Depressing financial times call for light-hearted nights out so Lucky Voice couldn’t have arrived at a better time for Brighton. Warm up with a few drinks in the bar downstairs before heading upstairs to sing for your sake.

The Venue
Lucky Voice Brighton is best known for its karaoke but those in the know head to the venue’s separate late night subterranean bar even when they’re not in the mood for grabbing a mic and belting out Madge classics. The bar itself is small and intimate with low lighting, no natural light and dark furnishings making it just as suited to a first date as it is to a night out with a group of friends. As there’s waitress service for each karaoke suite the bar itself rarely gets overcrowded so it’s possible to sit down and sip a cocktail at your leisure at one of the four low tables on your left as you walk in. If you’d like a little more privacy there are a few further tables on a slightly raised level (some with ice buckets in the centre of the table, ideal if you're cracking open the Champagne) that’s partially screened off from the rest of the room.

However, as you’d expect the spotlight is really on the karaoke suites. Set aside memories of your uni days, sticky floored student bars and nights spent crucifying the crowd with your caterwaulings and prepare to be pleasantly surprised. This is karaoke, Japanese-style so it’s a slick, stylish affair. The rooms are arranged over three floors and have each been created with a different number of people in mind (starting at a minimum of eight). They are so reassuringly soundproofed that each has their own waiter service and you’re left to your own devices the rest of the time so you can really let loose on the mic. Simply touch the button for drinks and order from the menu in the room. Beside this button there are a couple of others that allow you to adjust the lighting to set the tone for your own private party via the spotlights running above the comfy high backed leather seats that line the room on three sides. Sit down and wherever you choose you’re always able to see the wall with the touch-screen for you to select your karaoke playlist and the separate TV screen that displays the lyrics.

In the middle of each room there’s plenty of space for the confident to take centre stage when singing but make sure that you don’t get so carried away that you overlook the dressing up box on the floor in the corner. When you’re wearing a pink Afro, a spangly cowboy hat and are jamming on an inflatable guitar or shaking a tambourine even the coolest of customers will be hard pressed not to cast aside any remaining inhibitions and tap into their inner karaoke queen. In fact, the only tiny gripe is that there aren't enough hats and wigs for everyone in a large group to wear one although some may think that this is no bad thing. The playlist that you can create for your karaoke session is a great idea and stops you having to pause between each song to decide on the next track. Add as many as you like and then just skip songs if you’ve changed your mind by the time that they come on. If you’re lacking inspiration there’s a book on the side for you to flick through but as you can search on the screen by the song name or artist it’s unlikely that you won’t find at least a few familiar favourites to warble.

The People
The downstairs bar is really well suited to a relaxed date over a chilled bottle of Prosecco but the beaming smiles that accompany every group of friends who head to the bar after a karaoke session is testament to just how much fun a night out at Lucky Voice Brighton is even if your singing leaves a lot to be desired. As it’s open until the early hours, don’t be surprised if you arrive early and leave far later than you intended.

The Food
Whilst you won’t really want to waste any time on food, if you are hungry they’ve ensured that the food lives up to the rest of the experience by teaming up with Jamie’s Italian next door to offer high end antipasti boards that they’ll deliver to your karaoke suite. If you’re out for the entire night though, you may be better off eating somewhere else first. As appealing as the antipasti is, a few slices of prosciutto and mozzarella balls aren’t going to line your stomach sufficiently for a night of sake and singing.

The Drink
There may not be much food but the drinks list is so extensive that it more than makes up for it. Chilled bottles of Prosecco Jeio Bisol (£26) are a civilised way to start the evening although if you’re really celebrating they’ve plenty of Champagne on ice too (glasses start at £9.50 for Perrier Jouet Grand Brut and peak at £210 for a bottle of Krug Grande Cuvee NV). Cocktails are reasonably priced for the quality at £7 each and include the evocatively named Brighton Rocktail which mixes shochu, lychee, guava, peach and lime; Lucky Destiny where you can choose from Smirnoff Black Vodka or Tanqueray to accompany pressed apple juice, mint, cucumber and kiwi; and the memorable Beach Comber (vanilla vodka, banana and strawberry liqueur, pineapple juice, guava juice and ginger ale) that arrives topped with a popping candy encrusted strawberry.

Asahi on draught is a nice touch and there are also bottles of Kirin Ichiban (£3.90), Vedett (£3.70) and Singha (£3.90) in addition to a long list of others. Of course, it would be foolish to enjoy a night out at a Japanese-inspired karaoke venue and not sample the sake which arrives either warm (Hanufugestu Ginjo sake, £28) or cold (Samurai dry fresh sake, £24) but if you’d rather keep it low key with a bottle of wine, the house white and red are reasonably priced at £14.95.

The Last Word
Lucky Voice is a breath of fresh air from the familiar formula of so many run of the mill Brighton nights out. And, thanks to its fun combination of karaoke and cocktails in stylish surroundings it’s hitting all the right notes.

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