ALL NIGHT SUPPERS.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13391, 12 February 1914, Page 2

ALL NIGHT SUPPERS.

Whilst the all-night clubs were confined to Bohemia,-'the great West ihid hotels and restaurants were not much concerned (writes a London correspondent), but since tho cabaret system has sprung up in the centre of the most fashionable hotels, managers are very much upset. London, treading in the footsteps of Continental capitals, is becoming a late city. Hardly a theatre of any standing puts on its chief biil until 9 o'clock. The curtain seldom descends before 11.15, and bythe time a-taxi is engaged it is 11.30. The supper room of the great hotels i: not reached much before 11.45, and drink is cut off and .lights have to bo out by 12.30. There are thousands nightly leaving the theatres who want a. dainty supper and who cannot enjoy one under those conditions of hurry and hustle. The cabaret clubs (which by club licenses are permitted to remain open right through the night) arc not compelled to curtail their customers' drink bill or to evict them. To them, therefore, people wend their way-as thej leave the theatre, and .6 o'clock iii itie morning finds them still filled. What with wine and music.j and the tango, the hours slip away very pleasantly. Some of them arc very expensive. There is a disinclination on the part of patrons to become j members. Most of these clubs are limited companies. A person who bc!comes a shareholder ■ may 'find himself landed with the obligations incurred ■in the name of the company. Consequently there are considerably more guests than .there' are members, and as subscriptions do not- bring in much revenue, a very heavy tariff is charged for both food and drink. Two friend.* of mine were complaining on Saturday that in tho small hours they had to pay hall'-a-crowo for each whisky and soda, they consumed.' Some of the clubs are more reasonable; charge very little more than hotel rates for liquor and only ask a pound a bottle for the best wine.- Every night all of them have to turn away hundreds of eustonr<^rs. . 'i