Come Alive at Davy Jones’ Dead Man’s Ball

Interview with Keith Carr, the creator of Brighton’s most spooktacular Halloween Ball

Keith Carr is scarily addicted to Halloween. Every year, Keith and his friends would get more and more creative and ambitious when hosting their unmissable Halloween house parties.

In the end, the parties became just too popular, so they booked the British Engineerium in Hove – and more than 160 people turned up. The result was a spectacular night of costumes, music and creativity that left everyone asking when the next one would be.

This year, Keith is back with an even bigger vision: Davy Jones’ Dead Man’s Ball. “I didn’t think there were many celebratory business events out there – most were a bit too formal,” he explains. “I wanted something that combined fun, creativity and a bit of networking too. And Halloween is the perfect excuse to dress up and celebrate.”

The Ball is very much a collaboration of talents. His wife Debbie has also long been at the heart of the creativity, previously building giant Stranger Things creatures in their garden. Chloe Raby an illustrator for Disney, has created some amazing graphics and invites, whilst her husband Togun is very much the Bob the Builder of the group assembling the incredible installations.

Halloween has been a big part of Keith’s life since childhood. “I loved it as a kid – me and my family went trick-or-treating every year. It’s the one time you can really dress up and let your imagination go wild,” he says.

Costumes are a big part of the fun. Last year, friends Alex Ryan, John Donegan and Ashley Harrison all went to town with their outfits – from mime artists to Super Mario and even the eerie twins from The Shining. “The effort people put in is just astounding,” says Keith. “Even the quietest people come alive once they’re in costume.”

This year’s theme is pirates – dead ones! Think Pirates of the Caribbean with added madness. Expect a fully immersive evening inspired by the legends of the sea, complete with mermaids in water tanks, live performances, and even a burlesque act from Jessica Bebe Playfoot. Guests can look forward to a journey that feels more like theatre than a standard event. “We like to surprise people, lead them through a story,” says Keith.

The venue itself adds to the atmosphere. The Engineerium, once a Victorian steam museum, provides the perfect industrial backdrop. And with Together Co chosen as the charity partner, the event will also support vital work tackling loneliness across the city. “Loneliness is a serious subject,” Keith reflects. “As people get older, they can lose contact with others. Together Co are doing brilliant work in Brighton to change that.”

Keith’s advice to anyone considering attending? “Turn up early – there’ll be so much going on and you don’t want to miss a thing. We’ve got plenty of surprises in store.”

Event details:

Davy Jones’ Dead Man’s Ball

• The Engineerium, Hove

• Saturday 25th October, 7pm–midnight

• Tickets: £50 (includes hog roast/vegetarian option & welcome drink)

To book: https://tinyurl.com/mphju9c3

Keith Carr is the owner of Alchemist Finance Solutions. His company helps clients secure complicated and hard-to-access mortgages or specialist finance. They like to say yes, when others say no!