Review: Welly Ball

There was an air of expectation hanging over St Andrews on Saturday morning. A chistmas-eve feeling intermingled into the haar. What was this anticipation for? What else but Welly Ball. Arguably the biggest night in November, one that attracts over 1450 guests into Kinkell for a night of dancing, drinking, debauchery and, of course, wellies.

Dinner guests started arriving from 7pm into the elegantly decorated Kinkell, as the author has bemoaned many times before, the venue is a difficult place to make exciting. The Welly Ball Committee tackled this hurdle with unabashed ease, stringing fairy lights from every corner and accent wellington boot accessories.

The 75 tables were quickly filled with innumerable club ties, already smashed freshers, and alumni unwilling to let the welly dream die. The 5 bottles of wine per table raised a few eyebrows, although in reality there was more than enough to have everyone happily squiffy before the food had arrived.

Cold pork and soggy carrots do not a satisfactory meal make. A fairly dire meal by any standards, the fb/twitter/snapchat/yikyak backlash against it was particularly amusing. One feels less sorry for the 2 tables who didn’t get any food at all. However the free tunnocks roused everyone’s spirits and the food-gate was quickly forgotten.

Just after 9 the tables were hurriedly cleared away and dinner guests began to be joined by the assembled skite-fiends of the after-party crew. The highly pleasing jazz band who had been serenading the assembled crowds were escorted off, and in their place the highly acclaimed “Will and the People” began their much enjoyed set. Joe Jones took over with his classic DJ skillz ensuring everyone was dancing until they dropped. One irate reveller, Viscount Brookeborough, was unimpressed however that “Dancing in the Moonlight” was not played as had been promised in the promotional video!

The food stands were much welcomed, with Cottage Kitchen, Frisky Froyo and Dervish all supplementing the rumbling tummies of the, now very much crunk, guests. The bars, run by Events Bars St Andrews, were excellent, with fairly good prices and a host of very friendly bartenders. (So friendly they succeeded in me giving them every last penny I had on me #gin)

Overall the night was a triumph, the shot of sloe gin at the door set the scene for an evening of unbridled revelry. The addition of a marquee onto the main rooms added another dimension for the discerning (intoxicated) guests, the music was loud and mostly included songs which everyone could join in with.

The Photo Booth, which the author somehow managed to ignore for the entire night, was a great success and by the end of the evening every wellingtoned baller didn’t want to leave. Yet again a successful Welly Ball, an excellent Charity, The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust, with great tunes, questionable dancing, and innumerable strides of pride the next day.

Well done Welly, once again you’ve reminded us why we love you, (but for the sake of our stomaches PLEASE change your caterers).

All photos courtesy of light box