It was with much trepidation that we entered this Vegas-style gorefest, which consisted of three floors of non-stop debauchery and dirty dancing. Guests were welcomed with frisky fire acts before being led into the bowels of the Ball, where they encountered zombie strippers, vampish cage dancers and suspended freaks from Captain Howdy's Flying Circus.

The Bad Juju Lounge offered grotesque burlesque, warped magic and bizarre cabaret. The Blood Ballroom had inviting dry-ice walls along with a live butcher's show, and in Dr Marcussi's House of Gore were live performances from Texas Chainsaw, Antiproduct and Swetbox. With a creepy show from the master of deception Dr Gore, a crucifixion, human sculptures, open-heart surgery with the sexy Roxy Velvet and the first public hanging in 55 years, tonight's bloodbath was definitely not for the faint-hearted.