

 

No its toffee

 

(Needs to be said in a Barnsley accent in case you don't get it)

Edited November 18, 2021 by Interestedcruisefan

[yorkshirephil]

13 minutes ago, Interestedcruisefan said:

 

 

Eighteen carat?

That's what me rabbit used to do.

[majortom10]

We went to Limelight Club to see Kiki Dee on Britannia Maiden and she was brilliant but to be honest thought the meal was nothing special and no better than in MDR. Would possibly go again but it would depend on the act it would have to be someone special. Seen Gareth Gates for free on Princess in main theatre and certainly wouldnt pay to see Chesney Hawkes.

[howmuch!]

4 hours ago, Adawn47 said:

The problem is not the comedian Phil, but the 'politically correct' crowd. There's a saying  about having to be able to laugh at yourself before you can laugh at others, and that was what  Charlie did. All his jokes were aimed at himself. He made jokes about  his colour and his accent, and we laughed with him. His humour was clean, if a little risque, and he was a well known and well loved Barnsley Tyke.

Avril

 

So true Avril - Charlie was funny without being crude, unlike the comedian I once saw at the Millmoor Club Rotherham - Bernard Manning enough said!

 

Or the 'lively' Freddie Star, swinging across the audience at Batley Variety Club

 

 

[Ardennais]

1 hour ago, howmuch! said:

 

So true Avril - Charlie was funny without being crude, unlike the comedian I once saw at the Millmoor Club Rotherham - Bernard Manning enough said!

 

Or the 'lively' Freddie Star, swinging across the audience at Batley Variety Club

 

 

I have to say I loved Freddie Starr in his early days when I was still in school. His stage moves were special. But Jim Davidson was/is just obnoxious. 

[Britboys]

Fortunately for me, the ships I sail on don't have a Limelight Club. I think it is terrible to set aside a venue to charge pax extra for entertainment, thereby denying others the opportunity of seeing an artist or using a lounge/bar venue for most of the evening without paying for the privilege.

[terrierjohn]

2 minutes ago, Britboys said:

Fortunately for me, the ships I sail on don't have a Limelight Club. I think it is terrible to set aside a venue to charge pax extra for entertainment, thereby denying others the opportunity of seeing an artist or using a lounge/bar venue for most of the evening without paying for the privilege.

That could be one of the reasons why Aurora and Arcadia cruises are so expensive, they dont have the space to set aside as many extra charge restaurants or supper clubs. However you are paying for the privilege of not having these extra cost venues.

[Britboys]

6 minutes ago, terrierjohn said:

That could be one of the reasons why Aurora and Arcadia cruises are so expensive, they dont have the space to set aside as many extra charge restaurants or supper clubs. However you are paying for the privilege of not having these extra cost venues.

Can't disagree with you about the finances but I would prefer to pay more for what - to me - is a better overall cruise experience. Horses for courses, we all have different preferences and tastes...

[Castro and Millie]

19 hours ago, wowzz said:

Reading about the Limelight Club takes me back to the days of the Scampi and Chips in a basket circuit, in the likes of Baileys in Leicester in the mid 70s, watching the likes of the Drifters and Four Tops.

Anyone else remember those days?

Ah, Baileys in the 70’s……remember seeing Chuck Berry play there. He was great but the setting didn’t really suit him. Halcyon days indeed!

[Neil_c]

21 hours ago, wowzz said:

Reading about the Limelight Club takes me back to the days of the Scampi and Chips in a basket circuit, in the likes of Baileys in Leicester in the mid 70s, watching the likes of the Drifters and Four Tops.

Anyone else remember those days?

I was there. It was were I took my girlfriend when she visited (she lived in London), many years later we are still together married 43 years!!

 

We have visited Limelight club a couple of times and enjoyed the format

[wowzz]

48 minutes ago, Neil_c said:

I was there. It was were I took my girlfriend when she visited (she lived in London), many years later we are still together married 43 years!!

 

We have visited Limelight club a couple of times and enjoyed the format

I took my girlfriend as well, but she didn't become Mrs W !

[Ardennais]

3 hours ago, wowzz said:

I took my girlfriend as well, but she didn't become Mrs W !

I hope this was before you met Mrs W!

[funinhounslow]

As above Kiki Dee was exceptional at the Limelight. Wonderful performance and a natural informal q&a at the end. She’s had an amazing life and can spin a yarn. 
 

Took it for granted we wouldn’t be eating during the performance. Can’t eat and enjoy a show at the same time, and it seems disrespectful to the artist too.

 

People chomping popcorn at the cinema drives me nuts, can’t imagine what a performer trying to complete with a Limelight full of people eating would be like…

[Bill Y]

14 hours ago, Britboys said:

Fortunately for me, the ships I sail on don't have a Limelight Club. I think it is terrible to set aside a venue to charge pax extra for entertainment, thereby denying others the opportunity of seeing an artist or using a lounge/bar venue for most of the evening without paying for the privilege.

I agree,

 

While I have no problem with people paying to indulge themselves in the Spa, Gym classes and having Butlers, It's the thin edge of the wedge charging for entertainment that is not available elsewhere. If this wheeze is viewed as a good revenue centre then booking and paying for the theatre will no doubt follow.  People are already posting on here that the food in the MDR has been dumbed down and suggesting if you wish to enjoy what you experienced in the past then you need to dine in a specially restaurant.