Jazz and Honey — An Unexpected Pair

Jazz and bees are two things I would not usually pair together — especially for a night out at Lupo’s. But on Friday, 18 October, St Andrews Bee Society and Jazzworks collaborated to raise money for the UK Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Tickets were pay what you can, so on FIXR they were only £5, £7, or £10. Guests were also allowed to pay upon entry, and the ticket prices included an open bar. 

Upon arrival, I was asked what I wanted drawn on my hand for the night, so I picked a smiley face, unsure if it meant anything — it didn’t, but it was a cute detail. I then beelined for the open bar. Bee Society made it clear that the bar was only open until the tab ran out, but I got to the event at around 10pm and even after an hour of Jazz, I was able to snag a free drink. If guests came at the very beginning, they could easily drink more than their ticket was worth. 

I assumed the only drinks available for the open bar would be wine, beer, or seltzers, but there was also a bee-themed cocktail called “Honey Crisp Cocktail.” I had never had an alcoholic, honey-based drink in my life, but it was delicious and absolutely worth the sticker price of £5. If a guest did not drink, they could still enjoy another recipe from Bee Society: honey lavender or honey vanilla ice cream. These were a bit pricier, standing at £3 for one scoop and £5 for two, but it was homemade and for charity. I had also never had honey ice cream before, but it was phenomenal — my personal favourite was the honey vanilla.  

When I finally sat down with a drink and ice cream in hand, I looked around to find that I was severely underdressed, sporting jeans and sneakers. Guests were encouraged to wear whatever they wanted, but for inspiration, Bee Society posted a Pinterest board showcasing examples of cocktail attire. Most guests, who I assume frequent these Jazz events more often than I, wore suits, long dresses, and skirts, and played into the semi-formal aesthetic. Guests dressing up added to the classy, jazz-club atmosphere and reaffirmed my belief that everyone there genuinely loved the live music. The band was situated in the main area of Lupo’s, under the hanging plants, but was placed to the left to make room for dancers. Although it was mostly a casual, conversational environment, towards the end of the night more people started to crowd the dance floor. People enjoyed the music until around 11:20pm when the night sadly came to an end. Bee Society and Jazzworks put on an affordable and charitable night filled with jazz and honey — what more could you ask for?

Photo: Lizzie Rosenman