I would have loved to go to this, but I really can't justify 3 weekends in London within a month.
As Lin says, anyone lucky enough to be going, please, please post a review (and pics if poss)!!
OK, I confess, I'm going with a couple of cohorts! 
London is easy for me, and I can get home the same night (I hope ... we ran it close once, missed the last train, had to get a different route and phone my OH to come and rescue us! 
)
I may be wrong, but it sounds a bit like the Pheasantry in that it opens at 6.30 for food (optional), but the concert doesn't start till 8.00. Food and drinks served throughout, if you wish. It says no dress code, but "dress to impress"!! Eeek!
I checked out the wine list, in anticipation - white wine starts at about £20 a bottle (not bad, all things considered), but as you work through the list, the priciest is an eye watering £1,000! If Mr Mead is at the next table, we could end up ordering anything ... I have visions of vaguely pointing at the list, saying "we'll have that one", whilst looking in an entirely different direction! 
Could be an expensive night!
A Liz that made me laugh & reminded me to try to be careful when pointing at the menu.
It was the most fantastic gig! First of all, I've never been anywhere like the Hippodrome before. It's basically a casino, and we all had to be escorted through the gaming tables and upstairs to wait outside the particular room where the show was. Our escort commented, "it seems to be all ladies tonight!" A quick glance confirmed, yes, almost all the usual suspects!
We were fortunate to get a table next to the stage - in fact Annie was almost sharing Will's piano stool! It was a vaguely similar set up to the Pheasantry, except that it was much darker inside, and any drinks ordered had to come from the very busy bar outside.
Anyway, on to the show. Stephen was excellent, very funny and relaxed and with a total mixture of songs. His version of Bridge Over Troubled Water was my favourite of the night. Preeya Kalidas was his guest in the first half. They duetted a couple of songs - she has a lovely voice - and we were in total awe of her skyscraper stilettos!!! Stephen announced that 'Curly' would be on in the second half, so we obviously waited with bated breath for that.
We had seen Lee beforehand, sitting at the back with Wendy and others from Eclipse (including Keith Jack, who of course has just joined Eclipse). He was wearing a white shirt, and even from where we were sitting looked sensational.
The fun really started when he came on stage. Lee immediately started talking about the shirt, which it turned out was Stephen's. He had intended to wear a black T-shirt, but Stephen had said, "you can't wear that!". The shirt was far too baggy for Lee, who kept pulling at it and laughing to emphasise this fact. Then Lee told another story of when he was at Stephen's flat earlier in the week, and noticed a picture in the loo of Stephen with a little dog, which apparently was called Lee. "Who on earth calls their dog Lee?!" Much more hilarity.
He sang Father and Son, then did a sensational duet of Luck Be a Lady (which has been filmed) with lots of laughter and dancing, then another duet of I Believe (When I Fall in Love). Just wonderful. He also let the cat out of the bag about a Christmas show in London on 7th December!!! 
Stephen did a couple more numbers and then it was over. The icing on the cake was when we were hanging around chatting outside the concert room (we'd been thrown out by then, I think they needed to prepare for a more sophisticated, 'adult' cabaret!), Lee reappeared in the black T-shirt mentioned earlier. He looked absolutely stunning! 
We had a quick word before we left - again, Meadmushed, so can't remember what he said - but we had to dash off to catch trains. It looked as if he was going to be there a while, as quite a few friends were there.
All in all, a fabulous night and I'm so glad I was able to go!
Great review A/Liz! Sounds like a fab evening!
Wow - sounds like a fun evening! Thanks so much for the review, ALiz - Lee can be very funny, can't he? And Stephen seems to bring that out in him.
So funny about the shirt. I guess Lee didn't know there was a dress code at the Hippodrome Casino.
Lovely, intimate setting as well.
Jazz, video? Woohoo!!!!! 
While we wait for Jazz' video (
), let's enjoy some photos tweeted last night:
From Darren Bell:
https://twitter.com/darren_bell/status/450249553887764480/photo/1
From Abs:
https://twitter.com/abs2222/status/450166108285571072/photo/1
From the Lee Mead Timeline by Ro:
https://twitter.com/LeeMeadTimeline/status/450071555356516352/photo/1
And from Wendy Long at Eclipse Artists:
https://twitter.com/wendylong828/status/450175821425033216/photo/1
I tried to look at yours, Jazzy. I didn't do 'download', I tried 'watch'. The opening moments were fab (you had a great view) but then it got stuck and started spluttering. I then tried to download it, but it went from saying 35 minutes left to 45 minutes - so I'm afraid I panicked and stopped it. Thank you for trying, though. 
Jazz, that vid is spectacular!!!!!
Thanks everyone for the pic's etc,I can't get into sunny-mead's link it just says loading and nothhing happens
Ah, well, you see, Petrus, this is why I don't usually do reviews - I always forget to mention something vital!
Just remembered something else, Stephen's sister came on stage to join him in a duet at the end of the show. But guess what - I've forgotten what they sang!
Jazzylou's video caught the tush wiggle! Amongst many other great moments. Great sound quality too, which to me makes it all the more special
Thanks for letting us link on the website Jaz, and well done Lin - that's her first video embedding done it's amazing what you can learn whilst loving Lee Mead!!
OMG I have just watched your vid Jazz
you really managed to capture the fun upbeat vibes of the evening.
