If ever there was a ball to epitomise the best of Cambridge, it would be Hughes Hall’s ‘Around the World in 80 Days’. A fantastic night with fantastic people where the drinks were endless and the entertainment was spectacular.

The home-grown talent of Hughes Hall alone was perhaps one of the most impressive aspects of the ball. Beginning with the Poulenc Sextet featuring Hughesian Adam Powell and five of Cambridge’s finest musicians from CUCO and CUJO, and followed by a band named The Maggie Wilemans (pictured) which was made exclusively of Hughesians. Song choice alone could have easily put The Maggie Wilemans at the top of any Best Cover Band list, playing everything from Justin Timberlake’s ‘Seniorita’ to Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘The Only Living Boy in New York’ and The Strokes’ ‘Reptilla’ amongst many other gems. As a relatively scratch crew, the debut performance of Eamon McCarthy, Mahesh Karnani, Sam Stevens, Steven Nottley, Bill Asquith, Fayola Phillip and Moa Höijer stood out as one of the most enjoyable aspects of the evening. Outsourced talent, band Moth Conspiracy and Cambridge Footlights put on great shows as well, and in retrospect at any given point there was a good live show to be seen.

Any seasoned Cambridge ball-goer would argue that the most important fundamental elements of a ball would have to be alcohol, food and, my personal priority, a silent disco. Hughes excelled in keeping everyone gazebo’d and well fed whilst supplying them with two channels of silent discoing to boogie to. Catering from Fagitos (Hughes’ local late-night kebab shop) was served with a smile by the owner, a friendly face to Hughesians, alongside traditional ball food and gin and tonics featured heavily throughout the ball, as did a variety of cocktails which could have kept you trying something different each drink.

Comparative reviews are quite worthless when you consider budget restraints, but were I to compare the Hughes ball to one such as Trinity, which I also attended, I would have to say that the aggressive rudeness of the Trinity May Ball Committee made ‘Head Honcho’ Amy Clifton and her committee outshine most as being attentive and diligent in making sure everyone had an experience which exceeded satisfaction.

A well deserved five stars to Hughes Hall whose ball, as always, proves that the college is truly made of Cambridge’s finest.