Wednesday night might be synonymous with a girls night out yet since the untimely demise of No. 23 in late 2009 and it's subsequent refurbishment into a sushi bar, London's TGirls have been crying into their soy sauce for a side dish to Trannyshack. Now you can wave wasabi to your Wednesday woes as Soho's Stanza nightclub becomes home to a double dose of delightful dillydallying. Club Lola is back and it's bought it's new playmate, the Trans Cafe along for fun. So what's the deal?

Stanza sits on Shaftesbury Avenue yet it's second floor residence means a lot of walk by traffic mistake it's frontage for yet another Soho media agency. If you find the corner of Greek Street, opposite China Town Fire Station you'll see it's glass fronted doors with stairs and lifts. Don't let the slick exterior fool you! This isn't one of those scary places where men in black suits sacrifice little fluffy animals in the endless pursuit of dosh, it's simply a bit more upmarket than some of it's local contemporaries. Upmarket and upstairs.

Stanza Nightclub London
Stanza's Front door - you have to go in and up to see the action!

At the top of stairs there's the cloakroom and suddenly you start to feel that this place is like the Tardis - far bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. That's where the fun begins!

Cooking up a feast of entertainments from 6pm is the Trans Cafe. Hosted by Pixi and the two Petras, they serve a complete menu of cuisine suited to the more discerning palette. It's no Greasy Joes Cafe; at the Trans Cafe dishes include a range select meat, fish and vegetarian dishes with an emphasis on good ingredients, tasteful recipes and skillful chefing. The team who gave you oral titillation at 23 are indeed in residence here, which gives some an idea of the type of cuisine.

As the night progresses, the Trans Cafe's bar opens the taps and a DJ starts warming your night up. There's plenty of room on this dance floor; if the London club scene's shoulder to shoulder has got you suffering from handbag rage then this spacious environment will give you all the room you need. Working up to house music, the space offers room for those who want to sit and talk, couples as well as party going groups. Where else can you get a hot shank served with sauce with a gorgeous catsuited TGirl and end the night on a happy note?! Such is the allure of the Trans Cafe, something new to the UK.

Pixi, founder of London's Trans Cafe
Founder of London's Trans Cafe, Pixi Phillips

"I wanted to do something a bit different" explained the pint sized Pixi, her crushed velvet leggings making her all the more feline. "I thought it would be great if there were somewhere people - anyone, not necessarily trans - could go and get great food served up with gorgeous transvestites in somewhere that's livelier than a restaurant but doesn't require yelling. We take bookings in advance for the best tables and you're also welcome to turn up on the night if the mood just takes you. You can dine, drink, dance, some or all and you're sure to be made welcome."

Club Lola isn't new to Soho having been a tasteful aside to the louder club circuit, Lola is billed as the place where "boys will be girls, girls will be boys, men will be gentlemen and women will be ladies". Hosted by the enchanting Frances, Club Lola has strong fanbase in the transgender community who've loved it's respectful atmosphere. Shunning the pounding dance beats that typify Soho's clublife, Club Lola plays a soulful collection of music including guitar sets by Frances herself. Set in the second bar in Stanza, it's more intimate with a smaller space, warm lighting and a lot of good vibe floating around.

Club Lola's host, the twee Frances
Club Lola's hostess, Frances

"I've really enjoyed running Lola's" confessed Frances, who could easily have fallen out of a 50s pinup in her white Marilyn dress. "We've had a really great atmosphere and lovely crowd turn up which has made it a nice diversion from regular London nightlife."

Certainly her words rung true on the opening night as the Teatro bar filled out with a metrosexual mulling of which maybe 30 or 40% were transgender. Some were admirers and the rest were simply lovers of a good night out.

Stanza charge an entry fee of £5 after 11pm and you're free all night to hang in one place or swing bi and enjoy either. Grab a bite to eat in the Trans Cafe upon arrival, have a drink and chill to Frances' guitar set in Club Lola's and finish the night with getting your groove on the dancefloor or getting verbacious in the seating - the choice is yours. One thing that is for certain - London's Wednesday night transvestite club scene just got a whole load more fun.

The Trans Cafe and Club Lola run every Wednesday night at the Stanza Nightclub, Shaftesbury Avenue, London. Table bookings for dining at the Trans Cafe are welcomed on 0207 494 3040.

Stanza Club Review:

Type: Nightclub, restaurant and social

Location: Stanza & Teatro Nightclub, London

Entry: £5 after 11pm

Facilities: Trans Cafe with restaurant, bar and dancefloor in the main Stanza area, Club Lola in the Teatro bar. Cloakroom facilities.

Plus Points: Two clubs for the price of one with the freedom to move back and forth between events as many times as you like in the night! Transvestite waitresses. Frances live guitar sets. Mixed crowd and welcoming staff

Minus Points: No changing room facilities

Overall Rating: 9 out of 10