Hmmm & just as importantly you got the tush wiggle.
ALiz thanks for a very descriptive review.
I certainly was a fun feel good night.
Thanks A/Liz for the review and Jazzy for the vids.I haven't had time to watch yet, keeping them as a treat for tonight .
I can't add much to the reviews although regarding the 'shirt' episode , Stephen did say he came in wearing a tee-shirt too, but when his band arrived they were wearing shirts, so Stephen said he thought he'd better change. At this point, he turned to the band and laughing said 'I bet you all went to public school didn't you'. They laughed and Will nodded as did the guitarist
.
As A/Liz says I was almost sitting on the piano stool with Will and must admit I found it fascinating watching him moving his feet on the pedals of the piano and keyboard (naturally Lee wasn't on stage then or I wouldn't have been looking there ), but it was almost like Will was tap dancing .
Yes Petrus, Lee did mention that to us when we saw him, could have been the wine talking , we'll have to wait and see.
Thanks for your super review A/Liz, and Jazzy for your amazing vids...
I can't stop watching them...
How lucky we are, to have this wonderful Site and Forum, and such talented people who post on it...Thank you so much ladies.
I agree it was a fantastic evening. I don't think we've ever seen Lee so relaxed and happy, a sheer delight to watch. Just loved 'Father and Son' it sent shivers up my spine...
I really enjoyed Stephen's varied 'set list' too, especially loved
'Bridge Over Troubled Water' and 'Nature Boy' He just gives it everything...
I enjoyed Preeya Kalidas too, she has a lovely voice...but I was also totally mesmerised by her 'skyscraper' shoes! (How do they walk in them?)
Watching Lee and Stephen singing together was also pure magic, and to see them having so much fun on stage, was wonderful too.
What a duo!...They were just meant to perform together...
More of this in the future please guys!
I felt very lucky to be at the concert on Saturday and thank you to Cassie and Maggie who kindly shared a table with me and made the whole thing possible.
I had been out the same morning intent on buying a decent camera that I could use if we were allowed to take a few shots. I'm so glad I found one that came up with the goods, it will be very useful in the future
Again that amazing feeling of nerves and adrenaline attacked as soon as I woke up! The familiar texting on the train to find who was where and meeting times. The streets outside Leicester Square tube were packed with people shoulder to shoulder, all on their way out so something special. And there was I, also on my way to something very special. I managed to cross the road and take a couple of shots of the Casino. Its such a glitzy place. On the entrance level, there is a whole floor area covered with 1 pence coins sunk into resin so they shine, it was very effective. I was amazed but the awesome atrium inside with the gaming tables arranged below and the poker players high up on the top balcony. The whole place screamed of money and I remember wondering how much 'make or break' was happening right in front of me. Due to security and confidentiality reasons, there were stewards patrolling and asking people not to take photos.
The inside of the function room was arranged very similarly to the Peasantry, the room was wider than it was deep with plush curved seating bays along the back wall and then tables and chairs arranged around the front of the stage. We had a good table just to the right of the stage and one table back from the front. Lovey and close. The music stand and light were not as bad as the looked on the vid although at one point at the beginning of I Believe, I just couldn't see his top half at all apart from his mop LOL.
Lee flitted in and out of the room before the show, sitting with Keith at the back while Stephen sang. He is very popular and was always chattering away to someone or other. I remember my first glimpse of him in his (or rather Stephen's) white shirt, thinking how gorgeous he looked. It never ceases to amaze me how he impacts on me every time I see him as if I've never met him before! Everything about him is just spellbinding!
I loved Stephen's songs, I've always enjoyed his sections of West End Men, he has a very varied voice and is very easy to listen to. Lots of upbeat songs too, jazzy stuff. I don't know if anyone made a note of his set list but the first half seemed to whizz past as quickly as it does when Lee sings.
I really enjoyed that Lee was part of the audience. The only issue I had was that he was behind me and to think that I was in his line of vision was mild torture as I kept thinking of him behind me!
In my vid of Father and Son about half way though, I think the line is 'you're still young' it felt as though he was looking at me. The camera was close to my chest so as not to disturb anyone so it looks like he is looking above it on the film, that's where he caught my eye
Stephen and Lee's performance of Luck be a lady was just about the best thing I have ever seen Lee do (apart from Gethsemane at Kilworth. He was happy, relaxed and just out for a good time! I loved that he started dancing and then prompted Stephen to join in!
I don't remember any chat snippets that haven't already been mentioned but I remember the surprise when he announced his Christmas gig.
I was hoping that Stephen would sing The Journey Home as that is my favourite but he did do Nature Boy which was very good.
Preeya's shoes astounded me also. Bright pink leopard print platform stilettoes 👠👠
And I thought Stephens watch was amazing!⌚ Did anyone else notice it?
I loved that Stephen's sister joined him on stage at the end, it was lovely to see them sing together.
I did have a very brief chat with Lee before I left. I told him how good he and Stephen are together and he said that they just lark about and have fun.
I was home by 11.40 as the trains had been perfectly timed on the way back. I'm so very glad I had the chance to see this and I hope the pics and vids help to those that didn't 🍸🍸🍸
Great review, Jazzy!
Thanks for your review Jazz.
It certainly was a night to remember the show was first class
Although on a personal level there are some parts of the night I would rather forget
