Don’t tell Mama Review
Who says January has to be the worst month of the year? The inaugural Don’t tell Mama event at Butlins shows that more than ever, the LGBTQ+ community are ready to cure their January blues.
Three nights of pure joy. Kicking off with welcome parties, The Traitors finale viewing, which was at capacity! Plus vocal cabaret, Silent discos & Abba live (ish) proving we are here to party in a very diverse and eclectic way, from the very get go. If you love an iconic pop star you were well covered here, Louise Redknapp, Claire Richards, The Wanted, East 17, and the Vengaboys brought the pop party gloriously each night on centre stage with thousands of dancing fans getting up close and personal to the stars.
All of our favourite south coast drag talent opened Saturday afternoon, everyone from Davina Sparkle to Marsha Mallow to Drag with No Name filled the dressing rooms with infectious giggles, I couldn’t possibly share most of those stories though! Baga Chipz headlined Saturday night in the REDS cabaret room, she told me backstage “This was an absolutely amazing gig, I came off stage with electricity running through me, and I had the crowd in the palm of my hands, packed to the rafters, smiles from ear to ear, dancing, cheering, and I really didn’t want to get off stage, I felt like I was doing Glastonbury it was that amazing. Hopefully they’ll have me back because it was an absolute pleasure and such a great evening, and if I don’t mind saying so myself I think it was a very successful night for Miss Baga Chipz MBE”.
Wandering around on Sunday, Butlins really felt like its own enclosed LGBTQ village, people walking with their towels and swimming trunks, a very sequinned snooker competition going on, the little local on-site shop selling bottles of Prosecco to a group of girls dressed as Dolly Parton, and the sound of laughter and joy filling the air over a soundtrack of STEPS.
Also on the table we had inclusive pool parties, go karting, Bingo, Shoreline walks, arcade games, and so much more on offer for some chilled afternoon fun. impressive food and drinks offerings ranged from Subway sandwiches to Sunday roast carveries, I really wasn’t expecting so much choice.
Founder of e3 events, David Hill chatted to me as we enjoyed our gorgeous fresh breakfast buffet in the Deck restaurant, with omelettes made to order, who revealed “DTM 2026 was incredible, and the feedback has been so great that we are already planning an epic weekend in 2027 with even more amazing artists” and these have just started to trickle through, including The Freemasons, La Voix, and an S Club 7 icon, currently you can book these three nights 29th January-1st February 2027 from as little was £114 per person inclusive of all entertainment here, can’t wait to see you there, ill be glittered up in the DJ booth ready to share a tequila!
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