Shameless Hussies may have been heading towards its final dance but a phoenix did arise from the disco ashes in 1994 –  dressed head to toe in flammable polyester as clubbing and tiaras and synchronised hair slides finally met on the dancefloor in the shape of Housewife’s Choice at Brighton’s The Loft Club – anew venue opening on Dyke Road where the old Reform Club had once been.

Housewife’s Choice was an ElleBent production from Michele Allardyce, Wildblood and Queenie. It was all about the dress up and the get down, promising groovy house, tough handbag and US garage grooves. It was a mixed night with an “all are welcome” door policy and it never took itself seriously.

Led by Michele’s design aesthetic (and obsession with camp 50s housewives) we went full throttle on the décor. Laundrettes, hairdressers, giant soap packets and lines of washing sourced from local jumble sales (how much for the Miss Mary Of Sweden basque?).

Housewife’s Choice was for queers, drag queens, extroverts, clubbers, girlies, dollies, fag hags, bisexuals, trollops, groovers, tarts, funky mothers, housewives and glamour pussies. Inspired by Patrick Lilley’s Queer Nation in Covent Garden London and the legendary Vague in Leeds.

The restaurant next door to The Loft, The Harlequin had a dispute over the use of a side door. This seemingly insignificant fact led to the creation of Queen Josephine. Well, we needed a hostess and she needed a name on the flyer. Someone had to tell the clubbers where to get in or get off.

Alongside Meesh Mash (Michelle and Kate as residents, guest DJs included Gordon Lovetrain a.k.a. Sex Kitten (Zap Club), Craig Woodrow (Wild Fruit), Dulcie Danger (Hard Times / The Zap / Beacon Royal), Jose (Zanzibar) and Helene Stokes (Honeyclub / DJ Magazine)

Themes continued as our warped minds delivered joys including Jackson’s Wig World (Jackson the Barber) – our most successful ever theme night. So much so we had another one. The M&S Spectacular – Queen Josephine invites you to wear your favourite Marks & Sparks items (go on surprise us!) for our M&S Spectacular – an evening of quality and value. Queen Josephine made thorough checks on the door. Of course. Delia’s kitchen – complete with a Queen Josephine cookery demonstrations – cheesy pineapple sticks with kitchen help from French maid Jane? Advice available for sagging souffles plus helpful tips for sticky buns. Apparently.

Hollywood Wives – Queen Josephine wants you on the casting couch as your favourite screen queen for Hollywood Wives, with lots of diamonds, bitching, tequila at 99p a shot. Bargain. Housewife’s Choice took part in Brighton Pride procession on May 27^th 1995. Running on wheels, not heels. And then just as things seem to do in clubland things changed, the steam ran out of our nylon trouser press and clubbers found a new favourite way to spend Saturday night.

Queer Guide – Impact’s Monthly Guide declared “Housewife’s Choice provides…an atmosphere where dressing up like silly buggers banishes attitude and homophobic hetties”. Which was nice.