How fab was that?!

Above: Nick Hogan calls for an amendment to the smoking ban

Well, that went better than expected.

A trickle of guests became a flood as over 200 people attended last night's Save Our Pubs & Clubs event at the Cavern Club in Liverpool.

Five Live Breakfast presenter Nicky Campbell was there too, interviewing guests for this morning's programme. (Did anyone hear it? I was too busy having breakfast!)

The event began with a 50-minute DVD of Paul McCartney playing at the Cavern Club in 1999. It was projected on to the large video wall at the back of the stage. The volume was low enough to allow people to talk but it established the perfect atmosphere.

Then it was time for the speeches. I escorted our speakers backstage and we walked on stage from the wings.

First, I introduced Nick Hogan, well known to readers of this blog. Nick said a few words before I introduced John Tobin, vice president of the Clubs & Institute Union, who said a few more. Both speakers caught the mood of the audience and their (short) speeches were received with cheers and applause.

Highlight of the evening was the Beatles tribute band who played for 60 minutes and were great value for money. Made In Liverpool were genuinely very, very good and the bass player was the spitting image of McCartney. (Unfortunately the illusion was lost when I visited the band in their dressing room and saw them without their wigs!)

Anyway, they got a great reception, including a standing ovation at the end. Songs included 'A Hard Day's Night', 'I Feel Fine', 'Girl', 'Eight Days A Week', 'Twist and Shout' and many more.

Three months ago Dave Jones, owner of the Cavern Club, assured me that an event like this would be a great success. I was keen to do it but with our record at Labour conference I wasn't convinced we would attract a large crowd.

I needn't have worried. Dave was right. We had a capacity audience who not only enjoyed themselves enormously but went home with a serious message (and some great music) ringing in their ears.

PS. Guests included Michael Dugher MP, PPS to the Leader of the Opposition who stayed to the end and told me, on his way out, "That was the best event at the Labour conference". I hope he told Ed.

And now for Manchester ...

Below: Five Live presenter Nicky Campbell interviews a guest