It's the hottest weekend of the year so far!! Like we are in the Caribbean!!! Londoners are out and about in their short pants and slippers... and tonight, as part of the holiday weekend, we are off to celebrate Busspepper's 6th Anniversary. It's 6 years already boy??!! Big up Dr. Pepper (or is it now Knotty Dread? lol) for bringing us Caribbean flavour every month in London. This anniversary party promises to be bigger, better and full of the little extras the Busspepper crew say they were bringing back by popular demand. We talking about ... dancers ... champagne reception ... shots and much more!!

The venue tonight is a little different, away from the usual corners of the city - Busspepper is heading to the west end - we are off to London's fashionable Regent Street at the very sexy looking Strawberry Moons (www.strawberrymoons.co.uk). Now the guestlist has been closed since Thursday, so you know what that mean? It's gonna be ram!! And as we turn the corner at minutes to eleven, we see the queue stretching back to prove it!! Hmmm we realise they scanning every piece of ID .... real big brother business!! But it's no scene ... so as usual it's a guestlist affair with limited cheaper tix available for the organised party animals among us ... AND a neat trick for those willing to get organised and get in the VIP crew... bye bye line.... we inside! We love it!!

Photos By Amiel Barrimond
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Now firstly, we must say thanks for the change in venue - Strawberry Moons did not let us down Knotty Dread!! With some fabulous artwork and a clock we wish we could steal and take home (photo), this interestingly shaped venue is spread over 2 floors with 3 bars and plenty of seating area in case you get tired (yeah right!) We like the venue ... it's big, it's spacious and easy to move around in. And the champagne reception and early bird prices meant the party got going early. Two lovely ladies were walking around all night with shots of Sambuca for the drinkers (photo), and drinks overall seemed easy to get (and decent prices too). There was even an extra bar downstairs with the cloakroom and food ... ahhh!!

Enter the lovely Hasan De Four (www.hasandefour.com), fresh from his Gary Rhodes filming, a regular feature with an array of Caribbean culinary delights - all beautifully labelled. We even see a sign saying you could order yuh food in advance. Well boy, what next? Maybe we could order drinks online before we reach or put in a request to the DJ!! I'll have a cosmopolitan at 9.. another at 9.15 and another at 9.30 .... AND I'd like a real serious dancehall session ... some Lady Gaga and some dancing girls please (photo). Well boy, look at that! DJ Markee, Gladiators and Big Tunes were in the house with a real mix up of music for the night. We get Michael Jackson, we hear the first Dutty Wine dub plate that we hear in a Busspepper from Gladiators ... and we get to 'bubble like soup' with Markee. Big up Marvel for hyping up the crowd on de M.I.C. Between your excitement and Markee's spinning, the DJ crew didn't disappoint.

Now Marvel ... we do believe you were however, responsible for inviting some amateur entertainers on stage!! Clearly inspired by the stage dancers and the lure of the pole, three excitable young ladies jump up on stage do the splits, spin round the pole, wine on top each other on the ground ... bubble, bubble & bubble. Ladies, you were our highlight (photo)!!

6 years on and Busspepper are still bringing out something different in London. Keep mixing it up Knotty Dread ... a lil' change every now and again keeps us on our toes and keeps things fresh. Now we must go fill up on some roti ... or should we have the callaloo ... so much choice, so little time!!! Ah well .... Buspepper, we sure De Four Caterers is one thing you want to KEEP, so no need to choose just yet ... got to fill up for Luton Carnival tomorrow.

Wishing you another 6+ successful years in the business Busspepper!!!

Beth for the TJJ fam
"The Only Thing Constant is Change"