Election Night 2010

Election Night – Party to a Threesome?

05 May, 2010
by: Sofigod

Political pizzas, piñatas and passion fruit first-past-the-post. Election night gets sordid.

Election. It's like a dirty word. But there's nothing quite like the anticipation of a new British government being chosen, especially after weeks of speculation, spin and 3-way televised sparring. This is a historical moment, but we don't need to tell you that. What we do want to do is vary the answer to that inevitable question demanded by future generations regarding where you were for the 2010 election, when the face of 21st-century British politics and society were irrevocably altered. Why take the risk when you could reply, “I was making a Nick Clegg-faced pizza”?

Maybe it's the fact that the very recent and possible future of our country's political make-up is something of a ménage-a-trois rather than a monogamous affair which has got me imagining that election night is in some way sordid. But it's safe to say it's permeated my way of thinking. So I've created a little three-way in terms of things for you to do and see on election night.

What's more, after all the over-televised and over-talked election and political campaigns where even SamCam's hemline has been scrutinised, I think it's time for a bit of silly.

1. Pizza Express' Millbank branch are pulling an all-nighter on 6th May and hosting an election night screening for those who want to see the results roll in constituency by constituency and can no way wait till morning. The restaurant's resident chef will be knocking out “People's Pizzas” with toppings attuned to political campaign aspects. For example there's a quails, eggs and caviar-topped pizza for the posh electorate among us. Mmmmm.

2. Foodie architects Bompass & Parr are clearly involved – they've recently opened their Parliamentary Waffle House on Carnaby Street. Food and waffles are in accordance with the three main political parties and every order is fed into the in-house live-action swing ‘o’ meter in order to gauge the mood of the country as people vote with their mouths.

Thursday evening is Election Night Extravaganza open until 8am the next day. Here you can get live poll-by-poll action, food and booze all night long. It also features a speakers' corner, politician piñata, and a live three-way gladiatorial battle. Epic.

3. For more of a drink-fuelled outing there are a couple of bars about town sporting election campaign cocktails. The Hampton's Bar in St James' Park is shaking up political party-themed cocktails – blue gin or Curacao if you're Tory, a Labour Red Rascal made with raspberry liqueur, or if your Nick Clegg-inclined a passion fruit first-past-the-post is for you. Reporters get their very own impartial cocktail. This certainly beats the ballot box.
Primo Bar – ideally located opposite the Houses of Parliament in Waterloo – have similarly tailored their drinks list to fit in with the political fervour and are serving Clear Mandate Martinis, Lib Dem Decider Daiquiris, and Sam Cam Virgin Cosmos – that's right, she's preggers. Clever.


Or there's an Election Comedy Marathon Bethnal Green Working Men's Club
Check out what's on in London on May 6th

Sofigod