Entering through a side door, I’m greeted by staff dressed in spotted flouncy dresses, big blonde wigs and an abundance of red lipstick and quiffs. Downstairs I’m met by a projector screen showing a film starring a young Michael Caine. There’s a set of cinema chairs to my left, which will be used later for putting sleepy people on.

Inside, the buzzy atmosphere is awash with all manner of swinging ‘50s happenings: three soundproof karaoke rooms with brown and bogie green chairs, a games corner where guys in leather jackets and turn-up jeans ‘hang’, and an American style diner where burgers and fries are delivered to gabbling diners.

Not everyone is dressed up though, including me. But I wish I was. I’m outclassed by a hen party in Pink Lady jackets and plimsolls and a party of weirdly dressed clowns. They’re all on the dance floor. And if you like motown, you’ll like the DJs: two girls who dance as much they play songs. Everyone’s treated to Smoky Robinson, Ray Charles, The Marvelettes and the entire Dirty Dancing soundtrack.

The bowling, meanwhile, happens next to the dance floor. It’s an A&E accident waiting to happen. Booze + bowling = flying balls. Everyone knows that. But arriving at 9.30pm was no obstacle to booking an alley, straight away, for £6 per person.

Shake, Rattle and Bowl is a first, second and third date rolled into one, and then some. Time and bowling balls both fly, minimal damage is caused, and I win the game. I’ll be returning, I’ll be bowling again, and I’ll be dressing up next time.

What:
Shake, Rattle and Bowl

Where:
Bloomsbury Bowling Lanes
Basement of Tavistock Hotel
Bedford Way
WC1H 9EU

Tube:
Russell Square

Cost:
£7 (but pre-book a spot on the guest list and it’s £4 with a cheeky queue jump included)

No one could have known that leggings, a garment once as cringe-worthy as scrunchies and shell suits, would become one of the decade’s most necessary accessories. Nine out of ten women I know own a pair and the ones who don’t are sporty types unwilling to indulge in passing trends.

Well ya boo sucks to you guys, because leggings are standing the test of time. And they keep on transforming because those damned designers just can’t leave things alone. They began discreetly: simple and black, as a revival of something someone partying hard in the ‘80s would have worn with a bandana and a Kappa jacket. Then they got funky, and introduced patterns: leopard print, stripes, spots and stars.

Next, the trendsetters unleashed the wet look. And they brought with it gold and silver leggings that no more than five per cent of the population could get away with. A friend of mine bought a pair to compliment their transvestite outfit for a bad taste party. It was all they were good for.

But lately, leggings have gone and got sequinned. And they’re awesome. Sequins have been acceptable ever since Kate Moss started wearing sequined jackets with simple skinny jeans. And if you’re determined to show off a pair of sequined leggings, you can reverse the look.

It’s exactly what Victoria Beckham’s done with massive success (see VB above, standing in front of enormous half-naked picture of herself), combining them with a simple black jacket and black heels. A long white shirt will also look great, as long as you wear very little jewellery. The key is keeping it simple, or you’ll end up looking like a Christmas decoration. It’s not a good look.

Read Charlotte Hill’s take on the great legging debate, here.