Last Saturday, The Mitre Pub in Buckingham came alive with its first-ever Karaoke Night – and what an unforgettable evening it turned out to be! From the moment the first tune blasted through the speakers, the atmosphere was electric. The pub was packed wall-to-wall with regulars and newcomers, pints in hand, all buzzing to either grab the mic or cheer on their friends. DJ Nigel Vernon-Dier, our brilliant guest host for the night, kept the energy sky-high with back-to-back karaoke classics. Even before anyone started singing, people were dancing in their seats and humming along – the excitement was that contagious. And when the singing began? It was surprisingly impressive! Of course, there were a few off-key moments (quickly covered by some creative dance moves and laughter), but every performance was delivered with heart and confidence. The crowd embraced each singer – clapping, cheering, and singing along.
Even our very own Ben Braesyde graced the stage, thankfully with his special friend Amy who has the voice of an angel and can hold a note for both of them. He could certainly command the stage though so we think we might have a budding mime artist on our hands.
Highlights of the Night
There were so many memorable performances that it’s hard to pick favourites. One standout was Chris, who channelled his inner Freddie Mercury – complete with a confident strut and a blast of stage smoke – to deliver a Queen classic that brought the house down. With the crowd stomping and clapping along, for a moment it felt like we were at a rock concert in a packed arena rather than our cosy pub. Chris owned the stage, and the applause he earned could probably be heard down the street.
Another highlight came courtesy of Ben and Phil, who turned a little technical hiccup into pure comedy gold. When the karaoke machine’s lyrics fell out of sync mid-song, they didn’t miss a beat. Instead, the duo ad-libbed their own hilarious lyrics and over-the-top dance moves, sending the pub into fits of laughter. By the end of their impromptu remix, everyone was crying with laughter and giving them a raucous round of applause. It was a perfect example of the light-hearted, anything-goes fun that made the night so special.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a true Mitre celebration without our community all-in, and even our landlord couldn’t resist a turn on the mic. Pete joined Seonad for a lively duet of the classic “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.” They had the entire pub singing along to the chorus. It was one of those feel-good moments that really captured the spirit of the night: everyone in it together, just having a blast.
As the night wore on, the performances kept getting bolder and more entertaining. A little liquid courage (those Baby Guinness shots were flying off the bar!) helped some of our shyer guests find their voice. With each new singer, the cheers got louder and the crowd support got stronger. We saw impromptu duets form among people who had just met, shy singers turning into rock stars mid-song, and even some surprisingly beautiful harmonies in group sing-alongs. By the final songs of the night, it genuinely felt like the whole pub had become one big, harmonious choir. The talent, enthusiasm, and sheer joy on display were beyond anything we expected for a first karaoke night.
A Heartfelt Thank-You
A huge thank-you goes out to DJ Nigel Vernon-Dier for keeping the tunes rolling and the party vibes in full swing all evening. Nigel’s mix of crowd-pleasers and his upbeat encouragement made sure there was never a dull moment. We’re also incredibly grateful to everyone who grabbed the mic, sang along, or simply joined us for support – you all made the night a smashing success. Our first Karaoke Night might have been a one-off experiment, but it turned into a truly special event that brought the community together in the best way possible.
Here at The Mitre, nights like this remind us why we love being your local pub.
Thank you to everyone who came out and contributed to the music, laughter, and unforgettable memories. Who knows – after such an amazing evening, we might just have to do it again sometime! Until then, cheers to our wonderful community and the great time we shared at our Karaoke Night.