From the opening notes, it was clear this ABBA sing-along wasn’t about overly polished vocals or pitch-perfect performances — it was about joy, connection, and unapologetic fun. What was lacking in vocal finesse was more than made up for by our host, Antony (Dr H) Hubmayer’s sheer charisma. He worked the room like a pro, turning strangers into instant backing singers of the ABBAsolutely Fabulous Cabaret Choir and the audience into the real stars of the show. What we lacked in tone and pitch (and inability to follow directions), we made up for with volume and enthusiasm.

Everyone on the verandah at the Inglewood Hotel had clearly arrived with the same agenda: to have a good time — and thank you for the music, because that’s exactly what happened. People-watching alone was worth the price of entry. Beaming faces, booming voices, women dancing without a care, torch lights swaying in the night air, and smiles absolutely galore. It felt less like a performance and more like a very enthusiastic group of friends who all happened to know every second line of Dancing Queen.

That said, one small SOS: lyrics projected on a screen would have taken this from great to Super Trouper. There was a lot of frantic phone-scrolling mid-chorus, which slightly broke the spell — though it did add to the comedy and chaos in a very on-brand way.

Hosted on the verandah, the night had a relaxed, communal vibe that suited ABBA perfectly. No, it wasn’t flawless. But it was pure Mamma Mia magic — proof that when it comes to ABBA, you don’t need to hit the notes, you just need to hit the feeling. And that, we absolutely did.