Royal Pavilion Lawns, New Road, Brighton, Saturday-Saturday May1-22

Far more than just another entertainments venue, this antique mobile hall, which joins the Festival for the first time can arouse impassioned affection.

"When you first walk in, you fall in love," says its owner David Bates.

"You step into 85 years of ghosts. Every time the tent gets used, it picks up more ghosts and you can feel them in the romantic, happy atmosphere. People establish a relationship with it and get seduced by it, or her, since it has a very female character, like an old ship."

Described as the perfect setting for intimate performances and the very essence of a Festival club and cabaret salon, the glamorous tent is a regular at the Edinburgh Festival and last year also visited Bath Festival, Greenock in Scotland, Leeds Rhythms Of The City Festival, and Melbourne and Sydney.

It has played host to many types of performer who, once bitten, tend to come back again and again to enjoy its splendour.

"I first played the Famous Spiegeltent at Edinburgh in 1997," recalls magician Paul Zenon, who will be performing Paul Zenon & Pals in the tent from May 20-23.

"When I first ventured inside, it came as a bit of a surprise - it doesn't feel like a temporary structure at all, with its parquet flooring, stained-glass windows, polished wood and antique mirrors. It feels like being inside a covered merry-go-round - minus the horses.

"I fell in love with it as a venue. I'm not a believer in feng shui or anything like that but it does seem to have a special atmosphere and calming effect - even the hecklers tend to be more relaxed than usual."

Spiegel means mirror in Flemish and Spiegeltents were Belgian tents of mirrors, traditionally used for travelling fairs in the Twenties and Thirties.

Said to be the most beautiful of only a handful left in the world today, the Famous Spiegeltent was built in 1920 by master craftsmen and holds 350 people in theatre rows and about 450 standing.

It is made out of wood, detailed in velvet and brocade, overseen by a decadent Art Nouveau chandelier, and filled with stained, cut-glass windows.

Often known as a "flirting garden", the unique building features mirror columns placed near intimate booths which allow the shy to sneak a secret, reflected look at those they admire.

"We have been working on getting the tent down to Brighton for about two years," says David.

"Jane McMorrow (theatre programmer for the Festival) fell in love with it in Edinburgh and we all agreed it's made for Brighton. The city has a bohemian flavour and has the perfect combination of artistic people."

The Famous Spiegeltent aims to be a haven of relaxation during the day, with light refreshments, massage therapy and an array of books events and debates such as Whitbread-winning author Mark Haddon, comedian Jo Brand and controversial MP Clare Short.

In the evening, the mirrored walls start to shimmer and shine as fringe performers take to the stage, including Paul Zenon, classic camp comic Tina C and Edinburgh Fringe favourites the Big Buzzard Boogie Band with their wild jazz, frantic funk and sensuous soul.

From 10pm to 2am, the grand dame becomes the official venue for the Festival Club. All those who buy any ticket for any show in the festival will get a membership card and info pack which allows unlimited entry throughout the festival.

Sponsored by Heineken UK
Saturday May 1 to Saturday May 22