Simon Drake

Simon Drake is the host of his own House of Magic, an evening that begins the moment the gates open at 6.30, when a headless butler greets arriving guests — weather permitting.

The show itself is kept camera-free: photography and filming are not permitted while it runs, though they are fine at other times, so the audience watches with nothing between them and the magic. At 10.15 the night eases into drinks and after-show chilling, with a little more close-up magic worked at arm's length. It is an evening built as much on atmosphere and welcome as on the tricks, unfolding across a whole night rather than a single set — an occasion for guests who want more than a conventional theatre visit.