The Kroon Kat Lounge is the epitome of Fifties swinging.

Groovy guys and dolls are whisked back to the Rat Pack-era of laid-back jazz, Cuban cigars, Manhattan cocktails and cravats.

So regulars at the Brighton venue may be surprised to see its creator portrayed on TV as a heavily-tattooed body piercer from hell.

Founder Shend appears in a current advert for BT covered in tattoos and preparing to give a father and daughter matching belly-button rings.

His preferred style of appearance in real life follows the dapper dress sense of cool cats like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.

And Shend insists he only agreed to have his body daubed in tattoos for one day -- though they took a little longer to fade away.

He said: "The advert says you don't have to go where your children go.

"I'm the evil tattooist covered in tattoos and flicking my gloves as I'm about to spear her, metaphorically.

"All the tattoos are painted on. It took five hours and they lasted for days.

"I'm a professional actor and do lots of ads. I've also just finished working on Hustle with Robert Vaughn, who starred in The Man From Uncle, and the new Caroline Quentin show, Life Begins."

The acting profession is not always as glamorous as it seems. But Shend promises the Kroon Kat Lounge most certainly is.

It is regularly held at the Hanbury Ballroom in Brighton but a Christmas spectacular is being organised at a top hotel.

Shend said: "We wanted a club that we would want to go to. Unless you are into drum and bass, there are very few places to go.

"We wanted somewhere to listen to live music from the Forties and Fifties, wear a suit and drink cocktails and smoke cigars. So we created one.

"It has been a great success. We get all ages coming along. Some of our singers are students and they bring a lot of other students along.

"The youngest person we had was 17 and the oldest were a 94-year-old couple who stayed to 2am.

"It's like nothing else. Everybody dresses up - it's a great excuse to put on smart suits and ballgowns."

The Kroon Kat Snow Ball will be held at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel in Kings Road, Brighton, on December 18.

Ten crooners will provide the entertainment, backed by an ensemble band.

Tickets cost £20 and are available from the Komedia box office.