With another Blitz Party about to hit the capital this weekend, we managed to track down the men behind it, Mark and Jay, and have a few words; then they kindly gave us a pair of tickets for Saturday’s wartime knees-up. To have shot at winning, all you need to do is email us at QDL@qype.com with your Qype username and ‘Pack up your old kit bag’ in the subject line.

Qype: Hey Mark & Jay, so tell us how these parties came about?

Mark and/or Jay: Well, we started both Prohibition and Blitz Party in our bar, Bourne and Hollingsworth, a quirky little basement venue on Rathbone Place in Fitzrovia. Prohibition seemed like the ideal party for B and H’s 1920′s style interiors, and The Blitz Party came about due to the rise in 1940s influence in fashion, and the fact that the girls just loved men in uniform!

They started as a monthly Saturday night, but they began to grow so rapidly, that we decided to make them bigger and take them to much bigger venues. The Prohibition night has now been at some of the most breathtaking and unique ‘locations in town – everything from West End Georgian townhouses to Hackney warehouses. The fact that they are secret until the very last minute really adds to the excitement of the night. The Blitz Parties now take place under various arches in Shoreditch – the perfect location for that underground bunker vibe.

SS Atlantica came about as a nautical themed 1930s party to tie in with the Thames Festival, then just steamed ahead from there!

Qype: It seems like such a simple idea, well-executed. Did you encounter many obstacles, such as set, costumes etc.?

Mark and/or Jay: Actually, surprisingly, the sourcing of set pieces and objects to dress the venue has been one of the most fun parts. Because the whole of London is in the throes of vintage mania, it is fairly easy to source our vintage products. Also, our friends and family have helped out, scouring various car boot sales and charity shops all over Britain. For Prohibition, we seem to have cleared out every chintzy china cup from every thrift store in the whole of the country! One of our team, Anya is an artist and designer, and she has helped vastly with the Blitz Party, designing our ‘ration book’ drinks menus, sewing the Union Jacks, and making the sets.

Qype: Nostalgia is a curious phenomenon, yes. Maybe in 40 years you could do a Brixton Riots party. Are there any events you would love to do, but potentially cross the line?

Mark and/or Jay: Hahaha – I suppose Blitz party could be pushing it a bit if we had held it earlier. One time we had three German camera crews down to film, which we thought very Fawlty Towers-esque!

Qype: Curb Your Enthusiasm or Fawlty Towers?

See comment above!

Qype: What struck me at the last Chap Olympiad was how so many usually reserved English fellows were all dressed to the nines. I wore jeans and would’ve felt less self-conscious naked. How do you do it?

Mark and/or Jay: Readers of the Chap Magazine are the most amazingly dedicated followers of gentlemanly fashion and habitual frequenters of Jermyn Street – they really don’t do things by halves. A lot of the guests this year had been to the Chap Olympiad or Prohibition parties before and known what to expect, so naturally made an effort to avoid feeling like you!

Mark and/or Jay: I think every man deep down likes to dress up and look suave – perhaps it’s the James Bond effect – you know that as soon as you don a uniform or fling a dinner jacket over one shoulder, you will look 100 times better and instantly attractive to the opposite sex.

Qype: So, what can we expect at this weekend’s Blitz Party?

We’ve got a great night of 1940s entertainment lined up that include Twin and Tonic – a great band we’ve had a previous events who really get people dancing. Ta Mère will play a range of music encapsulating jazz, swing, chanson francaise and gipsy swing all with a unique sound bringing it into the 21st Century. Then, DJs Alex and Yu will be spinning their eclectic mix of songs until the early hours.

Qype: Why were the RAF so much cooler than the Army?

Mark and/or Jay: It’s all about what they drive – even the biggest tanker can’t compete with a bomber. Also, the uniform and hat looks way better.

Qype: Finally, care to share your favourite spots in London with us? Somewhere that makes the traffic, noise and tinny mp3s on buses bearable?

Mark and/or Jay: Chelsea Bridge at night time when the lights are on and you can look over to Albert Bridge
Paternoster Square in the summer.
Shepherds Market.
The Holly Bush or Spaniards Inn near Hampstead Heath.
Regents Park Rose Garden.