Next month marks 75 years since the D-Day Normandy landings – and one London bar is commemorating the occasion by partying like it’s 1944.
On June 8, east London venue Bourne & Hollingsworth will be throwing a special version of its biannual Blitz Party, which sees a 1940s-style swinging soiree travel across hidden locations in London.
The D-Day party will be hosted inside The Vaults – the labyrinthine underground venue in Waterloo – which will be transformed into a wartime air shelter.
The location is set to be decorated with sandbags, blackout curtains, searchlights and military bunk beds, while one room will host screenings of vintage newsreels and films from the era. The evening will also operate a strict 1940s dress code on the night – think braces, military uniforms and victory curls – to ensure that all attendees look the part.
Live music will be at the centre of the party, with London-based dance group Swing Patrol leading a workshop on the evening to help all those looking to perfect their jitterbug. The cocktail list will be presented on ration book menus, and wartime-inspired food will be served in the venue’s very own Mess Hall.
The D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6 1944 were the largest amphibious invasion in history, and marked a turnaround for Allied Forces during the Second World War. The operation is largely considered the beginning of the end for Hitler’s forces in Europe.
The D-Day Blitz Party will take place on June 8 at The Vaults, Leake Street, SE1 7NN. Early bird tickets are £35, and can be purchased at theblitzparty.com
