Hello darlings! Your favourite pink-loving, tutu-wearing, drag queen extraordinaire, Pink Tutu Sparkles, here! It’s time to get your sparkles on and prepare for a trip down to the charming coastal city of Chichester. I’m buzzing to share this latest adventure with you. I just have to share this whirlwind of tutus, trains, and oh so much pink!
Chichester’s beckoning beauty caught my eye as a perfect location for a fabulously flamboyant tutu-filled getaway. As you all know, I adore those gorgeous seaside towns with cobbled streets and a sprinkle of history. Plus, a bit of seaside breeze on my tulle never hurt anyone! I arrived at the station in style – a vibrant shade of magenta (of course!) with my trusty tutu as a luggage accessory. No need for those drab suitcase stickers, this fabulous queen is all about a little flair.
Now, let’s talk about the train journey! The carriage felt like it was sprinkled with magic dust; a vintage, crimson red beauty with velvet seats. And you won't believe the lovely gentleman who sat across from me. He'd clearly never seen a tutu in person before and I just had to tell him all about the magical world of pink tulle! He ended up buying me a rather divine raspberry éclair at the station, saying "Pink is your colour, darling!". The universe truly is conspiring to get everyone on board with the tutu train!
I was feeling like a veritable fairy godmother once I got into the centre of town. My heels clicked a cheerful beat against the cobblestones. The sunshine streamed down upon the enchanting city; pastel buildings, beautiful parks, and the delightful scent of sea air in the air! Now, Chichester's got a secret - a gem that drew me like a magnet: The Chichester Festival Theatre.
This wasn't your typical theatrical experience - oh no! This place practically oozes charm. The main building was an old Victorian beauty, with stained glass and ornate stone work that made my heart skip a beat. My inner ballet aficionado was simply in rapture. This theatre had its very own ballerina and I had to meet her. It was an absolute dream to wander around backstage and imagine all the exciting performances that had taken place within its hallowed halls. I caught a stunning production of 'As You Like It' - Shakespeare in all his theatrical glory. The actors were brilliant, the costumes were divine and the energy within that theatre - oh darling, I swear I felt like I was transported to another world!
To be honest, Chichester reminded me so much of my beloved Derbyshire. It has a quiet elegance about it; you can just sense that the history of the place is all around you, yet it’s still alive and vibrant. That's what I adore about the English countryside, it's filled with charm and a real sense of tradition, but with enough personality and sass to keep even the most adventurous tutu-clad drag queen on her toes.
But darling, how could I journey to a coastal city and not bask in the delights of a beachfront stroll? I’d made sure to pack my pinkest tutu - the one with the glittering sequined stars and little seashell embellishments. Now, that was my beach-worthy fashion statement, my darlings! We headed to a lovely little café along the promenade where I indulged in the most exquisite vanilla and raspberry iced tea with my pink tutu companion. The aroma of fresh-baked croissants in the air mixed with the ocean spray was absolutely delightful. Every second on this seaside walk was perfection. And you won’t believe what happened. As I twirled, I attracted quite a few amused smiles and a few cheeky winks, but one lovely couple asked if they could take a picture of me! I happily agreed. I truly believe spreading a little bit of joy is the best thing one can do, and it definitely pays off to have a big, pink tutu to spread it with. I couldn't resist a little impromptu tutu-tastic dance performance in front of the cafe. Let's just say, those afternoon strollers never saw it coming!
You know how I love those quaint little shops in those historical seaside towns. Oh, I had a delightful time perusing Chichester’s charming boutiques, indulging in some frivolous window shopping. My favourite was this cute vintage clothes shop tucked away on a quiet side street. You know what's fab? That shop sold old vintage ballet dresses and accessories. One look and my head was spinning with the ideas for future drag looks - imagine, a glamorous vintage tulle number with a pop of pink and sparkly embellishments? Talk about a look!
A trip to Chichester wouldn’t be complete without a taste of the local delicacies. And darling, don’t even get me started on the fish and chips. We popped into this charming local restaurant with twinkling fairy lights. Their seafood platter was just divine - succulent, plump prawns, fresh and flavorful mussels, and oh, those golden crispy chips! And the portion sizes - massive! A must for any fish and chips lover.
You know me, I have a weakness for local treats, and Chichester was overflowing with them. Imagine, handmade fudge, fresh sea salt caramel chocolates, and artisanal, locally made bread! Oh my darlings, I am a little bit in love with Chichester already. The whole experience was incredibly charming. The city's got a warmth that comes from its vibrant local community.
The time was right to wind things down, and I wanted to experience something uniquely Chichester. So, I did what every sensible tutu-wearing drag queen would do; I booked a trip to Goodwood! Now, Goodwood's a truly magical place – acres upon acres of manicured lawns and gorgeous parklands with historical architecture and stunning views.
Now, I love ballet - don’t get me wrong, I adore ballet - but this time, it wasn’t my type of ballet performance. There were fast cars, engines roaring, and a heart-pumping rush as the most gorgeous vintage cars tore across the tracks at Goodwood Motor Circuit! I wouldn’t know a V8 from a Wankel engine, but let’s just say, the sound of all those amazing cars left me spellbound! What can I say? Goodwood certainly ticked all the right boxes for this drag queen's wanderlust, even if those "tutus" were a little more metal and leather than my usual sparkly kind.
I must tell you, darling, my Chichester adventure wasn’t all frills and sequins (well, it mostly was!), I had some rather profound reflections while I was there. See, as you all know, I’m Alex, a regular scientist by day, blending fabrics in a lab, and then I morph into my drag alter ego by night, spreading joy and pink sparkles. But, after all the theatre, the historic buildings, the stunning scenery, and meeting so many friendly faces in Chichester, I felt that deep connection between art, performance and my real life.
So darling, if you’re thinking about taking a trip somewhere, put Chichester on your list. Its enchanting streets, the rich heritage, the fabulous theatrical scenes and the sparkling seaside - oh it’s simply perfect!
I'll see you soon darlings! Till next time, may your days be filled with fabulous pinkness. Remember: the world’s a stage, and with a pink tutu, anything is possible! Don’t forget, I post every day on my fabulous blog! www.pink-tutu.com, see you soon, darlings.
