It’s showtime. And from the thick velvet curtains to the top-hatted waiters, Coco’s Royal is doing it in style. Yes, Burlesque has come to Oxford and it’s here to stay.

And where better to feature the pomp, circumstance and sheer decadence of Oxford’s own Moulin Rouge than at the chi chi Oxford restaurant in Park End Street.

The smoky walls and thick pillars provided the perfect backdrop for the sultry tones and shapely forms of Tempest Rose and her team of Kitten Club dancers. From the tiny Marianne Cheesecake to the Pre-Raphaelite Miss Amelia it was impossible not to be overwhelmed by the sheer splendour of the occasion, and the illicit frisson in the air.

Because, let’s face it, it’s not every day that you get dressed up to the nines for a three-course feast and cocktails before being entertained by the finest Burlesque dancers London has to offer.

And before you shake your head, don’t think for a minute that these girls are not fabulous entertainers in their own right. Yes, they titillate and tease in their feathers and lace, sequins and ribbons, suspenders, tassles and fishnets. But they also sing and dance beautifully, their routines meticulously rehearsed, their charms tangible, their talents subtle, their line-up irresistible and their band 52 Skidoo, foot-tapping.

Compere Tempest Rose’s smooth mellifluous tones keep the audience in check, while introducing the acts and riling the male members of the audience to within an inch of their lives, which my husband enjoyed far too much for my liking. Think Jessica Rabbit as a stand-up and you’ll be getting warmer.

The show was a sell-out, of course, and such a success that owner Clinton Pugh decided there and then to stage a burlesque night once a month, which can only enhance Oxford’s limited nightlife.

Whether you go all out for the three course meal and show at £32.50 a ticket or the £12.50 spectator fee, is up to you, but having done the former I’d highly recommend it, because from the moment you venture into Coco’s you’re in for a night to remember.

What we had to eat fades into a blur of cosmopolitans, champagne, bread and olives, but the set menu featured some carrot, ginger and orange soup, a pork and apricot terrine, king prawn and chorizo skewers, a goats cheese and caramelised onion tart, Osso Bucco slow cooked shin of beef or confit of duck, followed by a delicious vanilla pannacotta, impeccably served by our suited and booted waiters and basqued waitresses. And it was all marvellous.

And as a woman, I thought the burlesque dancers were all quite superb. Only one man found it all too much and left half way through dinner. But the rest of the packed bar and restaurant were spellbound.

There is a best-dressed competition for those of you who really want to push the boat out, but if you’d rather be an onlooker than a participant, then climb in and enjoy the show. Go on, I dare you!

* Coco’s Royal is at 17 Park End Street, Oxford OX11HU. 01865 793857. The next Burlesque night is on Saturday, January 29. Booking is recommended.